Our Ultimate Bathroom Design Do's and Don'ts

Bathrooms are like the chameleons of a home. They have to shift throughout the day to serve many purposes. They're a place to primp in the morning, a retreat for a bath in the evening; they need to be sleek, yet homey; they should be an oasis for you, but also functional for guests; and they need to be bright and clean, but also have personality. Whether you're jumping into a gut renovation and designing your dream bathroom or simply wanting to give your space a refresh, we've rounded up our top design do's and don'ts for achieving a bathroom that can do it all.

Whether its a primary, kids' or guest bath, a double vanity is always a good idea. It cuts down on getting-ready time in the morning and arguments over the sink. The lacquered green floating vanity in this vibrant bath provides the perfect amount of counter space for two and, with two sets of deep drawers, plenty of storage as well.

A bathroom is a chance to test out that wallpaper you may be too timid to try in a bigger space. Don't be afraid to get whimsical with it, like designer Brian Patrick Flynn did in the HGTV Dream Home 2024 pool bath. Blue and white stripes nod to the home's coastal locale and is extra-fun paired with rich pops of red.

Funky tile is a great way to add personality to any bath. To make it light-hearted yet sophisticated, coordinate your paint color with one of the hues from the tile. This geometric pink print would've been too much if the walls were painted a contrasting bright color, but a baby pink tone pairs perfectly with the tile and tones it down.

Love It or List It co-host Hilary Farr made an economical choice in her Raleigh, North Carolina, home's powder bath by using a wallpaper that looks like stone rather than an expensive marble. Always think twice about what finishes and materials you want to splurge on and where you want to save. Quartz and porcelain are less expensive alternatives for countertops or tile and are more durable than marble. You could also paint a stencil on a wall if you're not ready to spring for pricey wallpaper.

Even if the rest of your house is neutral, bathrooms (especially powder baths) are the perfect opportunity to go crazy with color. They are like small jewelry boxes that can have a major wow impact upon opening the door. Add in big splashes of color with wallpaper or a painted vanity, like in this happy bath, or on a smaller scale with accent tile and accessories.

Just like any other room in a house, bathrooms need decor to feel complete, specifically artwork. Find something that coordinates with the colors in your space and sets a tone for the theme. This painting of waves crashing on the shore brings together the nautical vibe of the coastal blue bathroom. You could also use a playful typography print in a kid's bath or frame abstract art in a more modern space.

Farmhouse Fixer hosts Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin are experts at refurbishing and embracing a home's original character. To highlight the Old World charm of this bath, the dynamic duo used the exposed brick and worn wood beams as a jumping-off point for a moody palette. You can also highlight sloped ceilings with wallpaper or hang a dramatic chandelier to showcase a vaulted ceiling.

Faucets, cabinet pulls and towel racks are an opportunity to bring in a little bit of glam and shine to your bathroom. Take a note from this colorful, Victorian space and go bold with your hardware. A brass, vintage-inspired bath faucet fits with the room's retro style and perfectly complements the seafoam green clawfoot tub. You could also use brightly hued faucets to bring in a pop of color or funky cabinet pulls to add character.

With lots of hard surfaces, sometimes harsh lighting and few window treatments, bathrooms can often feel cold. It's important to warm them up with a mix of textures like Help! I Wrecked My House host Jasmine Roth did in her SoCal home. A natural fiber rug adds coziness to the floor and ties in with the grasscloth Roman shade on the window. The wood stool and bath caddy add another layer of hominess and make the space feel lived-in.

Lighting can make or break a bathroom. Not only is it necessary for everyday tasks, but it's also the final touch that brings a space together. Consider whether your lighting is functional or decorative. If it's functional, like sconces on either side of a mirror, select fixtures that are both aesthetically pleasing and emit a lot of light. If it's more decorative, like the dramatic chandelier over the tub in this bright bathroom, you have more room to play and can select a fixture based on looks over functionality.

If you're cautious of color or worried that a certain tile might be too trendy, black and white is always a no-fail color scheme. This Victorian-style space is full of timeless features, like a black clawfoot soaking tub, toile wallpaper and penny tile, but it feels fresh thanks to abstract art and black wainscoting.

Bathrooms are meant to be retreats from the stresses of life. You can turn your space into an at-home spa with both large and small details. If you're lucky to be renovating and your space allows, opt for an enclosed shower room to create your very own sauna. Or if you're looking to spruce up an existing space, place a teak stool inside the shower, hang a eucalyptus bunch over the showerhead or get a brass caddy to go over the tub.

Throw any expectations about what a bathroom should look like out the door and decorate with your heart. This moody space is jam-packed with personality thanks to collaged wallpaper, black wainscoting and a repurposed vintage vanity. You can add more subtle personality to your bathroom with interesting art, stacks of colorful towels or eclectic accessories.

Sometimes it seems like we spend just as much time (if not more) in our bathrooms as we do in the rest of our homes. We brush our teeth, take showers, do our hair, shave and put on our makeup. All of these activities require a lot of stuff, so plenty of storage is essential. When designing your bathroom, go for a mix of drawers and cabinets to hide away essentials. If you want to really max out your space, install a garage door to conceal outlets and the tools that require power, like in this sleek bath.

For his 100 Day Hotel Challenge project, Brian Kleinschmidt demonstrated how exactly to make the most of a small space. He maxed out the kitchenette suite's petite bathroom by nixxing the bathtub and only doing a walk-in shower. A narrow yet tall vanity with a large cabinet provides plenty of storage, and tile that flows from the shower walls to the floors makes the bath feel bigger.

Antique dressers, desks and consoles are a great alternative to cookie cutter vanities and immediately inject personality into any bathroom. For their Italian villa, Fixer to Fabulous hosts Jenny and Dave Marrs turned a desk they found at a Tuscany antique market into the guest bath vanity. Carved wood legs and the old drawer front add character, and the flat top is the perfect size to rest the handmade vessel sink.

Some luxuries are worth splurging on and a heated towel rack is definitely one of them. They don't take up a lot of space and double as storage for both bath and hand towels. Hang one on an empty wall close to your shower or tub for easy access and choose one that looks modern, like this sleek white rack, so it easily blends in.