Your ensuite bathroom is your sanctuary – so you want to make it special. Picture: Caroma available at The Blue Space

 

We caught up with Rachel Gilding, design specialist at Beaumont Tiles, and Josh Mammoliti, managing director at The Blue Space, to ask for their top tips, tricks and trends to watch when trawling online or seeking inspo for sexy ensuite designs.

 

Ensuite ideas to consider (before you start the reno)

Ready, set, go, right? Wrong. Before you dive head first into renovating your ensuite bathroom, take these top tips from Rachel into consideration.

  • Pick your theme and colour palette before you even start to trawl through ensuite photos. That way you won’t get overwhelmed!
  • Minimise grout lines in the space to make it appear larger – particularly take note of the space between the vanity, toilet and shower. If the space is compact, a small tile will work well.
  • If your tiles are okay, upgrade your bathroom ware instead. It’s surprising how powerful a change this can be.

Ensuite lighting

It doesn’t stop there for pre-reno considerations, either. Lighting is another key focus area that must be considered in your ensuite design before you commence works.

 

Pendant lighting is just one form of lighting up your ensuite, but keep in mind downlights for practicality. Picture: Dorf available at The Blue Space

 

“Lighting is an area that’s often an after-thought, but it really needs to be considered upfront so your electrician can rough in all the wiring,” says Josh. Lighting can make all the difference to the end result, with a well thought-out lighting plan bringing practicality and beauty to your space.”

“It’s not just about hanging a pendant to create a style, but rather complementing this with adequate downlights for make-up and shaving, and LED strip lighting to create a mood.”

Trendy ensuite designs in 2017

We love a good trend and when it comes to materials in your ensuite, this year it’s been about keeping them raw, natural and imperfect.

To take on the trend, Rachel recommends using a “combination of materials”. “Think cement mixed with timber and natural stone,” she says. “You can also get creative when laying patterned tiles; for example a simple rectangle can be transformed into an array of shapes including herringbone.”

When it comes to styling your sexy new ensuite, continue the raw material look and use imperfect marble for your bathroom ware, washed natural linen for your towels and bamboo baskets or rattan stools for a touch of prettiness and practicality.

Your style of door

Josh’s top tip is to not forget about your door hardware when considering ensuite design ideas.

“Shaker-style doors are ideal for a country-style bathroom. These doors feature enough detail to define the style, but won’t give it an aged country look.”

Using tiles in ensuites

What tiles are trending in bathroom ensuites in 2017? Rachel shares three looks she’s loving and why:

  1. “Stone look tiles add a sense of glamour and grandeur without the big price tag.”
  2. “Timber look tiles give the warmth and comfort without the maintenance.”
  3. “Large format tiling leaves minimal grout lines.”

Fish scale tiles make a wow-factor statement in this gorgeous bathroom design. Picture: Three Birds Renovations

 

Or you could also create impact with a white tile and dark grout line, suggests Rachel. Her top tip? “Don’t be afraid to be bold! It can be as simple as picking a grout colour that doesn’t match your tile!”

 

Best ensuite designs for your taps

Tapware is a hot trend this year and it’s certainly proving to be one of the places to experiment with style in a bathroom, says Josh.

“People are experimenting with different metallic tapware, keeping hard-to-replace cabinetry, baths, toilets and tiles a blank white or neutral canvas and using metallic tap elements to give their space the style status they’re looking for.”

 

Metallic tapware is one of the ensuite design ideas that’s killing it right now. Picture: Sophie Shennan

 

So what styles to look for in your ensuite bathroom?

“Brushed nickel, gunmetal, gold or metallic pops of colour are a great way to add personality to your bathroom. You also don’t need every fitting in a brushed or metallic finish. Match a key piece of gold with black taps and accessories to really make your space pop,” says Josh.