The Well-Appointed Bathroom

The days of toilet paper colored to match bathroom tile are long gone. Turn the pages of shelter magazines like House Beautiful these days, or look up “art bathrooms” on Pinterest, and you’ll see plenty of signs that the markers of a well-appointed loo have changed significantly since the dawn of the new millennium.

The ideas are everywhere. A delicate floral arrangement in a porcelain vase welcomes you to the sink in one boldly blue-hued bathroom. Stately wall sconces stand guard at another sink, while a modern crystal chandelier highlights a chocolate-walled sitting area in another. Sumptuous white draperies graze the floor by an open window in yet another bathroom, while elsewhere a dozen framed photos, illustrations and watercolors turn a wall tubside into a miniature gallery. Fresh greens or gracefully cascading plants, vignettes of urns and jars – home is now where the elegance is.

But while the decoration of many of these environments seems arrestingly chic for a bathroom, these extra touches also make this timeless sanctuary seem that much more inviting, comfortable and inspiring. And considering the amount of time we all spend in the bathroom every day, it’s a trend we’re happy to promote.