Ways to Elevate the Look of Your Guest Bathroom

10 tips to design a space to wow your guests

Make your guests feel at home with a thoughtfully and beautifully designed guest bathroom. You want to create a room that’s welcoming and relaxing when used by visitors to your home and by family members when you aren’t hosting guests. While creating a beautiful space in a room usually smaller than your master bathroom can be a challenge, it still can be done with some easy and budget-friendly changes. Here's ten tips to help you elevate the look of your guest bathroom that everyone will love.

Splurge on high-quality towels
Nothing beats the luxurious feeling of wrapping up in the cozy softness of a premium towel after a bath or shower. Indulge your guests in a relaxing, spa-like experience by stocking your guest bathroom with plenty of high-quality Turkish cotton towels and bath linens. The best towels offer a balance of absorbency and plush softness. Keep at least four on hand of each size: bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths.

Put down a rug
A plush bath mat or rug gives your guests a soft and cozy surface to step on as they exit the shower or tub or groom in front of the vanity. Besides keeping bare feet warm against cold tile floors, a rug will absorb moisture and prevent accidental falls caused by damp feet slipping on slick floors. Coordinate your bath mat with your towels for a cohesive look.

Decorate with plants
Green plants add a relaxing organic vibe to any room, including the bath. You can decorate with live plants, faux plants, or a mixture of both. If opting for real plants, choose varieties that thrive in changing conditions, keeping in mind the humidity levels and amount of natural sunlight in your bathroom’s environment. If your bathroom lacks a window or you prefer to forego the hassle of plant care, select maintenance-free faux plants from freestanding floor varieties or smaller potted plants to display on a shelf.

Add texture with baskets
Baskets are always a good bet when it comes to decorating. Woven wicker, jute, or cotton rope baskets help keep items organized, provide added storage, and bring a cozy, artisanal vibe to any style décor. Use vanity tray-style baskets and bins to contain clutter and store toiletries and essentials. Add a large lidded basket to act as a hamper for clothes and towels to go in the laundry. Smaller baskets can also hold a variety of items in easy access on shelves.

Provide storage space
A good bathroom design includes plenty of storage space to keep clutter in check and let your guests organize their personal items. If your guest bathroom is short on vanity or closet space to stash essentials, you can easily add extra storage. A tall freestanding cabinet or wall-mounted linen cabinet can boost your bath’s storage capacity while adding to the room’s overall look. For a more minimalist or rustic look, you can lean a ladder against a wall and use the rungs to hold towels. Wall-mounted shelves add storage without using up floorspace in smaller rooms. 

Hang some wall décor
Infuse your guest bathroom with personality by adding some artwork and décor to your walls. Hang up some art prints, wall plaques, woven macrame décor, or metal signs. Create an accent wall with wall paper in a bold print or design as another option to make your walls stand out.

Have a robe and slippers on hand
Along with soft towels, keep a cozy terry or plush cotton bathrobe on hand that guests can use after their shower or bath. You can have two in different sizes or one unisex style to fit a variety of people and hang it in easy access on a robe hook. Supplying a comfy bathrobe adds a homey touch and lets your guests know you put the thought into creating a relaxing sanctuary for them to enjoy.

Stock up on toiletries
Fill a vanity tray with high-end grooming supplies and toiletries for the ultimate spa experience. Stock up on soap, hydrating hand cream, body lotion, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. If you have a soaking tub, also keep some bath salts, bath bombs, or bubble bath on hand in case your guest who enjoy a relaxing bath before bedtime. Go the extra mile, but filling a basket with additional grooming essentials such as a loofah sponge, a shower pouf, back brush, and a neck pillow for the tub. A scented candle, scent diffusers, or fragrant oils lets your guests indulge in a little aromatherapy while they bathe.

Add functional and thoughtful accents
Little details go a long way when designing a luxurious guest bathroom. Accents and functional accessories can give your space a five-star touch. Place a small wooden stool next to the bathtub to hold small essentials. It can also act as a plant stand while bringing a warm, rustic element into the room. Mount a plug-in towel warmer on a wall as a welcome luxury. It will keep towels warm on chilly mornings, help dry them after use, and add some ambient heat to the bathroom. Install a wall-mounted mirror or tabletop makeup mirror on your vanity to aid in morning grooming routines. A scented candle, scent diffusers, or fragrant oils lets your guests indulge in a little aromatherapy while they bathe.

Use a calming color palette
Set the stage for an inviting and relaxing bathroom with the colors your select for your walls and décor. Choose a calming color palette in light or neutral shades such as white, cream, gray, beige, light blues, and pale sage green. You can go with white towels for a spa look, or incorporate pops of coordinating color with your linens and textiles. Lighter colors will make a smaller bathroom seem roomy and have a timeless appeal that works well with a variety of décor styles.