Can an All-White Bathroom Still Pack a Design Punch?
Oftentimes, style is the last characteristic considered in a bathroom. Rightfully first is functionality, but the aesthetic can quickly fall by the wayside. However, a bathroom can be both stylish and functional, and we can prove it. Whether your dream bathroom is minimalist and spa-like, covered in bold wallpaper, or somewhere in the middle, bathroom design is a great opportunity to showcase your personality in unique ways. And this doesn't mean going overboard with color, either. White bathroom ideas are often seen as boring, stark, or evidence of the resale-value effect—but we beg to differ.
White bathrooms can be soothing and serene or sleek and sophisticated, and you can play up whichever vibe suits your home's personality best. After all, the best white bathroom design ideas incorporate so much more than just paint. Using texture, natural materials, hardware, and more, we've gathered the best white bathroom ideas from designer spaces to spark some inspiration.
Whether you're looking for a faucet fixture to pair with your white marble countertops or considering swapping your wallpaper for a wash of white paint, we've rounded up our favorite white bathrooms to get you started. From small powder rooms to sprawling primary baths, read on for the 25 best white bathroom ideas.
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Take Inspiration From the Sauna
While designer Lauren Nelson adhered to a warm-neutral color palette for this white bathroom idea, the shower nook takes design notes from a sauna. The wood imbues the space with a calming air.
Add Interest Through Veining
If you're worried about an all-white bathroom looking bare, opt for a white stone with interesting veining. This bookended marble creates a wallpaper-like effect in this primary bath.
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Add a Skylight
In the dark, white tile can look dreary. But when natural light is thrown into the design mix, as in this white bathroom idea by Suzannah Charbin, the glossy zelliege tile reflects the light to brighten up the entire alcove.
Choose a Statement Tub
Break up the white color palette with a statement bathtub or shower fixture. The bronzed tub in this white bathroom idea grounds the otherwise light and airy space.
Don't Be Afraid of a Rug
Usually, high-pile rugs and other soft floor accents are a no-go in the bathroom. However, they can bring a sense of coziness that a mostly white room definitely needs. This white bathroom idea works as long as you have plenty of ventilation in your space to prevent mildew and mustiness.
Use Graphic Hardware
This white bathroom idea pairs neutral walls with black hardware and fixtures for a modern farmhouse look. This contrast adds a graphic element that helps to break up the all-white walls.
Offset Your Color Palette
Like any color, white has endless variations, undertones, and shades. Look to the entire palette of possibilities for your white bathroom ideas, and opt to use more than one shade, as in this variegated tile wall.
Stick to One Metal Finish
It's tempting to mix and match finishes and metals in a white bathroom to add visual interest. When you commit to one, however, it can create a sleek and streamlined appearance.
Add Warmth With Wallpaper
An all-white bathroom idea doesn't have to mean all-white everything. You can stick to white fixtures, tile, and lighting, but add warmth through the wallpaper. This muted botanical print creates interest without overwhelming.
Incorporate Vintage Touches
Modern all-white spaces get a bad rap, but the quickest way out of that starkness is using antiques. The vintage-style toilet and woodwork add character to this white bathroom idea.
Use Patterned Tile
A wash of solid color can work wonders in a maximalist space, but when faced with only one hue, a great way to add interest is through pattern. Opt for a patterned or printed tile on your floor for subtle visual interest in this white bathroom idea.
Focus on the View
An all-white bathroom is immediately made more interesting with the addition of floor-to-ceiling windows. This way, the room's palette changes with the shifting seasons.
Showcase Natural Textures
A neutral color palette is a perfect opportunity to spotlight interesting textures. In this white bathroom idea designed by Sam Sacks, natural stone takes center stage in the flooring.
Play With Symmetry
White is already a soothing color, but when paired with symmetry in the bathroom design, it can put you in a spa-like mindset. Seeing a beautifully matching space calms the eye and can even help a room look larger.
Stick to Monochromes
If you'd prefer a more industrial or modern aesthetic, stick to black and deep wood tones to complement your white bathroom idea. This space leans more masculine without feeling too dark and heavy thanks to the mostly white palette.
Accessorize With Care
An all-white bathroom provides a blank canvas you can continually update with new pops of color. Use countertops and soft goods to add accent colors, as this shelving does with the pops of orange.
Play With Antiques
Character is key when you're working with a limited color palette. Look to your home's architecture for inspiration, like this stained-glass window that adds charm and vibrancy to this white bathroom.
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Add Depth Through Soft Goods
There are few places where a chic bathroom window treatment doesn't immediately elevate the space. Take inspiration from this Avery Cox–designed space and use the fabric's colors throughout for a cohesive finishing touch.
Add Wainscoting
To break up a room of all-white walls, add architectural interest like molding—or in this case, wainscoting. The half-wall of wainscoting in this white bathroom idea helps to accentuate these towering ceilings.
Keep It Streamlined
Sometimes, simpler is better. Designer Cece Barfield Thompson knows that the best bathrooms prioritize function without sacrificing style. Choose smaller hardware and slim mirrors to suit the scale of the smaller space.
Opt for Large Prints
Opting for patterns and print accents with plenty of white space helps to maintain the airiness of a white bathroom without restricting yourself solely to solids. The tone-on-tone wallpaper here mimics the effect but with a tighter pattern.
Play With Scale
When adding visual interest to a bathroom without using color or pattern, look to your tile size for ideas. This white bathroom idea uses two stone types in different scales and shapes to make the space feel more elevated.
Use One Material Everywhere
One-and-done can look extremely put together when done well. Take inspiration from this white bathroom idea designed by Kathleen Walsh and opt for a stone with a bit of veining to help direct the eye.
Incorporate Glamour With Chrome
An all-white interior can fulfill your need for glitz and glamour if you choose the right accents. Here, chrome and highly reflective tiles help to amp up the bathroom without incorporating traditional textures.
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Use Natural Materials
Spruce up an all-white bathroom by incorporating natural materials. Here, a warm wood vanity grounds the room while adding character.
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