Your Guide to a Rustic-Style Bathroom
This style takes its inspiration from the outdoors, with rough-hewn wood vanities, stone surfaces and earthy palettes
Laura Gaskill
27 September 2019
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
Whether you’re tackling a bathroom remodel with the help of a bathroom designer, architect or contractor, being able to pin down your favorite style will help get your project off to a smooth start. If you love the natural beauty of the outdoors and feel drawn to spaces that pair rugged materials — such as rough-hewn wood beams and stone — with cozy comforts, rustic style might be right for you. Read on for the need-to-know details about this popular bathroom style, including key elements, color palettes, fixtures and finishing touches.
Rustic-Style Bathrooms at a Glance
Rustic-style bathrooms embrace the beauty of the outdoors with raw, natural materials and warm, cozy textiles. And while rustic style is inspired by the past, today’s interpretation can also lean more contemporary. Here are some rustic bath elements to look for:
Rustic-style bathrooms embrace the beauty of the outdoors with raw, natural materials and warm, cozy textiles. And while rustic style is inspired by the past, today’s interpretation can also lean more contemporary. Here are some rustic bath elements to look for:
- Rough-hewn wood beams, cabinetry and wall paneling
- Natural stone floors, wall treatments and accents
- Dark metal hardware with hammered or matte finishes
- Earthy, nature-inspired color palettes
- Materials with a patina, such as natural wood, copper and stone
What You Won’t Find in Rustic Bathrooms
Rustic style is about getting away from it all, not complicating life with fussy decor or quickly fading trends. Here’s what you won’t see:
Rustic style is about getting away from it all, not complicating life with fussy decor or quickly fading trends. Here’s what you won’t see:
- Wild color palettes
- Cutting-edge trends
- Highly polished finishes such as chrome
- Lucite, molded plastic and other clearly man-made materials
- A mix-and-match approach to materials and finishes
Nature-Inspired Color Palette
Echo the hues of natural materials such as stone and warm woods with paint colors and accents in similar shades for a rich, cozy look.
Colors for Rustic bathrooms:
Echo the hues of natural materials such as stone and warm woods with paint colors and accents in similar shades for a rich, cozy look.
Colors for Rustic bathrooms:
- Neutrals. Buttermilk, cream, straw, wheat, stone
- Earth tones. Chestnut, mushroom, umber, terra cotta, sepia
- Spicy hues. Cinnamon, saffron, pumpkin, chile pepper, baked apple
Furniture-Style Vanity
Wood (or wood-look) vanities with furniture-style details such as legs and open shelving bring a homey touch to rustic bathrooms. In the space shown here by Conrad Brothers Construction, a rough-hewn wooden table was transformed into a vanity with the addition of a vessel sink and towel bar.
Shop for rustic-style vanities on Houzz
Wood (or wood-look) vanities with furniture-style details such as legs and open shelving bring a homey touch to rustic bathrooms. In the space shown here by Conrad Brothers Construction, a rough-hewn wooden table was transformed into a vanity with the addition of a vessel sink and towel bar.
Shop for rustic-style vanities on Houzz
Warm Wood
Wood plays a key role in rustic bathrooms, warming up cool stone and referencing the outdoors. Consider wood for beams, paneled feature walls, flooring, vanities and accessories. Proper installation and finishing (along with excellent ventilation) is generally enough to prevent moisture damage. But if you’d like to avoid the risk altogether, consider limiting real wood to use in a powder room or opt for wood-look materials instead.
Wood plays a key role in rustic bathrooms, warming up cool stone and referencing the outdoors. Consider wood for beams, paneled feature walls, flooring, vanities and accessories. Proper installation and finishing (along with excellent ventilation) is generally enough to prevent moisture damage. But if you’d like to avoid the risk altogether, consider limiting real wood to use in a powder room or opt for wood-look materials instead.
Design Detail: Vessel Sink
A vessel sink made from stone or copper can become the focal point in a rustic bathroom or powder room. Look for rounded and organic natural shapes with tactile texture or patina.
Browse rustic vessel sinks in the Houzz Shop
A vessel sink made from stone or copper can become the focal point in a rustic bathroom or powder room. Look for rounded and organic natural shapes with tactile texture or patina.
Browse rustic vessel sinks in the Houzz Shop
Natural Stone
Stone counters, floors and wall treatments — like the shower in this space from Estate Homes —also bring natural texture to rustic-style bathrooms. Rich, earthy materials such as slate, fieldstone, travertine, soapstone and pebble tile are all good options.
Browse slate tile on Houzz
Stone counters, floors and wall treatments — like the shower in this space from Estate Homes —also bring natural texture to rustic-style bathrooms. Rich, earthy materials such as slate, fieldstone, travertine, soapstone and pebble tile are all good options.
Browse slate tile on Houzz
Statement Bathtub
A freestanding bathtub can make a beautiful centerpiece in a rustic bathroom. Look for a warm copper tub (as seen here), a Japanese-style soaking tub or a classic claw-foot. Modern freestanding bathtubs can also work well in rustic bathrooms if your take on the look is more contemporary.
Find rustic freestanding bathtubs in the Houzz Shop
A freestanding bathtub can make a beautiful centerpiece in a rustic bathroom. Look for a warm copper tub (as seen here), a Japanese-style soaking tub or a classic claw-foot. Modern freestanding bathtubs can also work well in rustic bathrooms if your take on the look is more contemporary.
Find rustic freestanding bathtubs in the Houzz Shop
Design Detail: Weathered Metal
Rustic-style metal finishes often have a bit of patina — think softly gleaming or matte rather than shiny or high-gloss. Look for cabinet pulls, faucets and lighting in dark, weathered metal finishes such as oil-rubbed bronze, antique brass or hammered copper. Or opt for something more whimsical like twig- or stone-shaped hardware.
Find rustic cabinet and drawer hardware
Rustic-style metal finishes often have a bit of patina — think softly gleaming or matte rather than shiny or high-gloss. Look for cabinet pulls, faucets and lighting in dark, weathered metal finishes such as oil-rubbed bronze, antique brass or hammered copper. Or opt for something more whimsical like twig- or stone-shaped hardware.
Find rustic cabinet and drawer hardware
Finishing Touches
Give your rustic bathroom a cozy, outdoorsy vibe with finishing touches such as nature art or photography; a flat-woven or kilim rug in earthy hues; filament bulb vanity lights; and accessories in amber glass, copper, stone and wood.
Give your rustic bathroom a cozy, outdoorsy vibe with finishing touches such as nature art or photography; a flat-woven or kilim rug in earthy hues; filament bulb vanity lights; and accessories in amber glass, copper, stone and wood.
Your turn: Are you a fan of rustic style? Describe or show us your favorite rustic-style bathroom in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Your Guide to Rustic Style
Browse photos of rustic-style bathrooms for inspiration
Find a bathroom designer to get your project started
Shop for rustic bathroom products
More on Houzz
Your Guide to Rustic Style
Browse photos of rustic-style bathrooms for inspiration
Find a bathroom designer to get your project started
Shop for rustic bathroom products
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Here's our paneling in a rustic bathroom. When using wood in high moisture areas, be sure to seal it ahead of time. This is a 3/8' wood paneling that was sealed on all sides before being installed to protect against moisture.
https://reclaimedlumberproducts.com/reclaimed-wood-wall-paneling
@Sue What did you use for the large tile in the shower? It really gives off a warm copper look—I love it!
I like the idea of a flagstone floor in the bathroom (and maybe the kitchen) but haven't found any made for indoor use as the thicknesses are too varied. Does anybody do this?