Our homes, like our bodies, follow nature’s rhythms. In winter, they wrap themselves in soft, thick textiles. With spring comes the need to clean and organise, shaking off the season and awakening anew. By summer, the fatigue and weight of colder days are left behind, and the home greets the passing days with a light, flowing energy that is equally calm.Lively colours, accompanied by entirely natural pale earth tones and whites... Summer has many looks, but they share a common language: lightness. In homes that reflect our lighter clothing and mood, we seek out and create this feeling in every corner. From the living room to the bedroom, from the kitchen to outdoor spaces, we shed excess and turn towards balconies, terraces and gardens. But what about bathrooms?
Designing Lighter Bathrooms with Summer’s Favourite Textures
Warmer days are approaching... Our clothes are becoming more colourful and lighter, and their textures are changing. What about our living spaces? As we follow the same seasonal rhythm at home, we are turning to summer textures and choices that bring a more relaxed, lighter style. What can we do for the bathroom in such a home? Read on to find out.
How does summer’s lightness find expression in bathrooms, those hardworking spaces for cleansing and renewal that refresh us throughout the year? How should we decorate them with a summer theme? Whether your home is seasonal or used all year round, this article explores the steps that bring bathrooms into harmony with summer.
Architectural Ideas for Bringing Summer into the Bathroom
Summer brings many distinctive looks: nautical, bohemian, tropical... It helps to begin with the summer style that suits you best. Following a style’s defining elements can make every aspect of your bathroom feel right for the season. Here, however, we want to explore general ideas that work across styles, rather than the requirements of any one look. Different interpretations can then help you design a balanced bathroom in harmony with both summer and the wider spirit of your home.For example, you might decide to redesign your bathroom from the ground up. Before choosing the flooring and wall finishes, consider introducing a window area inspired by summer’s outdoor rituals. Enlarging an existing window is one of the most practical places to start.
Inviting the summer sun inside allows you to create a bathroom that feels brighter and more welcoming than before. If the window does not overlook an attractive view, planting can make the outlook more sheltered and uplifting. Wherever possible, use plants to screen the view rather than choosing tinted or frosted glass, keeping the emphasis on summer.
Summer-Inspired Ceramic Choices
Matt, large-format ceramic tiles on floors and walls underline a cooler, calmer look. Choose light-coloured tiles with modern lines and as little pattern as possible to emphasise summer. When it comes to colour, off-white shades are once again among the most fitting summer choices for ceramics.
Which Bathroom Colours Work Best for Summer?
We can take inspiration from summer’s recent preference for beige and ecru. As you create a bathroom with a calm, airy and refreshing feel, harmony with the rest of the home is naturally important. A shared accent colour can enliven a predominantly white and beige palette.For textiles, call on linen and cotton textures, along with muslin bathrobes and towels, which have become increasingly popular in recent years. Lightweight, flowing textiles that dry easily are particularly important in bathrooms. Complete the look with bath mat alternatives such as jute or woven natural fibres.
Wood for a Fresh Summer Touch
The next step, introducing wood, plays an important part in creating a summer feel. Light-coloured wooden bathroom furniture with prominent natural textures pairs beautifully with pale ceramic tiles. Choosing matt designs without a glossy varnish, and with softer, rounded corners, is another detail that reinforces summer’s minimal, airy character.Accessories enriched with bamboo, woven fibres and jute add interest to different corners. Consider these textures for a laundry basket, for example, or small lidded baskets for towel trays and storage. The look works well with ceramic or marble accessories and bathroom sets, and can also be complemented by colourful, thick glass accessories.