Last month I found myself in yet another bathroom showroom, trying not to laugh at what they were calling “men’s design.” Charcoal grey everything, exposed brick walls, Edison bulbs that belonged in some Victorian factory, and enough black iron piping to plumb a small industrial estate. The bloke working there launched into his spiel about “masculine aesthetics” and I just… couldn’t. Had to walk out.
I mean, when did masculine bathroom design become code for “make it look like a trendy pub toilet”? Don’t get me wrong, I understand why this happened – men’s bathrooms have been afterthoughts for decades. Builder’s basic everything because apparently we’re supposed to care more about our sheds than the room where we start each morning. But honestly, the most stylish men I know aren’t living in these industrial theme parks.
My girlfriend’s brother James has this bathroom that genuinely stops people mid-conversation when they see it. Warm cream walls, this gorgeous walnut vanity he had custom made, brass taps that’ve aged beautifully, and these incredible terrazzo tiles on the floor. Nothing screams “LOOK HOW MANLY THIS IS” but it feels unmistakably sophisticated. Grown-up. The kind of space where you actually want to spend time getting ready instead of rushing through your routine like you’re using a motorway service station.
That’s what I was after when we renovated our flat’s bathroom – sophistication without the heavy-handed symbolism. You don’t need to transform your bathroom into some steampunk fever dream to make it feel masculine, you know? Sometimes the most powerful design choice is just… restraint.
Take colour, for instance. Everyone assumes men’s spaces need to be dark and moody, but I’ve found the opposite works better. Our main bathroom has these soft cream walls – used White Dove by Benjamin Moore, if you’re interested – and they make the space feel twice as large as it actually is. The warmth comes from materials instead: chunky marble countertop with these mad natural veins running through it, aged brass taps that don’t look like they’re trying too hard, and this vintage runner I found at a car boot sale for fifteen quid. Whole room feels calm, expensive even, and there’s not a single exposed brick anywhere.
I learned this lesson the hard way in my first flat, actually. Painted that tiny bathroom this dramatic charcoal colour thinking it would feel sophisticated and grown-up. Instead, it felt like getting ready in a cave every morning. Properly claustrophobic experience, and don’t get me started on how grim it looked under the overhead light. Pro tip from someone who’s made this mistake – overhead lighting in dark rooms is absolutely nobody’s friend.
Repainted it within six months, went with this soft sage green instead, and suddenly the space felt like somewhere you’d actually want to spend time. Amazing what the right colour can do.
The thing is, you’ve got to think about how you actually use the space. I shave at the sink most mornings, so I need proper task lighting – not those moody Edison bulbs that make you look like you’re auditioning for a horror film. Installed these sleek LED strips behind the mirror that give even, shadowless light. Cost about £150 from Screwfix but worth every penny for not accidentally cutting myself because I couldn’t see what I was doing.
Storage is another place where these “masculine” bathrooms go completely wrong. All those open shelves and exposed everything might look good in photos, but in real life? Complete chaos. I want my toiletries organised but not on display like some kind of grooming museum exhibition. Built-in medicine cabinets, vanity drawers with proper dividers, maybe a tall cabinet that actually closes – these aren’t exciting design features, but they’re what make a bathroom actually liveable day-to-day.
Spent ages researching vanity options and kept coming back to this idea of having something custom made. Found a local carpenter who built this gorgeous solid oak piece with simple, clean lines and these beautiful soft-close drawers. Cost more than the IKEA alternatives, obviously, but it’s been three years and it still looks like the day it was installed. Plus there’s something deeply satisfying about drawers that close with that perfect, whisper-soft thunk, you know?
Texture matters more than most people realise, I think. Instead of always reaching for weathered steel and rough concrete, try warmer materials. Linen shower curtains instead of glass doors – controversial choice, I know, but they soften the whole space. Natural fibre rugs that actually feel decent under your feet. Even just switching from chrome to brushed brass fixtures completely changes the mood, makes everything feel more intentional and less clinical.
The shower’s where I see the biggest missed opportunities, though. Everyone gets obsessed with rainfall showerheads and multiple body sprays and all that, but honestly? I just want water pressure that doesn’t feel like being misted by a houseplant, and tiles that won’t show every single water spot. Went with large format porcelain tiles in this lovely warm grey – they look like natural stone but actually clean easily and don’t need sealing every year.
Here’s something nobody talks about but probably should – men’s bathrooms need better ventilation than most people install. We tend to take longer, hotter showers (don’t argue with me, it’s true), which means more moisture and potential mould issues. I upgraded to a proper exhaust fan – not the builder-grade model that moves about as much air as a dying hamster – and it’s made a massive difference. Mirror doesn’t fog up anymore, towels actually dry properly, and there’s no musty smell that seems to plague so many bathrooms.
Plants, by the way, are absolutely not off-limits in masculine spaces. Got this massive snake plant in the corner that thrives in the humidity and adds life without feeling fussy or over-designed. Sometimes the smallest additions make the biggest impact, and I’m terrible with plants generally so if I can keep this one alive, anyone can.
Actually learned quite a bit about what works from mistakes as much as successes. That expensive Made.com mirror I bought looked amazing online but was way too big for our space – made the room feel cramped and overwhelming. Had to sell it on Facebook Marketplace at a loss and get something more proportionate instead. Measuring properly before buying anything saves so much hassle and money, obvious as that sounds.
The lighting took a few attempts to get right too. Initially tried these trendy pendant lights either side of the mirror but they cast weird shadows and made shaving basically impossible. Ended up going back to something more traditional but higher quality – simple wall-mounted fixtures with proper LED bulbs that give clean, even light.
What really frustrates me about those showroom displays is they’re selling this idea that masculine automatically means industrial or rustic or whatever. But the most confident, stylish men I know – teachers, friends from uni, my girlfriend’s dad who’s got impeccable taste – they’re not living in spaces that look like themed restaurants. Their homes feel sophisticated and comfortable and unmistakably theirs.
The whole point is creating a space that feels like you – sophisticated, comfortable, functional – without resorting to design clichés that make your bathroom look like it belongs in a gastro pub. Good design is good design, regardless of who’s using the space. It should feel intentional but not try-hard, expensive but not showy, masculine without being cartoonish about it.
Our bathroom renovation took about eight months all told, doing it in stages around work and spreading the costs. Not the quickest project we’ve tackled but definitely one of the most worthwhile. Every morning when I’m getting ready, I’m reminded that you don’t need to follow every “masculine design” rule to create something that feels distinctly male and genuinely sophisticated.
Trust me, your morning routine will thank you for thinking beyond the clichés.
