Today, I am beyond thrilled to be sharing with you the secret combination for the dream bathroom! It has made Travis and I feel like we will never need to go to another fancy hotel for a spa bath. We now have our own right here in our home! A 10-year wait has proven to be well worth it.

Lighting is an incredibly important design aspect for any space. However, for the bathroom, it is of utmost usefulness. After all, we need bright light to clearly look in the mirror to get ready for the day and unwind at night.

Being in the dark isn’t fun. Trust us, Travis and I had a dark bathroom for years. It got annoying fast.

Lighting 101

Before I delve into the type of bathroom lighting I ultimately chose for our bathroom, I want to make sure you understand that there are specific uses for each type of lighting interior designers use in bathrooms.

First, in order to get even functional lighting to even see the room, you need recessed lighting. There is no way around it.

For those of us who live in cookie cutter homes, usually there is minimal recessed lighting. Secondary bathrooms and powder rooms rarely have any recessed lighting. A master bathroom may have one or two and that is it.

So, whenever I have the chance, I firmly advise my clients to spend the extra money to make the space useful by adding recessed lights over the shower/bath and toilet. And, every time we do, the clients are flabbergasted. Here they were for years trying to add the brightest sconce over the mirror and yet the light never reached the shower or bath. Well, it’s because sconces are considered ambient lights. They are used to  fill in as natural light for the bathroom. 

Pro tip: Do not add a recessed light directly above the vanity mirror. This will cause a horrible shadow and no one will ever look happy.

Also, the sconces should be mounted on either side of the vanity mirror (or on the mirror’s surface, if it’s large), 36 to 40 inches apart.

The center of each fixture should be roughly at eye level, or about 66 inches above the floor. This will guarantee even illumination for you to prep your best selfie yet.

Vertical Sconces

I ultimately chose Rejuvenation’s West Slope sconces for my bathroom. First, Rejuvenation has a great selection of black matte finishes. Whether it is cabinet hardware or lighting, I love the selections for myself and clients.

My bathroom looks very big due to the tiled walls and long mirrors. I wanted to continue that theme with vertical sconces flanking the mirrors.

At one point, there was a question of whether or not to add a third sconce as usually that is the case. However, two was enough for lighting, and I wanted the option of putting art or having tall florals there instead. In the end, it all turned out exceptionally beautiful, wouldn’t you say?

Modern and even slightly industrial, the sconces elevate my black and white tonal theme to another ethereal level. I LOVE IT!

Cabinet Hardware

Hardware is the jewelry to cabinetry. That is what I have been told and what I always keep in mind for my designs. This would be no exception.

I knew I wanted a modern traditional hardware for the white oak vanity, yet for the small square drawers, adding a bit more modern knob was the perfect high note to finish with. Rejuvenation once again drew my heart to their cabinet pulls and knobs section looking for matte black magic.

I found the 4-inch mission pulls  as a great foundation and then their mid-century peg knobs were a no brainer for me. 

Rustic Rugs and Runners

Have you noticed once I love something, I really love it?

Rejuvenation always has had my design heart because they only offer high-quality products. You know by now how much I love swapping rugs around. And, I also love sourcing rugs for clients. So it’s completely natural for me to always turn to Rejuvenation for ideas.

For my bathroom, I wanted something like a Kilim rug, but subtle pattern and color. I really wanted the bathroom to shine on its own with little distraction. But I needed warmth for sure. There is a lot of white going on! Persian rugs of dark red and blue were too bold for me. Although I sure love them!

When I saw the the Skyline Flatweave in Heathered Blue, I knew right away it struck the perfect balance of pattern, color and texture. Isn’t it  amazing?

Image Credit: Rejuvenation

 

Here is another  runner I considered that would have been just as pretty. This Raleigh Park runner would continue the black and white tones.  The diamond pattern gives it just enough visual pattern to add interest. I would love this one as a large area rug in the living room too.

Runners and Rugs in a bathroom seem a bit scary for some people because they feel they will ruin it.

Two things about having runners/rugs you need to be aware of:

1) Be ok with it getting wet! My philosophy of having rugs in the home is first functionality and second aesthetics. I am fully aware and fully accept the fact that these rugs will wear down over time. Of course I try to be careful but I live my life. I let my kids be kids in their bathroom with a vintage rug. In my opinion, it gives the rug more character. 

2) You don’t have to be all or nothing. Much like this rug from Rejuvenation. It is exceptionally beautiful but it is also functional! I didn’t choose a shag rug that would get soaking wet or dingy. This flat weave is perfect to warm underfoot after a shower. The marble penny rounds can be really cold! At the same time, it warms up the neutral bathroom with the subtle tones of yellow, green, blue and even purple! I never thought I would invite purple to this space.

So all in all, be realistic, accept wear and tear and be smart in picking what kind of rug will be live in your bathroom.

For the 10 years I have been waiting, adding my favorite Rejuvenation finishes here has made me supremely happy!

What will make you happy in your bathroom? Even if you can’t gut your bathroom, I encourage you to think about replacing lighting, hardware and adding a pretty runner to your current space. I think you will be amazed!

Happy day!

Anita

This post was sponsored by Rejuvenation. However, all opinions are my own. I love sharing what is true to my aesthetics and what helps you choose and style your next outdoor space transformation. Thank you for your support!