How to Create a Traditional-Style Bathroom

For a bathroom that stands the test of time, it has to be a traditional design.

Perfectly periodic, the traditional bathroom design trend is all about getting back in touch with British bathroom heritage, by embracing quintessential quality, soothing silhouettes and stand-out contrasted colours.

With a classic design, it’s about not overdoing it.

Rather, traditional celebrates simplicity, embodying a gentle build-up of rich and meaningful layers and characteristics through carefully placed textures and pockets of personalisation.

As interior bathroom trends fade in and out, the classic look always seems to remain high up as a firm favourite amongst homeowners, DIYers and interior designers alike.

And there’s a good reason for that…

 

Why go for a traditional bathroom?

It’s not too difficult, or too budget heavy to map out a traditional design. This periodic look is easily attainable for bathrooms of all shapes and sizes.

Once you’ve chosen a user-friendly layout and notably retro features such as a roll top bath, brushed brass taps and a traditional toilet installation, there’s a huge amount of flexibility as to where you go next.

From the personalised finishing touches to going for a hybrid approach and adding an essence of contemporary to the traditional mix, there really is so much you can do when choosing a classic bathroom.

And, there’s room to move away from traditional colours such as blue and green, and go off-piste with something a little less conventional, but a lot more you.

Traditional bathrooms really are the easy-going design theme of the bathroom world.

If you’re on the search for a few ideas and tips on how to create a fantastic traditional-inspired bathroom, we’re here with everything you need to know. From the best basins and baths to colour inspiration and ideas on how to save space, we’ve got you covered.

The key ingredients for a traditional bathroom

 

 

What makes a bathroom traditional?

Well, let’s start with the core features. With the classic bathroom look, choosing features and furniture items that are periodic or vintage in their look is the first place to start when setting the traditional scene.

Over time, core features, such as basins, baths and even toilets have evolved to become increasingly more modern in their look.

However, you’ll be pleased to know that there are still plenty of traditional styles to choose from if it's an old-school look that you’re going for.

 

Toilet options for traditional bathrooms

 

The great news is, that there are rather a lot of options when it comes to finding a toilet for a traditional bathroom.

Let's start with the closed couple toilet, AKA, the OG of the lavatory world. This is a fantastic toilet choice for a smaller bathroom and is available in a range of traditional styles.

Alternatively, you could opt for a wall-hung toilet that creates the feel of more space. Or for something that blurs the boundaries between traditional and modern, why not consider a back-to-wall toilet fitted with a WC unit?

To go all out-traditional and create a functional yet stylish centrepiece, consider a high-level toilet or low-level toilet. The most authentic in their look, this is the style you’ll want to choose if you aim to achieve a Victorian bathroom look with decadent time-honoured charm.

Backdated basins and vintage vanity units

 

 

Once again, you’ve got a few ideas to explore when it comes to choosing a traditional bathroom sink.

Style and substance can be achieved when you opt for a vanity unit. With more storage space and the potential to personalise with colour or wooden panelling of your choice, for some, this is the preferred option.

Alternatively, a more cost-effective and traditionally appealing option comes in the form of a basin.

The wash basin has been around for far longer, and many of the products available today show a remarkable resemblance to those found in 19th and 20th-century bathrooms.

A truly traditional bathtime

 

 

When we talk about classic bathroom styles, one of the first things that often springs to mind is roll top baths.

And why wouldn’t they?

Simple yet stylishly suave and sophisticated, the roll top is a true accolade to British bathroom design.

But in reality, not every bathroom has the space or layout for a freestanding or roll top style.

For an alternative option to vintage ablutions, a standard straight bath will fit nicely into any traditional bathroom style.

Complete the look with a shaker or vertical shiplap cladded bath panel and keep the classic look flowing with traditional four-spindle taps and a deck-mounted shower head.

 

Classy brassy taps

 

 

From century to century, decade to decade, brass taps have always stood the test of time across bathroom design.

They work in both traditional and modern interiors and offer a perfect meet-cute between bathrooms that dabble between both contemporary and retro design.

You’d be amazed at how what seems like a relatively small detail, can make a big wave of whimsical traditional charm across a bathroom space.

Get classy with brassy features when choosing from a huge range of traditional finishes and styles. And to revolutionise a touch of industrial pzazz, showers with exposed pipework are a low-cost shower option to consider.

 

Find the right shower enclosure

 

There aren't many shower doors that are particularly ‘traditional’ in their style. Shower curtains, with funky textures and towel-matching colours and patterns, are typically found across classic bathroom decor.

However, for smaller bathrooms, a shower door is often more practical and suitable for the wetroom set-up.

To be in keeping with a traditional bathroom look, a plain door or wetroom screen is the best option. Retaining an understated door will focus attention on the periodic features that you do want to show off.

 

A few things to consider about period bathroom design

 

How traditional do you want to go?

 

 

There’s much to be said about fully embracing the traditional style.

Taking your bathroom back in time and captivating the feel of another era is a great way to make your bathroom feel like the ultimate relaxing escape, where you can unwind and reset.

But, if you don’t want to go all-out 1920s, classic and contemporary can beautifully collide together and run in parallel in a wonderful kind of way with a modern-traditional bathroom look.

The modern version of traditional

Keeping the authentic accents of 19th and 20th-century charisma through core features such as a roll top bath or high level toilet entwined with trickles of modern matt black taps, wet room showers and unconventional colours such as pink or emerald green, offers a stylish way to pair the two styles together.

Rural and rustic traditional

Alternatively, you could move away from vintage cosmopolitan chic and further towards classic rural country cottage bliss when considering a rustic traditional style.

Invite nature into your space and consider using traditional hardwood oak flooring, wood panelling and fragrant blooming blossom and springtime colours.

