Finding a theme, planning smart

What makes a modern bathroom, and how do you make your wishes a reality?

Could your wet cell do with a refresh? And would you like a spa oasis? In this hansgrohe guide to the modern bathroom, we show you how to plan and design this kind of individual space. A timelessly beautiful place in which you can immerse yourself with pleasure every day. For more relaxation, luxury, design, joy, and comfort in your home.

The smart living bathroom by hansgrohe.
Less is more: Modern design is characterized by scaled-back shapes and clean lines.

What do you like in the bathroom? Before giving you concrete assistance with bathroom planning, we outline a few ideas here. hansgrohe design tip: Pick a theme for your bathroom. Once you've decided on a product line, you should follow it through consistently. Here are three theme suggestions:

“Inspired by nature” theme: The modern bathroom in a natural look

The focus here is on natural surfaces and materials: Wooden floors, wooden wash basins, and wooden platforms. Terrazzo-effect floors, natural stone tiles, and natural stone floors also look spectacular, appealing to all the senses and warming the feet. Another trendy idea: Wood look with concrete or marble, or concrete look with wood effects. Yet another nice combination: Reclaimed wood with stone. In terms of color, beige shades as well as gray, granite, or anthracite give your bathroom a modern look. On walls and ceilings, the whole range of natural tones comes across well. Perhaps you're dreaming of an open-air bathroom on a terrace or in the garden? In this case, make the ceiling sky blue.

An open-space concept creates a lot of space for wellness. Shower or bath tub? Or both? Large windows bathe bathrooms in daylight and ensure sunny moments. If this is not possible, illuminate your bathroom skillfully to create a cozy, feel-good atmosphere. In floor-level showerplaces with rain showers, you can move freely and enjoy the feeling of droplets on your skin.

Do you love decorative elements and accessories? Whether jungle, mountains, or desert, photo wallpaper is back in. As are wooden side tables, stools, ladders, and deck chairs. Lush green plants, as well as runners and textiles in earthy shades are genuine eye-catchers. With so much harmony, a few contrasts are needed. Wood with chrome is an attractive mix of materials in the bathroom. Also beautiful: Mineral casting or ceramics in white with chrome, as well as stone with glass.

Bathroom furniture: Stylish and functional design

Modern bathroom furniture plays a key role in designing an inspired bathroom. Wooden or natural stone wash basins with a floating look provide storage and look elegant. Mirrors with integrated lighting and understated, handle-free cabinets ensure clean lines and a tidy look.

Toilets and wash basins are also important elements: Wall-mounted toilets with concealed flushing tanks create a modern and minimalist design, while stylish wash basins in different materials, colors, and shapes become eye-catchers.

Decorative elements and practical utensils can be stylishly presented when combined with open shelves or niches. The bathroom therefore becomes not only functional, but also a relaxing and inspiring place to be.

Summary: Tips for modern bathrooms and amazing inspiration

  • Natural surfaces and materials: Wooden floors, wooden wash basins, terrazzo-effect floors, natural stone tiles.
  • Natural colors: Shades of beige, gray, granite, anthracite, natural tones.
  • Open-space concept: Large windows, daylight, clever lighting, floor-level shower areas.
  • Love of accessories: Photo wallpaper, wooden furniture, green plants, earthy textiles.
  • Harmony with contrasts: Wood with chrome, mineral casting or ceramics in white with chrome, stone with glass.
  • Modern bathroom furniture: Floating wash basins, mirrored cabinets with integrated lighting or handle-free cabinets.

“Design statements” theme: Creating accents in the modern bathroom

Skillfully placed design elements will make your bathroom look classy and high-end. Modern faucets or shower head combinations look like works of art in a discreet interior. Or you can treat yourself to real luxury and pull out all the stops when designing the entire room by following the rules of art. Modern design is characterized by minimalist shapes and clean lines. Less is more, objectivity is your trump card. High-quality bathroom design is convenient to operate and highly functional. Assemble all your things in built-in units, base cabinets, tall cabinets or sideboards with exclusive surface finishes. Plenty of storage space allows your bathroom items to disappear, creates tidiness and offers a clear view of the essentials: Your treasure trove of design features.

