Wondering what a designer would think of your bathroom? You’re most likely in the clear as long as your space doesn’t feature any of these six eyesores that the pros don’t appreciate seeing.
Keep reading to learn more about why experts have such strong feelings about these elements and what you can do to ensure your bathroom looks as stylish as possible, no matter your room size or budget.
Meet the Expert
- Becky Carbone is the founder of Becky Carbone Interiors.
- Brianna Untener is the founder of Brianna Scott Interiors.
- Callie Windle is the founder of Callie Windle Interiors.
Tons of Wall Art
Not every wall in your home needs to be outfitted to the brim, and the bathroom isn’t an area of the home in which you should go all out with wall art, Becky Carbone, the founder of Becky Carbone Interiors, states.
“A shelving system with framed family photos seems unnecessary,” she says.
Instead, the designer recommends sticking with one nice art piece in the bathroom rather than going overboard.
Storage Behind the Toilet
Need extra storage? Utilize the area over or under your sink. Carbone recommends skipping behind the toilet storage if it is open in style.
While she finds closed systems to be helpful, open shelvings often become a landing ground for knick-knacks, frames, and the like, the designer explains.
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A Large Towel Bar
Carbone dislikes bathrooms that feature one large towel bar meant to house either one large bath towel or two smaller hand towels. Even with your best efforts, they can look sloppy, she says.
As an alternative, opt for more than one hanging area for your towels. Carbone prefers a hand towel ring for hand washing towels and also tucking bath towels out of sight by using hooks on the door.
Brianna Untener, the founder of Brianna Scott Interiors, also dislikes large towel bars and suggests upgrading to more stylish hooks. When it comes to housing extra towels, place them on a shelf.
“I always recommend displaying a nice set of folded towels to have a bathroom that feels put together,” the designer says.
Freestanding Toilet Paper Holders
While keeping extra rolls of toilet paper in the bathroom is practical (and encouraged since guests won’t have to bother you), Untener doesn’t like to see freestanding toilet paper holders utilized.
This type of storage solution, she says, will “immediately downgrade any bathroom.” The designer recommends taking a more streamlined approach instead.
“Find a place that is functional and concealed to install a wall-mounted toilet paper holder so that it’s out of the way,” she says.
Builder-Grade Mirrors
It’s no secret that every bathroom needs at least one outstanding mirror. However, you can certainly think beyond the basic looking builder-grade option that came with your space, Untener notes.
“I hate seeing a bare mirror on the wall,” the designer says. “Swap it for one with a nice frame or fun shape, or even LED lighting.”
The best part about mirror shopping is that there truly is a style for everyone, whether you crave something modern, vintage, or ornate.
If you’re renting, you may still be able to remove your existing mirror or medicine cabinet and replace it with something that better suits your aesthetic. Just be sure to keep the original one on hand somewhere safe so that you can hang it up again prior to ending your lease.
You’ll be surprised at how much of an impact a seemingly small upgrade like this one can make.
A Scale
Again, a scale is a practical piece that many people will wish to keep on hand in the bathroom. That said, it isn’t something you or your visitors are going to want to lay eyes on every day.
“I have one myself, but it’s an ugly, utilitarian thing,” Callie Windle, the founder of Callie Windle Interiors, says.
She prefers to hide her scale out of site (consider tucking it in a hall closet or large under-sink cabinet if space allows) and grab it as needed.