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jbm1

New bathroom - Need help with wall art

5 years ago

Love my new construction master bath - grey slate floor and shower, black and grey granite counter top, greige walls (pics make it look darker) - but I'm blankly staring at the blank walls. I have a thing for clocks - any ideas what size and where to put one in here? The space over the towel rack baffles me. Should a piece of art take up most of the wall or just over the rack. What about over the toilet? Between the 2 flat boring mirrors (that I won't be able to convince a certain someone should be changed any time soon :)?


jbm1




Comments (28)

  • 5 years ago

    Nice bathroom! The first thing I thought was frame those mirrors! It’s cheap and easy and totally a DIY even for people like my hubby that hate DIY. Also I think colored rugs would be better, those rugs blend in too much. You’re starting with a pretty neutral base...is there a color you like?

    jbm1 thanked K R
  • 5 years ago

    The first thing I thought was that you need rugs that don't blend so closely into your floors.


    Think about an accent color that you'd like -- bright spring green, or aqua, or pink... -- and then find some art that features those colors, and match your rugs and towels to that. It will brighten the whole room and also tie it together. A few examples in a minute.


    Yes, I'd put art over the towel bar, because it's at the end of the room. Personally, I'd hang a hand towel between the mirrors, but otherwise, art could go there too, or a vase of flowers, etc.

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  • 5 years ago

    Karen and acm - Thank you for the suggestions! Love the pictures and the colors! The hunt is on!

  • 5 years ago

    acm - Did you find the pictures on Houzz?

  • 5 years ago

    They are from GreatBigCanvas.com (where you can get things in many sizes and framings, etc.), both I think from the artist Veronique Charron.

    jbm1 thanked acm
  • 5 years ago

    I would use a large colorful piece of art centered over the towel rack. Something that adds light and freshness. For the space between the mirrors, just put your plant on the countertop instead of the floor.

    jbm1 thanked calidesign
  • 5 years ago

    Not loving the towel rack where it's sprayed by the toilet flushing. If possible, move the towel rack and use a single hook by the shower entry. Then you have a larger wall space for an impactful art piece.

    jbm1 thanked User
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    How about a print of a clock? You could go Big Ben or Dali. I like something fun in the bathroom.

    https://fineartamerica.com/art/paintings/clocks

    jbm1 thanked partim
  • 5 years ago

    Something different:


    Renderings · More Info


    jbm1 thanked groveraxle
  • PRO
    5 years ago

    IMO the walls are painted too dark. See image below.


    jbm1 thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    agree about those mirrors. please frame them in a white to match your cab, or use a natural wood



    as for the wall, (and don't forget above the toilet!) you have a great space to jazz it up. here are some examples.


    bring in tray for the middle of your vanity as an accent

    this basket type of tray w/pretty colored bottles and such, will bring in needed color to that room

    Or try a brass one w/a vase of flowers or some orchids. (notice the white framed mirrors on both of those)



    this is prob my fave. paint the wall a darker color and bring in a white wainscot


    don't forget some nice shelving over toilet. look how they've hung the towels. gives you more room than the towel bar. a little tray w/some greenery or flowers are also nice. Get a tall plant stand for the plant in your corner.

    while this isn't for everybody, it's basically the same layout that you have. ignore the tub.

    I think she went a little 'too jazzy', but she really likes color. take a few of the examples and apply them to yours.


    Perhaps some wainscot? (or you could do a bead board or shiplap)


    here's a wainscot and a stencil technique above (or you could do a wall paper, or just a darker paint color)




    don't forget your ceiling as an option. same as they've done here:


    this white type of beadboard would actually look nice in your room

    I like the ledger boards for pictures, if you have something decent to display. Love the ceramic stool in the corner too. why not get one w/some color for yours and put your plant on it??




    If you don't find an art piece for over the toilet, get some type of shelving




    jbm1 thanked Beth H. :
  • 5 years ago

    Thanks everyone for the feedback, suggestions, mock-up, and pictures! I will definitely frame the mirrors and work on the paint color. Thanks for all the great ideas.

