How to create a ‘happy’ bathroom full of joy, energy and impact!

It’s become clear this year how much the design of our home affects our well-being and mental health, and that spaces of all shapes and sizes have the potential to uplift, calm or comfort us; the bathroom is no exception.

A room that’s often overlooked when considering statement interior design, now is the time to be bold in the bathroom, and turn to shapely tiles, expressive patterns and vibrant colours to lift your spirits and fill the bathroom with joy, energy and impact. Graeme Borchard MD of ukbathrooms.com explores ways to turn your bathroom into a space sure to rouse a smile morning, noon and night.

Embrace colour

A happy bathroom means bringing in colours that have a positive effect on your mood, be that bright or muted shades. Choose a palette that suits your personality and mix together different tones; try to incorporate every surface in the room, covering them in hues that make your heart sing. From rugs and curtains to the floor, walls and even the ceiling, an all-encompassing 360-degree aesthetic creates a joyful and stylish retreat.

Have fun with fabrics

An easy way to add oomph and vibrancy to the bathroom is with non-permanent features such as colourful or patterned textiles. Use rugs, blinds, curtains and towels as an opportunity to inject some brightness and a sense of fun into the space, and opt for a design that’s energetic and playful to lift the spirits. If you change your mind or mood, they’re easy to swap!

The tone zone

Create a considered moment of happiness in the bathroom with a dazzling burst of colour. Let a spirited hue (think sunshine yellow, bubblegum pink or royal blue) run free across a tiled splash back, shower enclosure or feature wall – the area doesn’t need to be large as the powerful pigments will impact the entire room. Support the shade with neutrals or natural materials to create a bathroom that’s balanced as well as bursting with cheer.

Shapely sweetness

Think outside of the box and get on board with shapely tiles, which add a happy-go-lucky, whimsical feel to bathroom walls and floors. Tiles with rounded forms such as scallop-shaped fish scales, circular penny mosaics or soft hexagons will add a sense of calm to the space due to their lack of angles, their unusual shapes shimmying across the wall and playfully contrasting the straight lines in the room. For something subtle, keep tiles plain or in neutral tones. For more impact, experiment with coloured grout or choose livelier shades.

Pastel pick n mix

Can’t make a colour choice? Maybe you don’t have to. Combine your favourite tile tones to make a waterproof wall display that will truly make your space one of a kind and elevate your bathroom into a work of art. For a hit of happiness, choose joyful hues that will interact with each other, and add in matching accessories for even more fun.

Look to the floor

Nothing comes closer to a party in the bathroom than a floor worthy of dancing on. Let what’s underfoot do the talking with boldly patterned tiles that take centre stage. Choose bathroom floor tiles with bold, large scale patterns and vivid colours for an unforgettable, kaleidoscopic floor that gives you an instant spring in your step.

Wild wallpaper

Go all out and transform the bathroom with a vivacious wallpaper to add narrative and transport you to faraway places. Be it exotic jungles, blossoming gardens or underwater worlds, choose a high impact, exuberant print full of depth, colour and imagination and take a thrilling trip with every visit.