I was round at my mate Sarah’s house last month, clutching a mug of tea and trying not to drip anything on her gorgeous new bathroom floor, when something clicked. You know that moment when you walk into a space and think “bloody hell, this is nice” but can’t quite put your finger on why? That was me, standing there in my socks, realizing she’d managed to create something that felt completely fresh and modern but wouldn’t look embarrassingly dated in a few years’ time.
Sarah had been banging on about this bathroom renovation for months – eight months of planning, mood boards stuck all over her kitchen, endless debates about tile sizes. I’ll be honest, when she showed me her Pinterest boards full of clean lines and beige tones, I was worried she was heading straight into boring territory. You know how it is with neutral bathrooms – they can either be elegantly understated or just… bland.
But standing there that morning, I got it. She’d figured out something I’d completely missed in my own home renovations – the difference between following trends and creating something that actually lasts. God knows I’ve learned this lesson the expensive way. When we first moved to the house in Armley, I got completely carried away with those herringbone subway tiles that were everywhere on Instagram. Looked amazing in the photos, absolute nightmare to live with. The grout lines collected everything, and within eighteen months I was already sick of looking at it. Phil kept saying “I told you so” every time I complained about scrubbing those bloody grooves.
What made Sarah’s space work was her approach to materials. She’d gone for white oak on the vanity – not painted, not stained some trendy colour that’ll look ridiculous in three years, just natural wood doing its thing. It’s going to age beautifully rather than chip off or fade like that painted vanity we had in our old flat. Same thinking with the stone – she chose honed marble instead of the super shiny stuff that shows every water mark and fingerprint. I mean, who wants to spend their life polishing marble just to keep it looking decent?
The fixtures were where she really showed her sense. Remember when everything had to be rose gold? Thank god that’s over. She went with brushed brass – warm but not shouty, substantial without being flashy. The taps have proper weight to them, you know? None of that flimsy nonsense that starts wobbling after six months. I’ve had those cheap ones from B&Q that feel like they’re going to fall off the wall every time you use them. Nothing kills the luxury vibe quite like a wobbly tap.
Her shower setup was brilliantly simple. No fancy digital controls that’ll break down and cost a fortune to fix, no steam features that sound amazing until you’re paying the repair bills. Just really good water pressure – and I cannot stress how important this is – a rain head that’s actually the right size for the space, not one of those massive ones that spray water all over the floor, and a handheld on a proper slide bar. The glass is completely clear too, because she’d figured out what took me years to learn: textured glass just collects soap scum and makes your life miserable.
But the lighting – this is where she absolutely nailed it. Three different types, all on separate switches, all dimmable. Recessed lights in the ceiling for general use, sconces either side of the mirror for doing your makeup without looking like a vampire, and this lovely little pendant over the bath that makes evening soaks feel like a proper treat. I’ve been in too many bathrooms where they’ve got one harsh overhead light that makes everyone look terrible and creates shadows exactly where you don’t want them.
The colour scheme showed serious restraint. Warm white walls, natural stone, wood tones, just a hint of deeper colour in the soft furnishings. Nothing screaming for attention or dating the space. I’ve seen so many bathrooms where someone got excited about bold tiles – you know, peacock blue or those geometric patterns that were everywhere a few years back – and then had to live with feeling fed up every time they brushed their teeth.
Storage was another area where function won over Instagram appeal. Deep drawers with proper dividers (not just one big empty space where everything rattles around), a linen cupboard with shelves you can actually adjust, and this brilliant idea – toe-kick drawers under the vanity for storing things you don’t need every day. Everything had a proper place, which meant the surfaces stayed clear and the whole room felt calmer. I’m still working on this in our bathroom – currently our counter looks like a chemist’s exploded.
The bath deserves special mention. Simple, deep, classic shape. Not some sculptural statement piece that looks impressive in photos but is rubbish for actually having a soak. This one holds heat properly, it’s comfortable for grown-up humans, and it’ll look appropriate whether she changes everything else in five years or twenty. Form following function, which never goes out of style.
I probably think about ventilation more than normal people, but she got this spot on too. Proper exhaust fan – sized for the room, not just the cheapest option from Screwfix – and a small window that actually opens. Moisture is the enemy of every bathroom surface, and planning for it from the start saves so much hassle down the line. We learned this the hard way when our first bathroom developed that gross black mould around the window because the ventilation was useless.
What she didn’t do is equally important. No trendy tile patterns that’ll look dated in two years. No statement lighting that dominates everything. No colour trends that might feel tired next season. No complicated technology that might break or become obsolete before you’ve paid it off. Instead, quality basics and letting the natural materials and good proportions create the interest.
The result? A bathroom that feels completely current – clean, sophisticated, actually nice to spend time in – without being tied to any particular design moment. I reckon when I visit in five years, it’ll still look fresh. When trends swing back to maximalist bathrooms or whatever comes next, this space will still feel appropriate and well-designed.
That’s the key, isn’t it? Choosing things for their actual qualities rather than their trendiness. Good materials, sensible proportions, proper lighting, thoughtful storage. All the fundamentals that make any space work well, regardless of what’s popular this minute.
Walking out that day, I felt like I’d had a proper education in doing things properly. Sometimes the most modern approach is ignoring what’s supposed to be modern and focusing on what actually works for real life.
