Eight Common Design Mistakes to Avoid in Your Bathroom
Last month, we talked about ways you could go about making your master bathroom into a spa-like space so you can relax in the beauty and serenity that you deserve!
This month I want to focus in on details that will help you to avoid making design mistakes in any bathroom refresh you may endeavor to undertake. And maybe you’re not doing a refresh yet, but you will be in the future and your friend was talking about starting her own refresh soon, so save this post and send it to her so she can also avoid making these common design mistakes!
Now your bathroom is either builder-grade basic, boring and probably a bit cheap or it’s outdated, ugly and an eye-sore. A third option is that when you first decorated the bathroom it was great and now years later, your tastes has changed! And that’s completely normal. None of these options are conducive to relaxation or inspiring a killer outfit, hair and makeup combo in the morning.
We want to fix that.
We want each room in your home to be relaxing or inspiring and good for your overall well being.
The problem when you take on this kind of project yourself is that there are a lot of mistakes that can be made simply because you are unaware of what to look for. Heck, before I started studying interior design, I renovated my bathroom and now, there are definitely some mistakes I made that I would do differently. I certainly wish I had this knowledge back then, so I want to share it with you now to help you avoid walking around your bathroom after having spent all that time, money and effort on it, only to later realize the mistakes you made.
That’s why this month you’re going to learn about some of the most common design mistakes you’ll want to avoid when working on your bathroom refresh.
Eight Common Design Mistakes to Avoid in Your Bathroom
Neglecting Lighting Options
Lighting plays such a vital role in any room because it sets the mood and functionality of any space. You’ll want to opt for consistent temperature lighting to ensure a cohesive ambiance throughout. It typically ranges from 2700k which is a yellow light to 5000k which is a white light. You can Google a chart and see the difference.
Most commonly, interior light sits between 2700k and 3000k and the best option is whichever color you’d prefer to see. You can find the temperature listed on the box of any lightbulb. If you have high hats (aka recessed lights) in your ceiling, you may need to guess what that temp is and try a couple different bulbs to ensure you’re going to match them.
Consider dimming options for versatility—bright for tasks like makeup application, and softer for relaxation. When installing sconces, ensure they're aligned properly for balanced illumination without overshadowing mirrors or hitting walls. If you’re getting an electrician involved see if you can put your high hats on a different light switch from your sconces so that you have options on what goes on and off. It’s an easy way to create mood light or get all the brightness you desire!
2. Using the Wrong Tiles in Wet Areas
Choosing the wrong tile can lead to safety hazards and maintenance issues and it’s expensive and timely to repair or replace, so you really want to get this right. Some materials aren't suitable for wet areas because they get slippery or discolored. Not every tile is made equal, and some are not meant to go in wet areas like the shower walls or shower floors. Before you run with a whole design around a beautiful tile, check the specifications or with the sales rep to ensure it’s safe to use in a wet area.
One quick way to tell if it’s usable or not is how shiny it is. If it’s a polished material, unless it’s a small mosaic, it will be too slippery for your shower floors. You’ll also want to avoid large-format tiles on shower floors as they lack necessary grout lines for traction.
There are also certain materials, like white marble and mother of pearl that may be prone to rust or discoloration in moist environments. It’s simply a reaction of those natural materials to rust. If you choose them for anywhere in your shower, there’s a strong chance that you’ll be ready to tear it out in a few months because you can’t get it white again. And while your tile installers can seal it while installing it, that doesn’t fully protect it from getting rusted. I highly suggest using those beautiful tiles in other areas like the dry floor or on a tiled wall.
3. Improper Mirror Placement & Sizing
A common blunder is the placement of their vanity mirrors. They end up either too high or low and people either can’t see properly in them or they look awkward on the wall because of placement. Ensure mirrors are positioned at a height that accommodates all users, allowing for full visibility. Typically, that’s about 4-8” over the backsplash which is often 4in high. And, ideally, your mirror goes an inch or two or three past your sink from left to right. Double check this with the tallest and shortest person in your family looking in the mirror before final placement.
Additionally, select a mirror size that suits the space and provides adequate reflection for everyone. A standard decorative mirror over a single sink is 24x36 or 36x48. For a double sink vanity, you would more than double that size to accommodate the spacing in between the sinks. I know it’s a style at times for people to use tiny mirrors in places like the powder bath, but personally I dislike the look. To me it makes everything feel super small. A well-sized mirror can create an illusion of spaciousness in smaller bathrooms and avoid claustrophobia.
And one final note, before buying the mirror, you can use blue tape on the walls to mark out various sizes to see what could be best. It’s difficult to hold up a mirror and check placement without 3 people present or hanging multiple holes in the wall. I know my husband always appreciates avoiding both scenarios!
