11 Things That Will Transform Your Bathroom Into a Scandi-style Space
Bring the serenity of Scandinavian style into this private, functional room with these design tricks
Ioanna Lennox
24 April 2016
Houzz Australia Contributor. Creative Director at Ioanna Lennox Interiors, a Sydney award-winning interior design firm specialising in residential interiors. I've been fascinated by architecture and interiors since childhood and after spending 15+ years in the finance industry, I decided to study interior design and set up my own design studio to follow my passion.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Creative Director at Ioanna Lennox Interiors, a Sydney... More
While the love affair with Scandinavian decor in the rest of the house may have started to wane, Scandi-style bathrooms and kitchens are still very much in vogue. To get a look that seems uncomplicated, however, you’ll have to be prepared to spend a little money, at least on permanent fixtures. But the budget doesn’t have to stretch too far; you can probably get away with just one or two of these ideas to bring Scandinavian flair into your bathroom.
1. Feature timber
Nothing says Scandinavian style as much as light-coloured timber, so consider different ways to bring it into your bathroom. Choose recycled, solid or veneer timber and use it to construct or panel anything from the vanity cabinet to storage joinery, or even a feature wall. In this luxurious bathroom in Western Australia, Red Lily Renovations have featured timber in the floating vanity bench to match the timber pendants.
Making timber work in the bathroom
Nothing says Scandinavian style as much as light-coloured timber, so consider different ways to bring it into your bathroom. Choose recycled, solid or veneer timber and use it to construct or panel anything from the vanity cabinet to storage joinery, or even a feature wall. In this luxurious bathroom in Western Australia, Red Lily Renovations have featured timber in the floating vanity bench to match the timber pendants.
Making timber work in the bathroom
2. Bring greenery indoors
A plant can often add colour and vibrancy to an otherwise fairly monochromatic space, and this is especially so in rooms characterised by Scandinavian style. Plus, there’s something very enticing about having a real living thing indoors, which is probably why indoor plants offer an instant Scandi-style pick-me-up in bathrooms.
DESIGN TIP: Don’t feel you have to bring in an entire tree to make a difference. A small potted plant, luscious fern or some long-lasting blooms strategically placed on your vanity counter, window sill or shelf will catch the eye every time you enter the room.
A plant can often add colour and vibrancy to an otherwise fairly monochromatic space, and this is especially so in rooms characterised by Scandinavian style. Plus, there’s something very enticing about having a real living thing indoors, which is probably why indoor plants offer an instant Scandi-style pick-me-up in bathrooms.
DESIGN TIP: Don’t feel you have to bring in an entire tree to make a difference. A small potted plant, luscious fern or some long-lasting blooms strategically placed on your vanity counter, window sill or shelf will catch the eye every time you enter the room.
3. Keep the room light and airy
Scandi-style bathrooms are characterised by their light and airy feel and clean lines. White on white can reign supreme, but do ensure some contrast is present by considering dark or metallic tapware or pendant lights. Black accents or metallic tones look equally at home in a Scandi bathroom, and provide a visual contrast to white fixtures and warm timbers.
More all-white bathrooms
Scandi-style bathrooms are characterised by their light and airy feel and clean lines. White on white can reign supreme, but do ensure some contrast is present by considering dark or metallic tapware or pendant lights. Black accents or metallic tones look equally at home in a Scandi bathroom, and provide a visual contrast to white fixtures and warm timbers.
More all-white bathrooms
4. Bring in bricks
Using bricks can add an industrial edge to the Scandi-look bathroom, and it’s also a great alternative to the more traditional tiled feature wall. The multi-coloured bricks here add an element of quirkiness and expand the colour palette into warm browns and greys, which can then be replicated on the walls and in patterned floor tiles.
DESIGN TIP: Make sure you seal any bricks used in a wet area to protect from moisture and preserve their look.
More examples of exposed bricks inside
Using bricks can add an industrial edge to the Scandi-look bathroom, and it’s also a great alternative to the more traditional tiled feature wall. The multi-coloured bricks here add an element of quirkiness and expand the colour palette into warm browns and greys, which can then be replicated on the walls and in patterned floor tiles.
DESIGN TIP: Make sure you seal any bricks used in a wet area to protect from moisture and preserve their look.
More examples of exposed bricks inside
5. Cover or panel
A clever way to introduce the timber look into your bathroom is to use wood-look tiles. These are laid by a tiler and act like normal tiles, but look like timber panels – even down to the wood grain. In the installation above, TILE junket has used timber-look tiles to cover the floor, as well as to create a feature wall behind the bath.