 

 

Pair with a traditional basin and low level toilet for the classic touch, as well as 4 spike taps and fresh fluffy white cotton towels to make your bathroom feel like your very own everyday retreat.

 

What you can do with your budget

It’s recognized that traditionally-themed bathroom redesigns can be more costly as the products generally have a higher price tag.

However, if you are working with a smaller budget, a classic style is still entirely achievable when you find ways to be savvy and make your budget go further.

 

Make a statement

 

 

Rather than choosing lots of vintage features, pick one and make it the stand-out statement piece of the room. For example, you could choose a lavish freestanding bath, or luxury vanity unit, and build out the throwback design around this core feature.

 

Embrace your existing space

The core structural architecture of the room is often forgotten about.

Over time, we get used to how our bathrooms look and can become a little blind to the beautiful, weird and wonderful ready-made features that make the space different and unique.

Large windows, sloping ceilings, wooden panelling and even Aertex are all original features that can add to a golden age aesthetic, in an effortless and cost-effective way.

 

Keep things simple

You don’t have to splash out on wall tiles if the budget just isn't there.

Traditional bathrooms often feature painted walls and simple wall coverings, which are a far cheaper way to create a fabulously flamboyant focal point with charismatic classic charm.

Room size

 

Whether your bathroom offers plenty of room, or you have a smaller space to work with, the traditional bathroom style is particularly forgiving.

However, you do need to be realistic about the space and work with, rather than against the dimensions available to you.

Cramming too much into a smaller space will ruin the finished product. And, often with a dinky bathroom, less is undoubtedly more.

A few ways to save space when bringing your traditional redesign to life is by using all four walls.

Consider how you can push a straight or freestanding bath up against a wall. Or, incorporate a back-to-wall toilet to open up the floor space.

Don’t forget to shine the spotlight on vertical space, too. This is particularly important in smaller bathrooms. A high level toilet will draw the eye up and further accentuate wall space.

The traditional colour wheel

While there are a few colours that are notoriously associated with Victorian and Edwardian bathroom decor, such as opulent navy, satin blues and mysterious monochrome styles, with the modern age take on tradition, anything goes.

A classic balance

 

 

If you’re sticking with the uber-traditional colours, be aware that without careful planning, you can run the risk of creating a dingy and dark space.

With an overload of dark colours, it’s easy to fall into a trap of assembling a room that engulfs light. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to keep light and bright in the back of your mind.

Add white into the mix to equalise the balance of shadows and highlights. This will show off your favourite classic colours, whilst keeping the room capacious and light.

 

Break the mould

 

If you’re not too worried about in-keeping with the most traditional tones, then this is your chance to explore a little personification throughout your traditional bathroom colour scheme.

For as long as you have your traditional features portraying the classic look, you can go wherever you like with colour.

Maybe it will be pretty pink, summertime yellow, rusty orange, cornflower blue or even sage green. The choice is yours.

 

Adding colour across a periodic bathroom

Colour can be sploshed around the space in a variety of different ways, depending on the level of saturation you’d like to achieve.

For a tiny touch of colour, consider coloured vanity units, painted bath panels or a mosaic patterned floor. For a little more, consider creating a bold and bright feature wall.

And to lower the tone just a little, consider matt black taps and shower kits.

Don’t forget about the walls

 

 

On the subject of colour, the walls are not one to be missed.

With traditional themed bathrooms, you don’t have to splash out on wall tiles. Instead, a lick of paint will do the trick and go a long way in creating an inviting and truly personalised space.

To add a touch more texture, opt for wood panelling. When using beautiful oak or pine shiplap, this can simply be left as, if you’re assembling a rustic traditional look. Or for something with a bit more oomph, apply a colour coating of paint.

The panelling will bring any dull-looking or forgotten wall back to life, lifting the space and adding evermore character to your traditional bathroom.

If panelling is just a bit too much, why not fit a dado or picture rail? This is a subtle yet stylish way to show off tall ceilings but also allude to more height in rooms with standard-sized ceilings.

Fabulous flooring to finish the look

 

 

There's no set rule for traditional bathroom flooring.

Some choose brightly coloured tiles with pungent patterns that compliment bathroom tones. However, others opt for something a little more subdued, yet classic in style.

Wood flooring is a solid option if this is the route you’d like to take. Rustic in its appearance, it's a grand way to complement other period elements around the room.

For a clean and contemporary twist on the traditional bathroom style, concrete is a brilliant alternative.

The grey hues work well to offset any darker colours or black features, without having to use white across every highlighted surface. It mixes and matches well with most colours, including dark blue, black, light pink, yellow and sage green.

Don’t forget about the accessories

 

Once you’ve created the foundations of your traditional bathroom with features and colour choices, it’s time for accessories.

And when we say accessories, we mean everything from towels and toothbrush holders, to mirrors, vintage ornaments and light fittings.

Let's start with lighting. It doesn't get much more traditional than a chandelier-style pendant light. If you’ve got the ceiling height, it's a great choice. But if not, a retro bulb with a glass shade and industrial fitting will look the part.

Next up; the mirror. If you’ve chosen brushed brass taps, a classic gold mirror is a perfect pairing centrepiece. Alternatively, you could opt for a floor-length mirror. Rather than hanging it on the wall, prop it up on the floor, against the wall, to add a relaxed chic boutique feel.

 

A traditional bathroom summary

The classic theme continues to be at the height of fashionable bathroom design. With so many different ways to put your own take on what traditional means to you, it’s a highly personable, yet iconic bathroom design idea that works for home bathrooms of all sizes.

Whether you choose to take your space back in time with a complete 1920s revamp or bring a glimmer of new age modern into your space, there are plenty of features, colours and textures to experiment with, to complete the look of your bathroom dreams.