How to Design a Luxury Bathroom When You Have a Small Budget

Bathroom design has undergone a revolution in recent years, with a move away from the merely functional, to more luxurious retreats that are influenced by spas and boutique hotels. However, many of the beautiful designs we see online or at exclusive hotels are beyond the average budget for a bathroom remodel.

Despite this, there are some design principles that you can follow to help your bathroom look and feel luxurious, whatever your budget. Here are some tips and suggestions!

Go for a mixture of affordable fixtures and luxury fittings

Save on the big-ticket items such as basins, baths, and toilets. Modern clean designs that are appropriate for the size of your bathroom will look stylish even if they have a lower price bracket. Invest in the smaller details, such as luxury shower door handles. 

These are highly visible features, and if you choose an elegant and distinctive design it can act as a focal point and lift the look and feel of the whole bathroom. Match the materials and colour to your taps, towel rails, and other fittings to create a pleasing sense of harmony without breaking the budget. 

Choose porcelain tiles

The bathroom of your dreams may be dressed from floor to ceiling in the finest quality marble or granite, but it’s certainly not all or nothing when it comes to the choice of materials. For example, porcelain tiles can now be manufactured to very fine and subtle finishes that can resemble natural stone, or even wood or concrete.

They are more affordable than natural stone and also easier to maintain, because they are more water resistant and not as prone to staining or cracking. In fact, porcelain is very hard wearing and durable, and will stay looking good with minimal maintenance. 

Large format tiles mean fewer tiles and fewer cuts, making them quicker and cheaper to install than smaller tiles. Larger tiles can also help a smaller bathroom to look bigger because there are fewer joins to interrupt the flow, and they are also easier to keep clean. 

Choose quartz for vanity unit tops

If you have fallen in love with the idea of a granite or marble countertop for your vanity unit, but realise that this is just not an affordable option, then opt for quartz instead. This is an equally beautiful material that is less expensive and also easier to maintain, because it is non-porous and highly resistant to scratches, chipping and stains. 

Choose accessories carefully

Opt for high-end accessories such as soft sumptuous towels in matching colours, attractive handmade ceramics or glassware, and greenery. This adds polish and style to your bathroom and shows that you have put careful thought into the design, rather than just added in a few odd items as an afterthought. 

Think about creating a multisensory experience with quality fragrances from essential oil diffusers or candles, or indulgent bathing products that help you feel relaxed and enhance your enjoyment of the room. 

Incorporate storage

Clutter destroys the serenity and style of a bathroom very quickly, and as most of us keep multiple toiletries and grooming items in this space, it can start to look messy and chaotic very easily. This works against the tranquil haven that you want to achieve with your high-end aspirations. 

If space is an issue, look for corner storage units or wall-mounted shelving. Make use of vertical space with shelves above the door or above the vanity unit, if you have one. If the bathroom is very small and even a small shelving unit isn’t an option, keep all of the toiletries in a caddy and store them neatly in the shower tray or outside the bathroom.

Focus on the lighting

Lighting that is too harsh or too dim can ruin the ambience of any room, and thoughtful lighting can enhance a room, even if it is not expensively decorated. Aim to have layers of ambient, task, and accent lighting that can be adjusted to suit your mood and the time of day.

All of these elements can help you to achieve a sophisticated and elegant space that will be a pleasure to use, and also durable and easy to maintain. With some smart choices about where to save and where to spend, you can make a small budget work very hard.