Exclusive eye-catching features include: Free-standing bath tubs or wash basins, combined with towering faucets (Highrisers). A showerplace with a large, completely invigorating rain shower. A vanity with a sophisticated faucet, operated at the touch of a button. An elegant designer radiator for towels. If you like patterns and material mixes, you’ll love the tiles: Colorful mosaics, oriental, geometric or floral decorations. Gold with marble, glass with stone, cool surfaces in black/white or light/dark. High-contrast colors, materials, and textures add a touch of glamor to the bathroom.

Summary: Design statements in the modern bathroom

  • Skillfully placed design: Faucets and shower head combinations as works of art.
  • Modern design: Minimalist shapes, clean lines.
  • Create storage space: Built-in units, base cabinets, tall cabinets, sideboards.
  • Exclusive eye-catching features: Free-standing bath tubs, wash basins, rain showers, designer radiators.
  • Patterns and material mixes: Colorful mosaics, oriental, geometric or floral decorations, gold with marble, glass with stone.
  • Clever room-dividing ideas: Separate the shower and bath tub to ensure additional comfort and flexibility in daily use. 

“Unusual architecture” theme: The modern bathroom that is also a living room

How wonderful would it be if you could have lots of space in your bathroom! In a new build or a total renovation, dream bathrooms that are bathed in light can be achieved using lavish architecture. Trend-setting: When sleeping or living areas merge.

To create the feeling of a spa in your home, you can install spacious solutions which expand your radius of movement. For example, a free-standing bath tub in the center of the room or on a platform. Double wash basins with designer faucets or faucets that tower up from the floor. A bidet. A floor-level shower paradise with multiple shower heads. Also luxurious: King-size shower systems with convenient shelves.

Who says a bathroom must only be used for personal hygiene? Use couches, leather armchairs or lounge furniture to design relaxation areas and turn your bathroom into a second living room. Thanks to avantgarde designer lamps, sophisticated LED lighting or plenty of natural light, you will never again want to leave your dream bathroom.

Opulent or cool? Parallel or asymmetrical? Give expression to excellent taste and creativity: With structure-creating tiled walls, contrasting color surfaces, puristic accessories or a mirrored cabinet. Windows offer views into the garden that soothe the soul. In a black bathroom, why not try out art? Maybe a landscape painting or a sculpture...

Do you need more inspiration? We have tracked down the latest bathroom trends for you.

Summary: Unusual architecture

  • Lavish architecture: Dream bathrooms bathed in light and merged with living areas.
  • The feeling of a spa in your home: Free-standing bath tubs, double wash basins, bidet, floor-level shower paradise.
  • Relaxation areas in the bathroom: Couches, leather armchairs, lounge furniture, avantgarde designer lamps, sophisticated LED lighting.
  • Excellent taste and creativity: Structure-creating tiled walls, contrasting color surfaces, puristic accessories, windows, landscape paintings, sculptures.

Do you have a small bathroom?

Use bathroom mirrors to simulate size. Conjure up lots of light with a sophisticated illumination concept (LED strips, mirror lights, halogen spotlights). Even in windowless bathrooms. One example of how to make optimal use of every last centimeter is to install a square bath tub under a roof slope. 

Use concealed installations to stop faucets looking bulky. Flat shower and bath tub control systems are embedded in the wall here for a classy look and room to move, even in small spaces. Or you could do without the bath tub altogether, and instead build yourself a modern showerplace featuring lavish shower rain. Hang your towels on wooden ladders or heated towel rails. 

Placing a vanity on a floor unit offers you a space-saving solution with extra storage space underneath. Here too, the faucet can be concealed in a minimalist design. Tall cabinets and built-in units allow bathroom items to disappear and clear away the clutter in a small bathroom. You can also make the bathroom look bigger using a light color for the walls and floor.

Summary: Small modern bathroom

  • Bathroom mirrors: Simulate size.
  • Sophisticated lighting: LED strips, mirror lights, halogen spotlights.
  • Square bath tub: Under a roof slope.
  • Concealed installations: Flat shower and bath tub controls embedded in the wall.
  • Modern shower: With lavish shower rain.
  • Towel holders: On wooden ladders or heated towel rails.
  • Vanity on a floor unit: Extra storage space.
  • Tall cabinets and built-in units: Bathroom items disappear.
  • Light color for the walls and floor: Makes everything look bigger.

Shower on weekdays, bath on Saturdays?

Do you need a shower AND a bath tub? Understandable. Both have their merits. But which bath tubs and showers look impressive in a modern bathroom?