4. Mixing Metal Finishes Excessively
I can be tempting to mix several finishes because you like how the look on different items, but let’s not get carried away. Within any given room, I highly recommend limiting the number of metal finishes to no more than two in order to maintain visual coherence. When you pick three finishes, it starts to clash with each other, and your eye starts bouncing all over the room and can struggle to find a place to rest. That can detract for the true beauty of the room, which likely isn’t all your metal items.
Test combinations before committing to holes in walls and cabinetry so you can ensure they complement each other and the overall decor scheme. Consistency in plumbing fixtures and accessories can enhance cohesion within the space.
There are two common ways to go about this that you can refer to, you can either match all plumbing fixtures, cabinet hardware and bath accessories, or switch it up in one area. For example, you can have brushed nickel cabinet hardware and shower curtain rod with black plumbing fixtures and bath accessories. It’s something you can play with so have some fun considering your options before buying everything and putting holes in walls.
I want to take a moment to reassure you that mistakes can be made and repaired. It’s never fun and sometimes costly, but things can be repaired. Please don’t let it paralyze or intimidate you. I never want you to feel like you cannot do something yourself that you want to tackle and accomplish. I believe you can do it!
If, however, all of this is daunting, and you’re not interested in figuring this out on your own I would be honored to help you. I have a talent and passion for seeing this these issues and resolving them, that’s why I’m building my career as an interior designer and organizer. I want to help you resolve all the design dilemmas in your home so that it’s uniquely your space to love living in.
So, if you are curious about what it would look like to work with me, grab my free Look Book from my website that breaks it down a bit for you. Read through that and get on my list to receive more of these insightful Look Books each month that are meant to educate and inspire good design and functionality in your life. When you’re ready, let’s schedule a Discovery Call and I can handle the overwhelm of creating beautifully functional and sustainably designed spaces for you.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program. ;)
5. Insufficient Counter Space
You’ve got to be careful when picking out any prefabricated countertops. It can save you money, but you can also end up with a smaller counter than you realized. You want to maximize functionality by ensuring you have ample counter space around your sinks. While space constraints may limit you, get a sink that’s a minimum of 16” w and 10” d, the counter should extend around 10” beyond that for a single sink vanity top. Powder rooms or cabana baths may require less counter space but prioritize adequate room for daily essentials and grooming tools in your full baths. In those areas you want a minimum of 21” for it to be functional without annoyance.
6. Lack of Storage Solutions
Storage is something everybody longs for more of, it doesn’t matter what size house you have, it seems there can never be enough of it. That could easily rabbit trail into a topic about over-consumption and the need for less, but we won’t digress there today.
You’ll want to avoid clutter by incorporating adequate storage options into your bathroom design. Whether through drawers, shelves, or cabinets, ensure there's ample space for toiletries, towels, and cleaning supplies. Consider innovative storage solutions like medicine cabinets that blend seamlessly with your decor while maximizing space utilization.
Having a floating vanity is a very modern and clean look, however it’s not always practical for storage when you have limited options. I’d recommend in a full bath you use a full-sized vanity and opt for the floating vanity in a powder room where you need less storage and could use the appearance of more room.
7. Inconsistent Plumbing Fixtures and Accessories
This is along the same idea of keeping your finishes simple, but we’re talking here about another aspect of it. It’s nice to maintain visual harmony by selecting plumbing fixtures and accessories that complement each other in style and shape. Stick to one brand or shape to prevent a disjointed look. While matching sets are ideal for a simple and clean look, they don’t always have the right sized elements you need so coordinating square and square or round and round, etc., help keep it cohesive.
8. Prioritizing Trends Over Timeless Design
Resist the temptation to follow fleeting trends and instead focus on timeless design elements that resonate with your personal style. Trendy choices may quickly become outdated, necessitating frequent updates and contributing to wastage. Opt for designs that stand the test of time, promoting sustainability and longevity in your bathroom decor.
One way to know if something will be timeless is to ask yourself if you love it. Now, sometimes if you’re like me and you have a large flavor of styles you love, they shouldn’t always go together in one room. But we can spread things around into various rooms and focus on different aspects in each space. But if you love something and it makes you smile, it’s a good sign it will be timeless for you.
Another way to make sure something is timeless is to ensure you buy quality and keep functionality in mind. Something may be beautiful at first, but if it starts to fall apart or creates dysfunction then it loses its beauty. Beauty can be practical and that, for me at least, is a huge part of why something becomes timeless.
By avoiding these eight common design mistakes, you can create a functional, visually pleasing bathroom that enhances your daily routine and adds value to your home. You can create a space that you love which is always of key importance.
Remember to sign up for my Look Book so you can get a feel for what it’d be like for us to work together. Then schedule a Discovery Call with me on the Contact page of my website. We can either spend a couple hours together discussing your specific design dilemma’s or I can help you with a full Bathroom Refresh and handle all the details for you.
Either way, I’d love to help you create beauty in your own home.