  • 5 years ago

    Being a clean freak with little time.... and having just rehabbed my bathroom... Shelves mean dusting... plants mean watering/maintenance. In baths, due to potential moisture, I always do canvas. Though one picture looks good above the towel rack, to me it's too "blocked". A block of color (towels).. and block of color (picture). I would do three medium size canvas prints above the towel rack. And, I would put three towels. One centered on top of the two. This gives depth and dimension, as well as balance. If you put a third towel, take a pic, it will look a lot different when deciding what to do with the wall. Something that simple will shift the composition. As for the space between the mirrors.... tall silk floral on the countertop. I think anything hung would crowd the wall. I've learned that what looks good in pictures/ pinterest/ houzz... might be time consuming in maintenance.

    jbm1 thanked triciajoelle
  • 5 years ago

    Gorgeous bath! Congrats! Just saw this pic on Houzz - I like the towel ladder idea - it would take up a lot of space on that wall, and you can find a style that fits your scheme (some are even heated!). I wouldn't add anything over the toilet, just a nice basket with a plant or something tall on the back of the commode. Definitely frame out the mirrors, and add a tray or basket with big bottles/jars, flowering branches, an orchid plant or something else tall to enhance the space between the mirrors. Add a big white fluffy rug the length of the vanity. Enjoy!


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    jbm1 thanked hubcatz
  • 5 years ago

    You said you like clocks. In our bathroom we have an atomic clock. I love these because they always tell you the RIGHT time. Not really attractive but very functional. I bought a very large one at Bed, Bath and Beyond that sits on my living room mantel.


    I think that before you choose art (and by the way, I'm an art historian), you should consider the styles you like. Research various art periods or artists. You can find many types of reproductions these days. I was lucky to find a Van Gogh sunflower reproduction printed on canvas in perfect condition at a re-use store for $10. A large statement piece over the towel bar would make a great focal point for the room. Bright colors will pop against your neutral background.


    The other thing I thought of was having a theme. For instance, if you like clocks, look up clock art and hang reproductions of clocks -- paintings (Salvador Dali's melting clock comes to mind) or photographs of famous clocks. You could choose the working clock you like and hide it among the reproductions. The whole theme would keep you on track in the morning, reminding you that time is marching on!

    jbm1 thanked hsmeghan
  • 5 years ago

    Nice bath, jbm, and lots of good suggestions. Love those bird pics.

    I seem to remember some mirror framing kits. Is that right?

    jbm1 thanked socks
  • 5 years ago

    Check out Mirror Mate for easy framing of the mirrors.

    jbm1 thanked K Laurence
  • 5 years ago

    I love hsmeghan's suggestion of clock art!

    jbm1 thanked sheepla
  • 5 years ago


    I bought these to stage my bathroom. $50 somewhere Online. I used bright metal flowers from the garden area of kirklands at first and they were very cute but a tad juvenile.

    jbm1 thanked Ednamaee
  • 5 years ago

    If you are going to put art on the wall, I suggest that you find something that really “speaks” to you... it’s in your space and should be something that you really like and wouldn’t mind staring at a lot (at least the amount of time that you will be in there..)
    Consider your personal style, explore also the option of metal work or even a design made with mirrors of different shapes and sizes... z

    jbm1 thanked Aine
  • 5 years ago

    Looks like you or that certain someone were trying to keep things simple. I used frameless tempered glass wall art in one of my baths. It's easy to keep clean and there's nothing to get damaged by steamy showers. I got mine at Bed Bath Beyond but there are some on other popular shopping sites. Your plant by the shower made me think of this pair from Cortezi Home. Mine is the big one below. Hard to get a good shot of it but you get the idea.



    jbm1 thanked nmowers
  • 5 years ago

    mowers Never heard of it! Great idea of tempered glass art and beautiful! Wow!