  • The free-standing bath tub is the epitome of luxury and upscale bathroom culture. The playful lion foot design or a square, boat or oval shape all look grandiose in a large modern bathroom. 
  • The corner bath tub is a space-saving solution for smaller bathrooms. Nevertheless, make sure that it fits your body size and offers space for more than just a sitz bath. A stylish addition: A bath tub faucet rising high from the floor.
  • The practical shower cabin never goes out of fashion, but tends to get ever bigger, more comfortable and more luxurious. Whether it is placed in the center of a room, on the wall, in a niche in the wall, in front of the window or in the corner depends on your taste and on the bathroom architecture. Very much the current trend: Transparent showers with glass/Plexiglas all around.

Dreaming of a walk-in shower?

There are models which can be entered from multiple sides. Sometimes a discreet glass partition provides splash protection; purists can even manage without the glass. Avantgarde version: The shower that you can walk straight into from your bed. In the open-plan shower paradise, you can add exciting highlights with modern tiles. Top tip: Walk-in showers are not only an asset in terms of their looks. Since they have no tripping hazards, they are an ideal basis for creating a future-proof, multi-generational bathroom and environments suitable for people of any age.

Summary: Showers and baths in the modern bathroom

  • Freestanding bath tub: Luxury and upscale bathroom culture.
  • Corner bath tub: Saves space in smaller bathrooms.
  • Practical shower cabin: Bigger, more comfortable, more luxurious.
  • Transparent showers: Glass/Plexiglas all round.
  • Walk-in shower: Models which can be entered from multiple sides.
  • Modern tiles: Exciting highlights in the open-plan shower paradise.

Found some terrific tiles?

Whether they are discreet and natural, oriental and playful or youthful and fresh, bathroom tiles offer infinite decor and design possibilities. They are eye-catching features in the bathroom, and hopefully you will want to feast your eyes on them for a long time to come. In purely practical terms, they provide important spray and mold protection for walls and floors. 

With intricate mosaic tiles made of ceramics, glass or even both, you can add beautiful accents to the shower, wash basin, bath tub or niche. Increasingly, classic tiles are giving way to marble flooring and tiles with a wooden floorboard effect. Or you can clad your walls and floors from top to bottom in large natural stone tiles. Slate, granite or sandstone are great materials for this. With their natural grains and textures, they add a genuine “hygge” feel to the bathroom. Whether you opt for porcelain stoneware or tiles in a wood finish, half-height tiling or tiles right up to the ceiling – anything goes, as long as it’s easy to clean. 

Of course, you don’t have to use tiles: “Bare” walls are often found in modern bathrooms. If you like the cool, puristic look, you can opt for a trendy concrete effect in gray or natural shades.

Summary: Tiles for a modern bathroom

  • Decor and design possibilities: Discreet and natural, oriental and playful or youthful and fresh.
  • Intricate mosaic tiles: Beautiful accents in the shower, wash basin, bath tub or niche.
  • Natural stone tiles: Slate, granite or sandstone bring their natural grains and structures into the bathroom.
  • Porcelain stoneware or tiles in a wood finish: Go for the materials that you like and are easy to clean.
  • Concrete effect in gray or natural shades: Cool, puristic, modern.

Frequently asked questions about modern bathrooms

What makes a modern bathroom?

A modern bathroom features clean lines, high-quality materials, functional elegance, and innovative water- and energy-saving faucets.

Which design ideas are popular in the modern bathroom?

Popular design ideas include “inspired by nature” with natural materials and colors as well as “design statements“ with minimalist and functional elements and efficient faucets.

What is the role of lighting in a modern bathroom?

The lighting is crucial for creating atmosphere and facilitating functionality, ideally through a combination of natural light and sophisticated, energy-efficient artificial light sources.

What are “design statements” in the bathroom?

The term “design statements” indicates the use of remarkable yet often minimalist design elements that are appealing both in terms of looks and functionality. Even modern faucets can become design statements.

Which colors dominate in modern bathrooms?

Classic, neutral and natural colors, such as white, gray, beige, and earthy colors, often dominate in modern bathrooms.

How important is the choice of materials when designing a modern bathroom?

The choice of high-quality materials, such as natural stone, glass, and wood, is essential for the durability and aesthetic value of a modern bathroom. They should be paired with faucets that save water and energy.

How can I make my bathroom design more sustainable?

Sustainability can be achieved through the use of eco-friendly materials, locally sourced products, water- and energy-saving faucets and energy-efficient lighting.

Bathroom planning with hansgrohe: More guidance articles for designing modern bathrooms

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