If the decor in your home is decidedly modern, make sure this carries over to your bathroom by creating a contemporary space that’s just as practical as it is relaxing. Read on for some suggestions of how to go about designing this kind of washroom.

Think space

One of the first things to remember about contemporary bathrooms is that less is definitely more. What I mean by this is that you shouldn’t cram fixtures in – instead leave plenty of space between them.

Of course, this isn’t always practical if you don’t have a large bathroom to begin with, but if this is the case consider whether there are any fittings you can do without. For example, if you have a separate toilet, do you also need one in the main bathroom?

This also applies to the storage in your bathroom – pick one or two striking units that can cater for all your needs and do away with the clutter littering the sides.

Think sleek lines

When you’re shopping for a contemporary bathroom suite, you should focus on finding products that have clean-cut, sleek lines. I think one of the great things about contemporary bathroom design is that you can go for items that are a little more unusual.

Standalone baths are a great example, with plenty of stunning tubs on the market that really draw your eye. Roll-top baths always look stylish, although they can be more appropriate in a period setting. For something truly striking, go for a deep, oval-shaped bath that will look amazing in the centre of the room.

Make sure you carry any design cues from your tub over to the toilet, sink and shower, too.

Think bold colours

While white is the colour of choice for bathrooms, you don’t need to stick to pale tones in a contemporary setting, even though they can work very well. If you want something bolder, choose a shade that complements the white of your suite and use it on a feature wall or as part of the tile design.

Don’t go all out in a bright or garish colour, as this can be overwhelming. Instead, use your chosen hue in selected areas of the bathroom to create continuity and make the space truly unique.

Think chrome accessories

Don’t neglect the finishing touches like taps, towel rails and toilet roll holders. As a general rule, items in chrome will look great in a contemporary setting, no matter what else you’ve done in the space. As with the bathroom suite, choose products with sleek lines that will fit in with the rest of your fixtures. You should, however, be wary of over-accessorising – buy too many odds and ends and you’re in danger of having very cluttered sides, something you definitely want to avoid in a modern space.

Think mirrors and glass

Mirrors are an essential addition to any bathroom, but don’t just fit one because it’s practical; incorporate it into your wider design. There are a host of stunning mirrors on the market that look fantastic in modern bathrooms.

Among my favourites are the ones with LED lights set behind the glass. This lends a very futuristic appearance to the mirror and is good for task lighting. A well-placed looking glass can also be a great way to make the room feel larger than it actually is, in addition to reflecting the light around.

Another top tip if you want your bathroom to seem bigger is to use glass screens around the shower. These look infinitely more stylish than shower curtains and mean that, while you have separation between the shower and the rest of the room, it never feels closed off.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 20th, 2013 at 12:51 pm and is filed under Bathroom Design. Tags: bathroom, Bathroom Design, Bathroom Suite, bathrooms, baths, contemporary bathroom, feature wall, tile design, toilet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.