The Bathroom Breakdown
Main bathrooms boast lots of design potential — mostly because (unlike powder rooms) they have it all: a toilet, a vanity, a shower and a bathtub. Big or small, you can dress them up modern-sleek, spa-like, glam, however you want. But if you're not sure exactly what your space needs, we're here to help. We gathered our favorite bathroom designs from HGTV Magazine, and they're sure to make a splash.
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Give Your Vanity a DIY Upgrade
Homeowner and blogger Nedra Davis put her stamp on this bathroom without any renovating. First, she hung crane-patterned peel-and-stick wallpaper to liven things up. Then, she revamped the existing brown vanity by painting the base Naval by Sherwin-Williams and using a white gloss epoxy spray on the counter.
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Make a Statement With Pastels
Hanging a lilac-colored silk window shade is a sweet surprise in this all-white bathroom.
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Create Patterns With Tile
A marble backsplash is always glamorous, but to keep things fresh and fun, the designer of this chic bathroom chose a herringbone mosaic version. The result almost looks like wallpaper until you get up close.
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Make It Monochromatic
No, you don't have rose-colored glasses on. Pink-tinted terrazzo and pink glass tiles (from Susan Jablon) pair up to give this room major monochromatic style. The pair of sconces by Kelly Wearstler and the bentwood mirror add midcentury modern appeal.
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Add a Colorful Rug
Make your design more interesting from the ground up by adding a rug. Both stylish and functional, a rug will warm up cold floor tiles. Plus, there are tons of washable rugs to choose from, which are perfect for often-damp spots like this one.
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Go Bold With Color
Trend alert! Colorful bathroom fixtures are making a comeback. This bold room takes the style to the next level by pairing a purple tub with a green vanity and abstract wallpaper.
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Add a Standout Accessory
If an understated bathroom suits your style, try bringing in a small accessory that packs a design punch. Here, a vintage footstool upholstered in floral fabric adds a pop of personality.
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Refresh Tiles With Paint
For a no-reno upgrade, plain white tiles in this bathroom were refreshed with epoxy tile paint to fit in with a new color scheme.
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Play Up a Fun Color
In a streamlined bathroom like this one, seafoam-green patterned floor tiles are the star of the show. Adding other accents in the same hue, like towels, help play up the palette.
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Keep It Sleek
An all-white bathroom is timelessly chic. For a modern twist, try playing with scale and shape. Here, oversized squares on the walls are a subtle spin on classic subway tiles.
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Add a Colorful Pendant
Make a statement with a light fixture in an unexpected hue. In this traditional bathroom, the bright red pendant adds eclectic flair.
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Find Fun Sconces
Bathroom sconces are a big deal. These from Hudson Valley Lighting look sleek over glossy mosaic tile. Our pro tip: Situate your sconces around your vanity mirror. Double mirrors? Go for three sconces.
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Hang a Chandelier
We've got a perfect view of this sculptural one by Global Views from the depths of designer Veronica Solomon's soaking tub. For an extra-luxe look she added chic MuralSources wallpaper. “You can put florals and geometrics together if the tones are similar,” says Veronica.
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Reglaze a Tub
“I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t reglaze a white tub!” says homeowner Rachel Simon. “You can pick any color, and it makes a huge impact.” For a supercute look, match your shower curtain to your new colorful tub. Here, a matte finish on wall and floor tiles makes for a cool twist.
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Color-Block Wall Tile
The spa-like space is punctuated by peppy tilework — two sizes on the wall separated by a thin line of black tile, plus graphic concrete tile by Popham Design on the floor. Brass faucets and cabinet pulls add pizzazz.
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Layer In Woven Accents
A bathroom doesn't have to be all sleek and shiny. “I used textures as patterns,” says designer Gretchen Black, referring to the mottled marble floor, the vintage cane chair and the vanity with bamboo detailing that she designed.
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Add Spa Style
In an airy bathroom, you're already halfway to chill spa vibes. To boost the ambiance, bring in a leafy plant, lean a towel ladder against the wall, incorporate natural touches (like that woven stool or those walnut vanity mirrors), and layer in a comfy rug.
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Go For a Claw Foot Tub
"I may not have time to take as many baths as I used to (parenthood: worth it), but this claw-foot tub still excites me," says HGTV host and designer Jasmine Roth. She salvaged hers from an old house during a project, then had it refinished in black with gold legs.
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Add a Cozy Rug
The easiest trick of them all: a new bathroom rug. Here, a happy, whimsical one by Urban Outfitters brightens up light wood accents and black hardware.
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Hang a Fresh Shower Curtain
Another simple swap: your shower curtain. These are made with fabric by Rebecca Atwood. Hung high above a roll-top tub, they sweeten the old-school space right up.
