Bathroom Design Idea: Using Patterns

Neutral tones, when patterned, take on depth and richness in this transitional bathroom design.
Neutral tones, patterned,
take on depth and richness.

This masterful master bathroom design indulges its owner's love affair with strong geometric patterns. A riot of stripes, triangles, and related shapes are combined and repeated in a dizzying array that creates the optical illusion of physical dimension on a flat plane and movement in an architectural space.

The handsome vanity with its distinctive crown is a fitting companion to the world-class floor. The meticulous decorative tile work that makes this bath's floor such a standout appears on a smaller scale in the shower.

The overall effect is not jarring, however, just tremendously energizing. The design, while fearless, stays within the bounds of comfort thanks to a soothing color scheme of neutrals: gold, brown, taupe-gray, white, and black.

The striped pattern in the tub surround is repeated in the towels and accents in this transitional bathroom.
The striped pattern in the tub surround is repeated
in the towels and accents.

This strategy makes sense regardless of how opulent your bath plan may be. Of course, it doesn't hurt if you can manage a floor made of no less than five different kinds of marble, a show-stopping shower stall, and a vanity as handsome and dramatic as a piece of drawing room furniture.

But even if you can't quite muster these extraordinary elements, you can still aim for a winning look of restrained richness and focused energy.

Whatever design you choose for your bathroom, whether it's traditional, contemporary, or transitional, be sure your expectations are in line with what's possible, given the scope of the work and your budget. The ideas in this article should help you put your dreams in perspective.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Wynn Ryan is the author of numerous interior design books including The Ultimate Kitchen, The Ultimate Bath, Cottage Style, Fresh Country Style and Garden Style. She has written about home furnishings and interior design for various magazines and served as Midwest editor of Design Times magazine. She was also the director of consumer and trade marketing for the Chicago Merchandise Mart's residential design center. She is president of Winning Ways Marketing, an editorial and marketing consulting firm that specializes in home design and decorating.