Blog Cabin Bathrooms: Elements of Design

When planning a bathroom remodel, explore creative options and incorporate elements that accentuate the room's best features. These bathrooms, remodeled as part of DIY Network's Blog Cabin home giveaway program, offer helpful takeaways.

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March 23, 2015

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Photo By: Frank Murray

Photo By: Jackson Riley Parker

Don't Discount Corners

Even in a small powder room, a spa-style shower becomes a possibility when you take advantage of every square inch of space. This glass subway-style tile-clad shower, nestled in the corner, needs only a floor-to-ceiling curtain to complete the room's contemporary farmhouse style.

White May Be Just Right

Sleek clean-lined bath fixtures, tile, and crisp white walls and linens say luxury. Borrow that timeless boutique hotel look in your own bath. Need a quick update or burst of color? Towels and floor mats are far easier to replace than tile and fixtures.

Do Storage in a Stylish Way

If budget doesn't call for expansion of closet space, consider standalone shelving units that, when filled with colorful towels and artwork, lend visual interest and complement the room's overall design scheme.

Tell Stories

Re-creating a design from a home decor catalog is easy enough, but in the end the room may lack personality and the homeowner's signature touch. To add a wink and a smile, consider addition of reclaimed or salvaged materials. Here, an old piano top is fashioned into a storage ledge.

Offer Bathing Options

Don't think either/or. If room and budget permit, pair a grand soaking tub with a walk-in shower for the ultimate spa experience.

Create an Accent Wall

Decorating on a dime? Do one better than a fresh coat of wall paint by cladding one wall entirely in shimmering mosaic tile. The look is luxe, lends drama and creates an instant focal point – no artwork required.

Remember the Fifth Wall

Add texture on the ceiling to draw the eye up. Here, beadboard is paired with a tin ceiling tile, sourced at a salvage center, repainted and framed in ceiling trim.

Draw Inspiration From Nature

We've all suffered from designer's block. Seeking inspiration? Look out your window. Beautiful summer blooms, a bright and sparkling morning sky or a simmering autumn sunset may serve as a springboard for your bathroom color palette.

Mix It Up

You wouldn't match a belt, purse and shoes, so why go matchy-matchy in the bathroom? An eclectic mix of furnishings and fixtures lends visual interest and creates the illusion of design curated over time.

Say Something About Location

Make a subtle nod to region or destination in your bathroom design with accent pieces. Here, fern-print towels and a soft sage color palette echo the home's location near the Catskill Mountains.

Work With Sustainable Materials

Before you invest in building materials, do a bit of research. You may be surprised to discover manufacturers of tile, cabinetry and countertop surfaces in your own backyard. In this master bathroom, locally quarried bluestone doubles as a tub ledge.

Keep It Simple

Consider bathroom fixtures the jewelry of your room's design. There's no need to gild the lily with a myriad of artwork and clutter if you've invested wisely in stylish products.

Hire an Artist

Commission a local artist to custom craft a mirror, medicine cabinet or vanity. Here, a one-of-a-kind vanity, fashioned from red oak, walnut and chestnut, makes a stunning design statement and serves as the room's focal point.

Incorporate an Unexpected Material

Express your signature style by customizing one element of your bathroom's design. Here, high-glaze ceramic pottery squares, nested in a shower stall focal square, pop against muted slate tile.

Take Stock

Don't discount stock cabinetry. It's easy enough to upgrade the look with just a few simple touches. Here, an old barn door is repurposed as the countertop, and birch wood serves as a decorative panel.

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