We all know by now that a bathroom renovation is one of the first projects that new home owners dive into and that resellers know will give them a better return on investment. So, no matter the reason why you want to remodel your bathroom it’s a good idea to consider the bathroom style, whether it’s just to appeal to you or to potential home buyers.
The first thing you should know is that there are 7 main Bathroom Styles each with their own sub-styles. Every style has it’s flairs and it’s potential fallbacks, and not all of them will appeal to everyone. If you’re remodeling your bathroom for yourself then there’s not much to worry about. However, if you are designing to resell your home then you might want to be more cautious with picking a style that suits your taste instead of what might be trending or what might be timeless. With that, it’s also important to know that what’s trending now might not be in six months.

The Styles:

Traditional Bathroom Style

Traditional bathroom styles are the safe way to go if you’re remodeling to resell, it’s not too out there and it’s easy to add ones own touch. This can also be called the classic bathroom style. This style also tends to overlap in other categories as many of the designs are timeless rather than trendy. The style of traditional bathrooms comes from the 20th century crafts movement, historical, and mission style trends. Other traditional sub-styles that you will typically find are Farmhouse, Craftsman, and Mid-century trends. Farmhouse styles tend to lend themselves towards a more rustic style. Mid-century style bathrooms have a more modern appeal to them, it’s a very toned down but upscaled scandinavian look; and Craftsman bathrooms have an eclectic playfulness without being overwhelming bizzare. Choosing a traditional bathroom can be a pretty daunting task as a lot of it’s sub-styles encompass other trends.

Rustic Bathroom Style

Rustic style anything is popular right now. This style might also tie in with country, industrial, and shabby-chic styles. While this style of bathroom decor is trending it might be easier to sell because of it’s popularity. Rustic design can be pinned by it’s use of reclaimed wood, textured surfaces and neutral / natural tones. It’s kind of like bringing that old barn you used to play in on your grandparents farm into your home. The use of industrial rustic will give the bathroom a more modern look using more metals and concrete.

You can check out a previous blog we wrote all about this years rustic trend, here.

Modern Bathroom Style

Modern or Contemporary bathrooms are becoming the timeless style of this century. Some other styles that are associated with this movement are industrial –  which has sleek and polished metals and glass – and a lesser known design style called Scandinavian. Scandinavian bathrooms are categorized by it’s use of crisp, clean, angular lines, geometrical shapes and curves, neutral tones and spacial function.

Transitional Bathroom Style

Transitional bathrooms are another safe bet when reselling your home because they’re a fantastic compromise between the classic and modern styles. Bathrooms like these are modern takes on timeless trends, so there isn’t much to say other than it’s a great way to go. It’s all about balance.

Romantic Bathroom Style

This is the bathroom style that makes you feel like a greek goddess taking a dip in a wide tub surrounded by marble accents, or a european princess relaxing in her clawfoot tub after the ball. Romantic baths are high in beauty and texture. Brocade or graphic wallpaper with complex patterns are popular, as are freestanding clawfoot tubs. Victorian style trends also fall under the romantic category because they use similar elements, although you’ll probably want to opt for some antique wood furniture pieces to complete the room. Bathrooms like these are the epitome of candlelight relaxation.

Eclectic Bathroom Style

Eclectic bathrooms are my personal favorite because I love expressing myself and I also love seeing someone reflected in their space. Eclectic baths are definitely better suited for the remodeler that is doing it all for themselves. They’re playful bathrooms that throw whatever appeals to you in the mix to come out a stylish space that reflects you. So go wild, mix and match styles, an eclectic bathroom is your playground to do with what you will. At this point you’re only restriction is going to be your budget – and maybe that has a bit of wiggle room as well.

As you can see Eclectic styles are so varied that there are some that are simple and quirky, then there are others that just go over the top! I think it’s a beautiful thing to see someones personality come out in a space!

Regional Bathroom Style

Have you ever been inspired by another country or scene that you were just awestruck and wouldn’t mind living there? Sure you have, everyone always wishes that they were someplace else. Regional bathrooms are your home away (but still inside) your home. You’ll find plenty of examples of Tuscan, Italian inspiration, Moroccan tile, Asian, or beach themed escapes. There are so many different regional inspirations you’ll just need to choose your favorite. This is probably another style that is better suited for someone who just wants to make the space their own. However, styling a bathroom to reflect the local region might be a good selling point, it really depends on where you are.

 

 

 
 
There are so many bathroom styles to choose from that it can be either a fun or a daunting task to choose which one you’d want to pick for you bathroom remodeling project. Take this bathroom design quiz from Houzz to see what style you are! I got eclectic, and they couldn’t be more right! I hope that this has helped to clarify where your style may be leading you and your home and what could be the best step to take in making your bathroom as beautiful as it can be!
 
Builders Surplus is a full service remodeling company with locations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Newport, Kentucky, which also serves Cincinnati, Ohio. We specialize in interior design, which comes as a free service to our clients. We sell building supplies ranging from unused surplus, to first quality in stock, to high end custom order and everything in between. We also provide measurement and full installation services. If you have any questions or would like to set up a free design consultation with one of our interior designers we would encourage you to do so. Happy Remodeling!
Written By: Kat Flaherty