Is it really possible to have a low maintenance bathroom that looks elegant and stylish rather than bland and characterless? Getting this balance right is surely the holy grail of bathroom design! Let’s be honest, nobody enjoys spending their weekends scrubbing grout lines or dissolving limescale. We all want a space that looks effortlessly clean and chic with minimal effort.
This might sound like an idealistic fantasy, but it’s entirely achievable with clever design choices. We’ll guide you through creating a bathroom that’s not just easy to clean but is also a stylish sanctuary you’ll love spending time in. From smart materials to design tricks that add character without adding chores, we’ll offer some of our favourite tips to give you the best of both worlds.
Your basic foundation
The secret to a low maintenance bathroom starts with core design decisions. By making smart choices at the planning stage, you can dramatically reduce future you’s cleaning time. It’s all about creating smooth, uninterrupted surfaces where dirt and grime have nowhere to accumulate.
Think big with tiles
When you source your bathroom tiles, bigger is definitely better for low maintenance living. Large format tiles mean fewer grout lines, which is the first place that dirt get trapped and mould sets in. This simple choice makes cleaning your walls and floors much quicker and easier. Porcelain or ceramic tiles with a smooth finish are great options as they are stain resistant and easy to wipe down. If even a little bit of grout leaves you cold, take a look at waterproof wall panels. High quality options can give a stylish marbled, flat, or even tiled look that is completely seamless.
Keep surfaces smooth
The more nooks, crannies, and edges you have, the more places there are for dust and dirt to settle. So think about how to choose finishes, hide unnecessary details, and how quality of materials can reduce maintenance.
- Non glossy finishes: Matte, brushed, or black finishes for taps and fixtures are your best friend. They are far better at hiding water spots and smudges than their shiny chrome counterparts, meaning you won’t need to buff out water smears..
- Hidden pipes: Exposed pipework can look great in some industrial designs, but it’ll gather dirt in no time. Concealed cisterns and wall hung toilets are increasingly commonplace for this reason. They not only hide the plumbing but also keep the floor clear, which is simple to mop and has the added benefit of making the floor area appear larger.
- Minimal grout: Alongside using large tiles, choose a high quality epoxy or stain resistant grout. Grey tones are fantastic as they don’t discolour and stain in the same way as traditional cement grout is known to do.
There’s never too much storage
A cluttered bathroom is a difficult bathroom to clean. When you plan your layout, make sure to include plenty of storage. More than you think you’ll need: it’s fundamental to keeping surfaces clear and your space feeling calm and organised, and you’ll invariably use more than you expect. Use the full height of the room with bespoke units, consider deep drawers with integrated organiser sections and include recessed wall shelving for those things that do need to be accessed, like bottles of shower gel and hair care.
Adding style without the stress
So, once you’ve laid out a practical, easy to clean space, how do you add character and personality without undoing all your good work? The good news is that low maintenance and high style aren’t mutually exclusive. At Stone & Chrome, we find that by refining our core decisions with a little detail, the result is a stunning bathroom that’s still easy to maintain.
Make a statement with fixtures
Your choice of fixtures can have a huge impact on the overall feel of your bathroom. We’ve already suggested that you might want to avoid shiny chrome. And this opens up a world of stylish alternatives. Black matte fixtures, for example, create a bold, contemporary look and are brilliant at hiding fingerprints and water marks. Coloured bathroom furniture is making a comeback, and is a visual statement piece that doesn’t need polishing to a shine.
Light and colour
Lighting is a powerful tool for adding character and depth. We’ve talked about it in more detail here. The principle is in layering your lighting with ambient, accent, and task lighting. Colour changing LED lights can completely alter the mood of the room at the touch of a button. We find these are put to stunningly stylish use around and under cabinets and within recessed shelves.
Lit recessed shelving is a feature we love here at Stone & Chrome. Not only does it provide beautiful, ambient light and a handy spot for a few select decorative or functional items, but it also creates a sense of depth by breaking up a flat wall. This is a functional detail that elevates the entire room without making it a chore to clean.
Inspo in the flesh
Reading about design ideas is one thing, but seeing them in person is another. It can be difficult to visualise how different textures, finishes, and lighting will work together in your own space. That’s why visiting a showroom can be so helpful.
When you visit us at Stone & Chrome, you can see and feel the quality of the products we recommend. And most importantly assess how different design choices might be to maintain. You can compare different tile sizes, test out fixtures, and see how recessed lit shelving looks in a real bathroom setting. It’s the perfect opportunity to gather inspiration and chat with our friendly team. We can walk you through the options, answer your questions, and help you refine your ideas.
So take a browse of our gallery of recent projects and then get in touch or just drop in! We’ll help you to create a stunning bathroom that future you won’t curse when you’re cleaning!