Bathrooms are definitely one of the most functional rooms of the house, so it’s natural to put them at the end of the list when decorating your home. But remember — just because bathroom essentials need to be functional doesn’t mean they need to compromise on your overall aesthetic! With the right planning, you can utilise your bathroom accessories so they double as decor.
In this article, we’ve put together the top bathroom accessories that have a strong functional purpose whilst also contributing to the overall ambience — in other words, essentials that are important for both hygiene and happiness!
Unique Bath Mats
Bath mats are essential to any bathroom, and they serve as a great opportunity to double as decor. Whilst fabric bath mats are most popular, other materials are worth exploring to add more personality or style to your space!
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For example, bamboo bath mats provide an elegant yet simple look. Their wood-like appearance helps add a touch of nature, whilst their toughness and durability mean you won’t have to replace them often. They provide an anti-slip surface after you shower and are water-resistant, meaning they won’t foster the growth of mould.
Credit: Home Ideas Mag
For those wine connoisseurs out there, you could opt for a bath mat made of wine corks. This is not only sustainable and a perfect example of upcycling, it will also make for a very unique addition and add dimension to your space. You can purchase one from a decor shop or have some fun and make one yourself if you’re into DIY!
Do Towels Right
Towels are the last thing one might consider for decor, but they can actually make a stunning addition to your bathroom when selected carefully and displayed right!
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When choosing colours, consider the base shade of your bathroom. For example, bright-coloured towels could add a splash of colour to an otherwise neutral-hued bathroom.
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You can then hang the towels from a towel ladder or fold them fancily to display from a wall-mounted rack. If you’re using hand towels, roll them up to display in a tiered tray (paired with other accessories).
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For the guest bathroom, place rolled towels in a basket or shelf. Toss in some toiletries, such as a shampoo and facewash, for warmly welcoming your guests — even in the bathroom!
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Beautiful Skincare Products & Toiletries
Your skincare and beauty products can also serve as decor in the bathroom. The best-case scenario would be choosing a line of products that not only suits your skin but is also visually aesthetic.
For example, its various products could have the same colour but slightly different bodies. In the picture below, you can see a theme of white, gold, and black being followed for the beauty products plus the overall bathroom.
Credit: The Teacher Diva
If your favourite products come in not-so-pretty packaging, or don’t really match with one another, you can purchase new bottles (for example, a transparent container for handwash) and decant the products into the new (prettier) bottles — see our next tip for more on this.
There are also other ways of beautifully showcasing skincare products, such as displaying them in a tray or organising them into painted vintage jars.
Credit: Nikita by Niki
Thematic Soap Dispenser & Toothbrush Holder Set
A staple for every bathroom, matching soap dispenser and toothbrush holder sets have great potential to spruce up your bathroom. They’re a quick and inexpensive update, and importantly, they allow you to save when it comes to product (because let’s be honest — beautiful toiletry packaging often comes at a price), without compromising on the overall aesthetic of your space.
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The next time you go home decor shopping, look for ones that complement the theme of your bathroom. For example, transparent blue for a chic coastal vibe, or organic & rugged to incorporate elements from nature. It would be extra cool if you find a set containing a matching soap dish, too!
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Scented Candles
Although not an absolute necessity, scented candles are a great addition to bathrooms. Besides, good odour almost is an essential in bathrooms — and scented candles offer a way to attain this, and, of course, visual aesthetics.
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Plus, the slow and silent view of a burning candle is so soothing to look at, whilst dim lighting helps create a calming, relaxing atmosphere. Combined with their aromatherapeutic effects, scented candles have the ability to transform our bathroom into a much-needed multi-sensorial sanctuary after a long, stressful day.
On your next decor-shopping trip, purchase candles that have a smell you love, plus colours, shapes and holders to match the theme of your bathroom.
Tip: Light and refreshing smells, such as lavender and vanilla, are ideal for bathrooms.
Bold Shower Curtains
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Finally, an easy and impactful upgrade to your bathroom is changing your shower curtain. Choose one that has an aesthetic, graphic print that can liven up an otherwise white interior.
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Alternatively, you go can for something fancier, such as a white frilled shower curtain. These can make even a simplistic bathroom luxurious!
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In addition to selecting pretty curtains, there are plenty of ways to hang them fancily, too. For example, you can tie them up from their central part, as illustrated here.
Final Words
Functional spaces do not equate to boring ones! And there’s nothing cooler than being able to utilise the mere essentials for decorative purposes — especially in the bathroom. Follow the tips given in this blog post and turn your bland bathroom into a space that is aesthetic to see (and smell), so your next trip to the loo is one you enjoy, *wink*.
Need some help to spruce up your bathroom? Just book one of our Interior Design Gurus here! They can look at your space over video chat and give you tips, ideas and guidance on how to achieve a bathroom that you love.