luxury bathroom design, luxury bathroom remodel

We all fall in love with beautifully designed bathrooms we stay at when we go on our dream vacations. They’re so beautifully Instagrammable, you purposely make it known to everyone through endless stories and reels.

It feels like you’re pampered each time you step into your very own “spa” just to brush your teeth. You imagine that it’s all yours. You fantasize how it feels to live like a celebrity or the CEO of a billion dollar enterprise. Then sadly, checkout time quickly approaches, reality slaps you in the face, and you realize you have to pack it up and head back home to your not-so-luxurious, boring, basic box of a space you reluctantly call a bathroom. Ouch. But don’t fret my friend…let me help you out.

You actually can have the bathroom of your dreams! Yes, it’s possible. The question is, are you willing to invest in what it takes to get you there? If the answer is a resounding yes, then here’s what you need to create that luxury bathroom you’ve been drooling over for so long. It’s time. You deserve it, so here we go!

1. The ultimate shower.

Swap out your current uninteresting, barely functioning shower head and valve for a real shower system that truly has it all. Look for one that includes a rain shower head (or even two for a more luxurious feel), hand-held sprayer, and body sprays. It’s your very own personal spa treatment! I love a shower with body sprays because it feels similar to a vichy shower. The difference is, you won’t be laying down. Well…you could build a shower “bed” if you have the space. I mean, we are talking luxury so why not?

While you’re at it, don’t forget to add a digital control for your system. This enables you to customize temperature and flow control, create custom presets for your favorite shower settings, options for voice-activated controls, and sleek interfaces that control a greater number of outlets.

If you want to take your shower experience to another level, invest in a steam shower. Steam therapy has been known to promote several health benefits such as improved skin care, respiratory health, weight loss, and overall mental and physical wellness. Instead of going to a spa and paying for it each time, you can have one in your own bathroom and use it whenever your heart desires.

How about a little cherry on top? You can’t have a luxury bathroom without incorporating aromatherapy. You can have your favorite smell-good infused through your steam shower but if you don’t have one, you can still experience it with an easy system like Kohler’s Sprig Shower Infusion Kits. It’s designed to work with your existing showerhead, installs in just minutes, and gives you the ability to infuse your shower’s water stream with natural botanicals and premium ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Bathroom remodel with shower system. Design by: Shades of Gray Design Studio

2. Free-standing tub.

The days of old garden tubs taking up half of the bathroom space are virtually gone and we love that! They were too bulky (and ugly) and had the old waterjets that collected bacteria and mildew because no one really used them or just didn’t want to clean them. Gross.

Although there are more and more homeowners who opt for a larger walk-in shower, there are still many out there who love a good soak. I’m not mad at you. So, if we’re going for the ultimate luxurious bathing experience in our homes, then it’s time to upgrade to a beautiful and functional free standing tub. And why not? Tubs have come a long way baby…some of them even look like pieces of art! So I believe they should be in a class all by themselves – standing alone, basking in all of their glory. One of my favorite bath tubs that check all of the boxes, is the Papillon bathtub. Super functional and absolutely stunning! That alone might just convert you into a serial bather!

3. High-end finishes and natural materials.

A luxury bathroom is not luxurious if it doesn’t include high-end, high quality finishes and materials. Be intentional about the design of your bathroom. There’s no randomly selecting fixtures and finishes. Luxury isn’t created through happenstance. No ma’am. No sir. Great design is thoughtful, takes time, and has discerning taste.

Bring in marble or any natural stone for that biophilic feel. Blend different textures, colors and patterns into your design. Incorporate wood like teak to give your bathroom warmth and interest. Consider an antique brass or copper finish for plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, tile trim and cabinet hardware. When choosing tile, go for larger format sizes to reduce the look of unsightly grout lines (plus less grout lines mean less maintenance and that’s always a luxurious feeling).

For shower enclosures, make sure it’s frameless glass. When you use framed glass, it takes away from the high-end aesthetic of your space by making it look cheap.

Go for a bold look and use high quality, luxe wallpaper to pop some color or add texture and interest. It could even be a Parisian or glam theme to elevate the whole look. Make sure you use the right type of wallpaper made for wet and humid spaces.

4. Customize your vanity.

You can never have enough storage in a bathroom. Small appliances, make-up, and hair products should not be strewn everywhere taking up precious countertop space. There should be a place for everything! One way to help with this is customizing your vanity so that it has plenty of electrical outlets built into the drawers. Blow dryers, curling irons, electric shavers, etc. can all be neatly stored out of the way.

Go for undermount sinks or my favorite, integrated sinks for a clean and modern look. This also makes it easier to keep the surface clean. I prefer a wall-mounted vanity to keep as many items off the floor as possible.

5. Upgrade your lighting.

Lighting is everything! It should never be an afterthought. When designing your luxury bathroom, create your lighting plan from the beginning. Most bathrooms still have the builder-grade light fixtures that came with the house and are in desperate need of updating. Make sure you swap out any old incandescent bulbs for energy-efficient LED light fixtures.

Do something different and add wall sconces on either side of your mirror or better yet, embed them in your mirror for a 5-star hotel feel! Add a wow-statement chandelier in the center of your bathroom or above your tub (as long as it meets code, at least 8’ above the highest point of the tub’s rim). If chandeliers or sconces aren’t your thing, go for LED-lit mirrors. There are so many great options out there from a simple dimmable mirror to one that has different color temperatures you can choose from. Also, consider lighting up the toe-kick area of your vanity or underneath your vanity if mounted on the wall. This can serve as a great “night light” for those midnight bathroom trips.

The most important part of all? Make sure you layer your lighting and put them all on dimmers! This gives you the ability to adjust the amount of light you want in the space and it also sets the mood when you want to relax in your new soaking tub. Nothing screams cheap more than having one source of light in your bathroom! That’s definitely not a good look (and you won’t be either in all that bad lighting…just sayin’).

There are a lot of things in life that are impossible. A bathroom that looks and feels expensive is not. It’s absolutely attainable and without giving up functionality. You just have to value what you want and be willing to invest in it. And I’m here to tell you that you’re worthy to be surrounded by luxury and beauty. But the real question is, do you agree?

If you’re too busy for a home project or too overwhelmed by the whole undertaking of something like this, don’t you dare worry your pretty (or handsome) little head because we’ve got you! Fill out our Contact Form to schedule your Design Discovery Session today! We’re excited to chat about how we can help give you the beautiful, luxurious bathroom you deserve.