  • 5 years ago

    There are lots of great suggestions here. I love the idea of the black towel ladder and the shelves above the toilet


    Personally, I support the idea of art on your walls and I love your pallet.

    I understand the comment of selecting art/pictures via colour scheme. but

    I am going to suggest a different way of thinking about choosing art for your bathroom/ home. It may take time tho, to followup on my suggestions if you consider following them.


    I would just like to add that I grew up in a home that was filled with beautiful art. My parents could not afford the 'real' thing so my Mom cut beautiful pictures out of magazines, framed them inexpensively as she could, and hung them in groupings on our light pained walls.


    First your bathroom pallet is calm and restful. It will not compete with most art that you choose, but instead will create a back drop for the art. I see art as a relationship with you and the art. Art is personal and meaningful. I would scour art galleries and their artists on-line and in your area to see what type of art appeals to you and your husband. ( see note below) After finding out what you like, you may purchase a piece from a gallery, furniture store, an art auction ( fun!!!!!) , or grad shows/sales for art schools. ( I paid 300$ for one pice that I bought from an art school sale,) or painting guilds. If the art talks to you , it is is a sign that it belongs in your house. Good art stands on its own and does not need to be expensive and also just needs a neural backdrop to show it off. You have the neural.


    Generally people are consistent in choosing art they relate to, so the pieces you choose will have some consistency.


    What matters also is the space and placement ........you have to place your art. For above the towel rack, I would suggest a piece no wider than 5" on either side the of the towel rack and no higher than the top of the mirrors. If the art is wider, then it will not be "supported" and then it will add tension to the room.


    I'd suggest placing a piece of art between the mirrors . I would suggest that it be higher than the light switch, slightly lower than the lights in the light fixture and 4"to 6" or so from the edges the mirrors.


    I'd also put an art piece above the toilet. But that is me. I don't mind living in an art gallery look.


    If you are considering art just because you think might be a suggestion , but you love clocks, I think you should choose clocks.


    If you love clocks tho, than you would be following your heart and then I'd suggest you look up clocks on Houzz and see what people are doing as they decorate with clocks.I'dd recommend one clock between the mirrors, : fram the mirrors. and a grouping over the town rack and then place shelves over the toilet. CB2 has clocks, Chintz also had great clocks.

    Note: My contractor's wife said she and her husband had different art tastes, so I worked with them by listening to what they liked in art and looked for art on gallery websites. Long story short. I sent them images art that combined what they liked and they ended up choosing a piece that they both loved. On the other hand you both might like the same art or one of you might not care so you would have an easier task. I have a framed batik under glass, a stretched giclee canvas and a framed under glass relief in my two bathrooms and have has no issue with moisture from the showers /tub. If you don't put art between your mirrors I would recommend framing them.



    food for thought............









    jbm1 thanked Reno Everlasting
  • jbm1 thanked Reno Everlasting
  • 5 years ago

    Will keep it short and relatively inexpensive. Tile the wall behind the mirrors. You won’t need a lot and there is fab tile out there in solids and even marble mosaics. You can have beautiful, even a bit pricey tile, since you won’t require much.

    Support and purchase local art. Go to local art fairs and quality bazaars. There’s a lotta art out there, and wonderful stuff in your own community. Take a business card and go home to think. Auctions are another source. Galleries are fine but usually double the price, half to gallery and half to artist. You might look and seek out the artist when no longer represented by the gallery and make an offer.

    The tiled wall will add color now and give you time to find the right art. I like nude sketches. Opposed to rugs in bathrooms. Happy hunting!

    jbm1 thanked Kaaren Baumgartner
  • 5 years ago

    I like the neutrals you have used, which allow a wide range of choice. Maybe you want to add some color, but you could continue with the theme and look at some artwork in black and white or sepia. If you went with those, I'd choose black frames. Make sure you really like the artwork you choose or you will tire of it quickly.

    jbm1 thanked sail_away
  • 5 years ago

    Check out Z Gallerie.

    jbm1 thanked reich1
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