So here I am, last week, standing in my bathroom at 7.30am (yes, half-seven), watching the beautiful floating shelf I’d been so very proud of literally peel off the wall. It didn’t fall off – it just sort of hung there, slowly losing its grip and sinking into the floor. It was like seeing my beautifully designed future failing before my eyes.
I’ve been guilty of this so many times. The ladder-style towel rack I purchased because it looked as if I’d lifted it directly from a luxury hotel. However, it held no more than 2-3 hand-towels before toppling over. My vintage medicine cabinet was far too shallow for anything other than small travel-sized bottles I bring home from holidays. And let’s be honest; I won’t mention the teak shower seat that warped within a few weeks due to the steam generated by bathing!
But, despite making these mistakes so many times, I believe I finally know what makes for truly great bathroom furniture. Bathroom furniture that’s visually pleasing does not have to be merely decorative – it also must improve the function of your bathroom.
Vanities were the first area I got completely wrong. I believed larger equaled greater functionality, therefore we purchased a large 48-inch single-sink vanity that was visually stunning but turned into an unending dance every morning for both myself and Liam as we brushed our teeth and bumped into each other. On the other hand, my friend Sarah has a 60-inch double-sink vanity in her slightly smaller bathroom, and although I initially thought it was an odd combination, it functions perfectly for her because she measured every aspect of her bathroom – not simply the vanity itself but how wide the drawer openings needed to be, the direction the door opened, and how much room existed between the sink and the toilet. Brilliantly simple, I suppose.
Storage space in most bathrooms is rather dismal. Where exactly are you supposed to place all of the miscellaneous items that seem to accumulate in your bathroom? Extra toilet paper? Hair straightener? All of the nearly empty shampoo bottles we collect? Cleaning supplies? Band-aids? All of Amara’s bath toys that appear to breed when I’m not paying attention… The list goes on forever. Although, I’ve learned that there is ample storage in various areas throughout your bathroom – you just need to locate it.
My favorite item currently is this narrow pull-out cabinet that can slide into the minuscule space between our vanity and shower. From the outside, it appears to be nothing more than a decorative panel. However, when you pull it outward, you’ll discover it contains an incredible quantity of storage. I discovered the manufacturer via Instagram and paid £180 for it which felt excessive at the time, however, it has worked extremely well for us. It matches our vanity perfectly and numerous individuals ask where I acquired it.
Bathroom seating is an area that seems to confuse a lot of individuals – and I completely comprehend their confusion. Do you require a chair or stool? In truth, it depends entirely on whether you will utilize it. If you have enough space and you take advantage of sitting down to put on your shoes or apply makeup, etc., then yes, a chair or stool may be beneficial. But, if you’re simply purchasing a small stool because you saw it in a magazine and you never intend to utilize it except possibly to add clutter to your bathroom, then you’re likely creating another item to clean around.
I utilized an exceptionally stylish upholstered vanity stool for several months. It appeared beautiful, and it felt wonderful when I sat down to apply makeup correctly. However, the upholstery was covered in this light material that revealed every single water stain and water droplet, and I continued to move it aside each day to access the drawers under our vanity. Ultimately, I substituted it for a wooden ladder shelf that creates similar visual appeal yet provides additional storage for towels. At times, less attention-grabbing options work even better.
Wall mounted storage has proven to be my secret weapon — particularly given the relatively limited size of our bathroom. Nevertheless — and this is a significant consideration — not all walls are capable of supporting substantial amounts of furniture and not all wall mounted objects are built to equal standards. The aforementioned floating shelf debacle? The shelf itself was adequate — I simply failed to consider the combined weight of all the items I chose to load upon it along with the constant stress placed on said drawers from daily usage. When installing wall-mounted objects, invest in high-quality fixings — and avoid pushing the weight limitations as I did.
There is currently a resurgence in popularity of medicine cabinets — and I welcome this trend — provided you select a model that will be functional. Models that are extremely shallow (and cannot accommodate a tube of toothpaste?) Are clearly unnecessary. Instead seek models that provide a minimum depth of 4 inches with adjustable shelves. Ideally include electrical connections for interior lighting — and ideally incorporate USB charging ports inside the cabinet — such as my own model which includes USB charging ports — which at first glance appeared somewhat gimmicky until I understood how excellent it would prove in terms of storing electric toothbrushes and Liam’s razor.
One thing I wish someone had informed me early on regarding designing my bathroom: Your bathroom furniture doesn’t necessarily have to consist of matching components — but they should appear intentionally arranged. We currently possess a combination of white-painted vanity units with natural wood shelving and black metal components — and the reason why this arrangement works effectively is due to selecting various elements at least twice and sticking to a common color scheme. Therefore the key factor is establishing a clear plan prior to acquiring individual pieces that you like — with hopes they will collaborate successfully.
Another feature that will undoubtedly reduce your beautiful furniture faster than you can blink: Humidity/temperature fluctuations. Do not disregard practical considerations solely because you desire your bathroom furniture to be aesthetically pleasing. Solid wood looks outstanding — however, requires suitable treatment for bathrooms. Laminated finishes receive a terrible reputation — but superior quality laminates resemble genuine wood almost identically while providing significantly better resistance against moisture. Ventilation requirements for metal fixtures need to be met — or rust spots will develop rapidly.
After experiencing failure multiple times — my recommendation is to start with your actual routines in your bathroom and build from there. What factors contribute towards enhancing your morning routine or creating an environment conducive to unwinding during your evenings? Next identify components that perform these tasks while being aesthetically pleasing to your eye. In some instances, investing in higher priced furniture components upfront will result in long-term durability. In some cases — utilizing creativity with affordable alternatives that can be repainted or modified yourself will yield successful results.
Ultimately — it’s not about designing a showroom bathroom — but developing a space that serves your actual lifestyle — messy and all
