Rustic bathroom ideas for all sizes

When you think of rustic design you probably have a distinct picture in mind of either a log cabin or a sparse Greek home, but the rustic look can incorporate many different factors. A great room to inject some rustic charm is the bathroom to avoid it feeling too cold and clinical, so we’re exploring some rustic bathroom ideas to help transform your bathroom into a warm and cosy oasis with plenty of personality.

 We’ve put together some key themes to help create a rustic feeling space and then applied this design theory to both smaller and larger bathrooms depending on your home and budget.

 So, what is rustic design?

The key elements when considering a modern rustic aesthetic is colour and texture. You want to layer different textures to create a homemade feel but it’s key that these textures are all natural (or at least mimic nature!) Think reclaimed timber, terracotta, seagrass, jute, linen, leather and of course stone. To lovingly capture some modern rustic bathroom ideas, you also need to consider the space you’re in as you want it to feel open and airy and not too cluttered. This isn’t maximalism, it’s simple and practical in design.

L-R: Dulux’s Nutmeg White, Soft Truffle, Blossom White, Citrus Zing, Copper Blush, Forest Shade

Image Credits: @Lucywilliamshome; Lighting Collective,

Small rustic bathroom ideas on a budget are all about creativity and upcycling. But if you’re not tied down by a strict budget then you can incorporate as many of these small rustic bathroom ideas as you like!

 Regardless of your chosen aesthetic, when decorating a compact space there are a few guidelines to follow to really maximise your design. The first is to minimise any fussiness, this could be in the fixtures and the amount of colour used to the styling. Try to stick to a palette of two to three colours and ensure they all sit in the same family to create a seamless flow.
Ensure you have the same shades on your walls and ceiling to blend them together for the illusion of more space. Here, colour blocking can be a useful tool to create instant harmony. Keep knick-knacks to a minimum and ensure they work with the theme and are personal so you’re not just filling a space. As you’re limited on practical surface space, think outside the box and go for decorative art on the walls, we love Lucy William’s use of plates from her travels to finish her compact attic bathroom. It’s also really important to consider tile laying patterns, for example a herringbone design will give the illusion of more width on a floor, and a vertical stepladder design will create height.

You can also use tiles to add another layer of texture without taking up any space, whether that be a textured stone effect or a reeded structured tile. If you wish to create a cave like feel then wall to ceiling tiles is the way to go as they will envelope the space, a quick way to achieve this is by using XL tiles, minimal grout lines will make a small space feel bigger. Finally, if you’ve got enough space for a bath, choose a built-in design as this will feed into this idea of design simplicity, it also gives you a little more surface space to add some ornamental and aesthetically pleasing bath products!

Image Credits: Better Homes and Gardens, @katecooperinteriors, @biasolstudio, Voglia di Ristrutturare, Pinterest, Residence Style

If you’re renovating a larger bathroom then you can afford to get a little more inventive with how you incorporate elements of rustic design. There’s more opportunity in a larger bathroom to layer textures, so think about wooden benches, a concrete sink and matt wall tiles and then mix them with reclaimed brass taps and fluffy cotton towels.

 You can also think more about pattern, we discussed laying patterns in a smaller bathroom, which is a great way to connote the idea of pattern, but in a larger space you have more room to play. Geometric designs tap into Mediterranean design, along with fish emblems, and abstract swirls etc. but you could also introduce natural patterns such as a heavily marbled tile. Playing with the architecture of the space should also be a consideration, adding in some natural feeling curves will lend a more modern edge to your rustic design.

We love Biasol Studios’ example of a curved shower with the finger mosaic tiles, it almost feels like an outdoor shower space. Normally with a larger space you will also have more natural light from larger windows, if this is the case then play with shutters and blinds to introduce another layer of texture.

A reclaimed shutter will immediately connote an exotic remote hideaway! Finally, think about your ceiling, as with smaller bathrooms, the ceiling should feel integrated into the design and not just there for functionality. You can add rustic wooden beams onto the ceiling to make the room feel aged, if you don’t want go as far as beams then just add panels, it’s a great way to add textural wood grain without taking up any additional space.

The beams don’t have to be natural coloured wood, they can be painted the same colour as your walls, particularly if you’re sticking to neutrals tones. You should also consider lighting, if you’re lucky enough to have a high ceiling in your bathroom then consider an unexpected touch of glamour with a chandelier. Just ensure you get the design right, so it doesn’t feel too luxurious and therefore out of sync with the rest of the room.

To inject rustic charm onto your bathroom walls, opt for a textured tile. You can find inspiration via our Rustic tile design edit however, at a glance, here’s our choice of rustic wall and floor tiles to complete your bathroom redesign.

L-R: Cadence Pearl, Kelham Loft Crimson, Amazone Grey, Hartley White, MH Country Rustic Apple Green, Zellica Bronze, Staunton Multicolour, Lampas Cloud      

Remember, you can use our Tile My Home tool to visualise your rustic bathroom design using an image of your own space and we encourage you to order lots of samples to find the right fit for your space.