A clever way to introduce the timber look into your bathroom is to use wood-look tiles. These are laid by a tiler and act like normal tiles, but look like timber panels – even down to the wood grain. In the installation above, TILE junket has used timber-look tiles to cover the floor, as well as to create a feature wall behind the bath.
6. Sink a spa
We all love submerging into a bath, but what about submerging into a bath that is itself submerged? If you have lots of room in your bathroom, allow the bath to take centre stage and ‘sink it’ into the floor. That way you step down into it and let yourself become immersed in your own private spa. To add a distinctly Scandinavian touch, add a small wood-burning stove and wood stack, thereby keeping the large room toasty warm in winter.
We all love submerging into a bath, but what about submerging into a bath that is itself submerged? If you have lots of room in your bathroom, allow the bath to take centre stage and ‘sink it’ into the floor. That way you step down into it and let yourself become immersed in your own private spa. To add a distinctly Scandinavian touch, add a small wood-burning stove and wood stack, thereby keeping the large room toasty warm in winter.
7. Install a sauna
Incorporating your own sauna into your bathroom design is definitely one of the most complicated ideas here, but so distinctively Scandinavian you might feel the expense is worth it.
DESIGN TIP: Installing a sauna is something you need to decide on at the design stage, since the bathroom must be insulated and allowances must be made for ventilation and heating elements.
Incorporating your own sauna into your bathroom design is definitely one of the most complicated ideas here, but so distinctively Scandinavian you might feel the expense is worth it.
DESIGN TIP: Installing a sauna is something you need to decide on at the design stage, since the bathroom must be insulated and allowances must be made for ventilation and heating elements.
8. Colour with peaches and creams
In recent years, the prevalent white specific to Scandi style has been replaced by softer pastel colours and beige tones. If you combine some of these, such as peach, grey or taupe, in tiles and wall paint, with white cabinetry and bathware, you’ll succeed in creating a clean, pared-back look.
Colours to know about in in 2016
In recent years, the prevalent white specific to Scandi style has been replaced by softer pastel colours and beige tones. If you combine some of these, such as peach, grey or taupe, in tiles and wall paint, with white cabinetry and bathware, you’ll succeed in creating a clean, pared-back look.
Colours to know about in in 2016
9. Make it modern with monochromes
Graphic black and white is a beloved Scandinavian design element, especially when mixed with warmer elements such as light timbers and brass tapware. Auhaus Architecture made a bold but masterful flooring choice with black and white geometric tiles in this contemporary Melbourne house, resulting in a highly sophisticated, textural and unique looking bathroom.
Graphic black and white is a beloved Scandinavian design element, especially when mixed with warmer elements such as light timbers and brass tapware. Auhaus Architecture made a bold but masterful flooring choice with black and white geometric tiles in this contemporary Melbourne house, resulting in a highly sophisticated, textural and unique looking bathroom.
10. Create interest with texture
With the incredible tile technology available, there’s no reason why texture cannot be a feature in Scandi-style bathrooms. In fact, there are many options for textural tiles that suit the pared-back aesthetic in these rooms. The tiles come in lots of colours and shapes, but do make sure to moderate the use of any one type of tile – Scandinavians like to make a considered statement rather than overpower an entire room.
With the incredible tile technology available, there’s no reason why texture cannot be a feature in Scandi-style bathrooms. In fact, there are many options for textural tiles that suit the pared-back aesthetic in these rooms. The tiles come in lots of colours and shapes, but do make sure to moderate the use of any one type of tile – Scandinavians like to make a considered statement rather than overpower an entire room.
11. Tile with the hexagon
Hexagonal tiles are becoming an increasingly popular choice in modern Scandinavian bathrooms, and are beautiful when used in a feature wall. They’re even more striking when paired with black contrasting grouting, or when matched up with smaller tile shapes on floors.
YOUR TURN
Do you have a Scandinavian-style bathroom you’d like us to see? Share a photo in the Comments section.
MORE
So Your Style Is: Scandinavian
How to Give Your Bedroom a Scandinavian Edge
8 Life Lessons From the Nordics
Hexagonal tiles are becoming an increasingly popular choice in modern Scandinavian bathrooms, and are beautiful when used in a feature wall. They’re even more striking when paired with black contrasting grouting, or when matched up with smaller tile shapes on floors.
YOUR TURN
Do you have a Scandinavian-style bathroom you’d like us to see? Share a photo in the Comments section.
MORE
So Your Style Is: Scandinavian
How to Give Your Bedroom a Scandinavian Edge
8 Life Lessons From the Nordics
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A back to wall bath is an option for those finding it difficult to clean behind the bath, while still having the appeal of a free standing bath :)
This is one of our projects inspired by the Scandinavian style. It's simple and has a lot of earthy texture mixed in with a light soft wood.
Great article!