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Try an Industrial-Style Shower Door
This one in HGTV host Chip Wade's bathroom is by Coastal Shower Doors. Black sinks by Kohler are another cool touch: “Black is an underused aesthetic decision — it has the potential to bring instant sophistication to a space,” says Chip.
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Float Your Vanity
It'll open up the room (even better if it's a double vanity). This one's painted Pewter Green by Sherwin-Williams. Matte black terra-cotta tiles by Clé, brass fixtures and a hand-punched Moroccan pendant add extra glam.
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Paint Your Walls a Happy Shade
Putting the “fun” in functional, these walls feature a dark yellow shade pulled from the pizzazz-y floor tile by Clé. A custom vanity in black and matching sconces keep the space peaceful.
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Install Eye-Catching Flooring
A bathroom fave: graphic tile on the floor. Here, paying tribute to the small black-and-white hex tile common in Victorian-era bathrooms, marble and basalt versions from Mission Stone & Tile bring dimension to the main bathroom of a Victorian home.
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Get Graphic With Wall Tile
Eye-catching tile works on walls, too. The inspiration for this room’s look came from Turkish bathhouses. A curvy bronze-edged mirror from Uttermost clinches the bathhouse vibe.
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Hang Wallpaper Above Your Vanity
Not up for tile installation? Try something simpler. Here, fun wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries (the pattern is a take on the Greek key motif) personalizes a white vanity and arched mirrors.
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Outline In Black
Use surprising black accents to ground an otherwise light bathroom. Dominating this space: a bold mirror by Noir, hung over soft green, grass cloth wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries. Throw in black hardware and a pair of eye-catching sconces for good measure.
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Layer Mirrors on Mirrors
It's pretty and practical: Octagonal mirrors from RH hang over the sheet mirror. Sconces by Visual Comfort with bead trim add extra wow.
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Or, Hang an Ornate Mirror
It's OK to remove your sheet mirror completely. Pick a new one that speaks to your style. Here, a gold starburst mirror from Pottery Barn Kids glamifies a whimsical main bathroom.
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Repurpose What You Have
Need a new vanity? Get sustainable. Original octagonal-tile floors set the perfect midcentury foundation for a vintage walnut credenza-turned-vanity.
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Share Tub and Shower Space
Build a bathroom that does both. Putting a tub into your shower space — like HGTV designer Brian Patrick Flynn did here — is super cozy and space-saving. Plus, you can hop into a bath straight from the shower.
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Match Mirror Color to Vanity Color
How to liven up a basic bathroom in two steps: paint and wallpaper. A few coats of Vardo by Farrow & Ball, along with wallpaper in a tropical pattern by Aimée Wilder, make the space feel custom.
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Install a Vessel Sink
This sparkly one by Elite Bath is sitting on a sleek reclaimed-wood shelf. Don't forget the wall faucet and an angled globe pendant (this one's from Flos) to match.
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Hang Art Above the Toilet
It's an unexpected spot for elegance, but elegant all the same. This abstract print from HomeGoods plays off the floral wallpaper by Indy Bloom Design and edgy gold detailing on the vanity, mirror and cabinet pulls.
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Make the Walls Bold
Preferably with bright wallpaper featuring an eye-catching pattern (like this jellyfish print by Thibaut). Believe it or not, this trick works swimmingly in small main bathrooms, too. The tinier the space, the bigger the impact. A white marble-top vanity balances all the bold.
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Or, Keep It Simple
An all-white bathroom is exactly what a bathroom should be: clean. This one features a black-and-white palette, with Amethyst Artisan cement floor tiles and square ceramic wall tiles outlined in black grout. Sconces from Cedar & Moss add a tiny touch brass.
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Hang Pendants Low
It'll create the illusion of height — especially when paired with tall mirrors (these are from Ikea). Our pro tip: Make sure the pendants are see-through so they don’t obstruct your view.
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Contrast Dark and Light
Bold vanity cabinets make a statement in a mostly light bathroom. These dark blue cabinets pop against white countertops and creamy walls.
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Add a Penny Tile Design
Even cuter if it's a heart above the bathtub. The black-and-white tile keeps it simple, while a spiky gold chandelier from Arteriors dresses it all up.
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Get Gold Hardware
Maybe all your space needs is a little sparkle. Details as small as new vanity hardware can make a big difference. Here, HGTV host and designer Christina Haack decked out her double vanity with brass pulls and faucets.
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Shiplap the Walls
It's especially dapper in the bathroom. And if you want extra color on your walls, make it half shiplap, half wallpaper. This nautical space boasts a bold aqua pattern by Quadrille and a perky vanity to match (painted Blithe Blue by Sherwin-Williams).
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