Whether you’re planning a full-on bathroom remodel or just itching for a quick weekend refresh, a few bold design choices can completely elevate your space. From hand-painted tiles that double as art to a strategic splash of red, these inspiring ideas from the AD archives prove that even the most utilitarian room in your home can be a canvas for creativity.
1. Go Bold with Colour Drenching in Small Spaces
When working with tight or awkwardly shaped bathrooms, one design trick stands out: colour drenching. For NASA Flight Director Pooja Jesrani’s narrow powder room, interior designer Alexandra Killion took an unconventional route. Instead of fighting the room’s size, she embraced it—enveloping the walls and ceiling in a dreamy blush pink. The monochromatic palette, paired with marble flooring and a custom black marble sink, creates an immersive experience straight out of a Victorian fairytale.
Why it works: Colour drenching adds depth, drama, and cohesion, especially in compact spaces that might otherwise feel cramped or overlooked.
2. Hang Vintage Art for Timeless Elegance
The master bathroom in Puja and Kunal Shah’s Ahmedabad weekend home is the epitome of quiet luxury. Designed by Vibha Hooda, the space is layered with handcrafted tiles, vintage wall sconces, and a statement marble vanity. But the real secret? Framed vintage art above the sink—a subtle, yet impactful detail that infuses character and storytelling into the space.
Why it works: Art isn’t just for living rooms. Carefully curated vintage pieces bring a refined, lived-in feel to bathrooms, making them feel more intimate and personal.
3. Turn Your Tiles Into a Story
What if your bathroom could tell a story—your story? That’s exactly what artist Tanya Garg did with her space in Meerut’s historic Lal Kothi home. Against a backdrop of cobalt blue fish-scale tiles, she hand-painted ceramic tiles with whimsical doodles and personal memories from the lockdown. The result: a bathroom that doubles as a ceramic diary.
Why it works: Hand-painted tiles introduce both colour and narrative, making even the most private spaces a reflection of personal identity.
4. Add Drama with Vintage Fixtures
Architects Arun Shekar and Mohammed Afnan of Humming Tree designed a bungalow in Kerala with a beautifully relaxed, lived-in aesthetic. Their bathroom strikes a delicate balance between nostalgia and modernity, thanks to vintage-style brass fixtures, a freestanding washbasin stand, and an antique mirror—all set against a calm, neutral palette.
Why it works: Vintage elements add warmth and texture, evoking a timeless charm that offsets sleek, modern surfaces.
5. Try the ‘Unexpected Red’ Trick
In a Mumbai duplex inspired by the vibrancy of New York, designer Jason Wadhwani leans into the Unexpected Red Theory—a viral design philosophy that posits: a touch of red in an otherwise unrelated colour scheme makes the space pop. Here, a red-framed mirror and a sculptural red light fixture stand out against dramatic Dalmata marble, creating a chic and modern powder room that demands attention.
Why it works: Red adds immediate visual interest and cohesion, even in small doses. It tells the eye, “This was intentional.”
Final Thought:
Your bathroom doesn’t have to be basic. With a little imagination—and a few daring design choices—it can become one of the most stylish rooms in your home. Whether it’s with colour, vintage touches, or deeply personal details, each idea above proves that bold doesn’t mean overwhelming—just beautifully intentional.
Also Read : Forma by AE Living: Where Traditional Craftsmanship Fuses with Contemporary Chair Design
