Considering a bath remodel? It's worth thinking through how to make a primary bath a luxurious sanctuary, a place where you look forward to getting ready in the morning and unwinding in the evening. By identifying what you need and investing in a few key areas, you can create the ultimate spa experience.

When planning a bath renovation, it helps to know your own requirements first, then take inspiration from other homes. Hotel bathrooms are an excellent reference, designed with luxury in mind. Warm wood, natural stone, layered lighting, and freestanding tubs are just some ways to bring real luxury to a bath. Here are top luxury bath design ideas worth considering.

Install a Floating Vanity

Floating bathroom vanities are no longer purely synonymous with contemporary design. They're a great way to bring luxury to a bath remodel. Since luxury aesthetics are often tied to a simpler spa-style approach, floating vanities suit a bathroom planned with relaxation and clean lines in mind. They break up what could be visually weighty cabinetry without compromising on storage. Less space gets used cleverly with customized storage accessories inside cabinets, and decorative baskets underneath bring added texture.

Sinks, faucets, and hardware fit any style of floating vanity. Choose from a range of countertop materials and colors, plus sink, faucet, and hardware styles to complete the look. Having the floor visible underneath opens up the design and showcases surrounding tile. On a practical note, the floating vanity also makes the bath easier to clean.

Try a New Type of Tile

Bigger really is better with current tile direction. Very small mosaic tiles are giving way to large-format tiles in bathrooms. They make a big impact and there's less grouting to maintain, particularly good for shower surrounds. Large-format tiles look luxurious in natural stone or stone-look materials. Small mosaic tiles can still be incorporated in small areas, like a recessed storage niche, as an accent to your main slab tiles.

Improved manufacturing means tiles come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns. Subway tiles are now available in various sizes and finishes. Hexagon, arabesque, diamond, and chevron-shaped tiles are increasingly popular in new textures and colors. The way tiles are laid is also changing: vertically or horizontally stacked linear tiles for a minimalist appearance. Keep main tile patterns straight and neat to focus on other aspects like texture or color. We dig into tile choices in our small bathroom tile guide.

Give Your Mirror Star Treatment

A new mirror is an excellent and relatively simple way to change up a bath. A practical choice with a luxury feel is a backlit mirror. Backlit mirrors and medicine cabinets are stunning in a modern bath. The backlight provides glare-proof ambient lighting; dimmed, it's perfect as a nightlight. The backlight gives the illusion of a floating mirror, which highlights texture or color on the wall behind it.

Front-lit mirrors give you more fixture options but could distract from the mirror's shape. Asymmetrical mirrors are on the rise and can be a focal point. A framed mirror is a chance to bring in a new texture or color (metal-framed or tile-framed). Smart mirrors are entering luxury bath design too: anti-fog, touchscreen, and voice-control technology with charging stations turn the mirror into an entertainment and information hub.

Think Twice About Your Tub

Tubs are essential to a bath focused on spa-style relaxation. Although shower enclosures are becoming larger, bath designs are also becoming more space-savvy.

Freestanding tubs are without doubt the most popular choice; flat-bottomed tubs are far more popular than ornate clawfoot models. Their simple, clean lines work in any bath without overwhelming the space. They're a design staple in classic white but also appear in materials like wood and concrete for a unique touch.

Tubs are increasingly design-focused, with luxe features that make them the focal point of a high-end bath remodel. Place a tub beside a window with a view, hang a statement light fixture overhead, and consider features like massage jets, thermal controls, speakers, and self-cleaning capability.

Color It Beautiful

A restful bathroom doesn't have to be all white. The paint industry continues to produce durable paints in multiple finishes with stain, bacteria, and mildew resistance. Beige, tan, mushroom, and brown tones bring warmth and a neutral background. Warm and vibrant shades let you move away from cool grays while keeping a modern, sophisticated look.

Blue and green evoke coastal calm or natural well-being. Pastel pink and coral tones are increasing in popularity. Use a strong shade as a contrast to white fixtures for a crisp, rich feeling. Whatever shades you choose, keep the color palette to a minimum to avoid overwhelming the space.

Smart Toilets Bring Futuristic Luxury

Like vanities, toilets look minimalist and spa-style when wall-hung. Their clean lines, smooth surfaces, and raised position make them easier to clean than the plumbing and crevices of traditional models. Take a new toilet to the next level with hi-tech features: temperature-controlled spray and air drying, warm seats that close automatically, touch-free flushing. Self-cleaning toilets with built-in deodorizers and noise-disguising features are also available.

Aim High with Your Floor

Porcelain and ceramic tiles continue to be popular: hard wearing, low maintenance, and resistant to bacteria and moisture. They come in a huge selection of colors, sizes, shapes, and patterns. Ceramic and porcelain tiles can mimic natural hardwood very effectively, including marble looks, popular along with the wood appearance for organic-style bathrooms. The finishing touch is underfloor heating for ultimate comfort. Natural wood and stone are also fail-safe options that bring warmth to an all-white bath.

Best Luxe Faucets and Hardware

Inject glamor into a bath with the right faucets and hardware. Pick up these tones in light fixtures and mirrors too. Brass is increasing in popularity, especially minimalist with a brushed finish. Its opulent appearance complements natural stone and wood cabinetry. Warm gold tones accent a room without the fingerprint problem of polished chrome. Black matte metals pick up dark veining in marble and look stunning against stark white surroundings.

High-end hardware can dramatically change cabinetry. Faucets are increasingly hi-tech with motion sensors and water flow and temperature controls.

Maximize Your Storage

You can't maintain a new bathroom if clutter builds up. Custom storage means the right amount and type of storage to keep everything organized. Warm wood cabinetry, or for a different look mirror-fronted storage, paired with internally compartmentalized cabinetry, keeps a bathroom feeling zen. Anything stored in niche shelving should be containerized or kept to a minimum.

Get the Ultimate Showering Experience

Open showers visually increase the size of a bathroom while offering better accessibility and more shower space. Two-in-one showerheads increase coverage and intensity; massaging showers offer several spray settings. Built-in speakers, voice-activated lighting, and temperature controls are all easy to install in a high-end bath remodel.

Talk through your luxury bath with a designer

If you're planning a luxury bath and want to talk through how to bring it together, we'd love to talk.

Schedule a showroom visit at our 5,000 square foot showroom in Norwell. No pressure, just a real conversation about your home.

Transitions Kitchens, Baths & Remodeling
433 Washington St, Norwell, MA
(781) 871-0881