10 Elements of a Dream Master Bath
A heavenly bathroom could be just a few features away. Would any of these be must-haves for your renovation?
Laura Gaskill
December 8, 2013
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
Dreaming of revamping your master bath? From dual showers and soaking tubs to saunas, live-edge wood and built-in storage, more options abound than ever before. See if any of these 10 features make the wish list for your ultimate master bath.
A dual shower. Would you forgo a bathtub altogether in favor of a shower? What if it were a really nice shower? This gorgeous shower has dual showerheads, black slate and built-in storage for towels and soap.
How to turn your tub space into a shower
How to turn your tub space into a shower
A Japanese soaking tub. If you do go for a tub, consider a Japanese-style soaking tub rather than a full-size version. A soaking tub is ideal for smaller spaces or when you want to devote more real estate to the shower; although it has a smaller footprint, it’s deep enough for bathers to fully submerge.
Slightly larger than a traditional Japanese soaking tub, this one is deep enough for someone to have a good, relaxing soak and wide enough for two. The clean lines of the cube-shaped tub pair well with the narrow horizontal wood slats for an organic modern look.
Wood. Wood in bathrooms has been trending for several years now and shows no signs of slowing — and why not? With marine-grade supplies and specialty finishes, it’s possible to enjoy the warm look and feel of wood in the bathroom. Say goodbye to cold tile!
More about using wood in bathroom designs
More about using wood in bathroom designs
The bath in the bedroom. Would you bathe in the bedroom? Combining bath and bed tends to ignite controversy — superluxurious, say some, while others prefer a distinct separation. Where do you stand?
A sauna. Live somewhere cold or just love a good sweat? Embrace the wintertime traditions of Nordic countries with your very own sauna at home. Saunas don’t need to eat up too much space, and having one installed may cost less than you think.
Sneaky storage. If you are redoing the whole bathroom, you may as well give some thought to your storage options — things have evolved since the days when your only choices were pedestal sink or double vanity.
Sneak in pullout shelves, wall cubbies, recessed niches and more to get exactly the right storage for your stuff.
Sneak in pullout shelves, wall cubbies, recessed niches and more to get exactly the right storage for your stuff.
What would have been a wasted section of wall space here was transformed into hidden shelving that’s perfect for storing spare toiletries.
Black and white. You really can’t go wrong with black and white — it’s chic, versatile and always in. Whether you bring the scheme to life with hand-painted floor tiles and horizontal black wall tiles, as in this hip space, or go for the classic subway and hex-tile combo, it’s bound to look good even five or 10 years out.
Live-edge wood. Well suited for both rustic and modern interiors, a live-edge wood slab makes a great bathroom feature.
A view. Sadly, this won’t work for all of us (at least not those of us with close neighbors), but if you are lucky enough to have a home with some privacy, I say make use of it!
A wall-to-wall window like this one will give you the feeling of soaking right out in nature — and making the bottom of the window level with the top of the tub will keep you from feeling overexposed. You can also always add window shades for privacy and light filtering.
See 12 bathroom windows that reveal only the views
A wall-to-wall window like this one will give you the feeling of soaking right out in nature — and making the bottom of the window level with the top of the tub will keep you from feeling overexposed. You can also always add window shades for privacy and light filtering.
See 12 bathroom windows that reveal only the views
Open air. If privacy isn’t an issue, consider opening up an entire wall to the outdoors. On cool days you can still enjoy the view, and on warm days you can slide open the glass and let the sun shine in!
Tell us: What is on your dream master bathroom wish list?
Tell us: What is on your dream master bathroom wish list?
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With heat coming down from the shower head and heat coming up from the floor, there is no draft in my shower. The shower doorway is at the opposite end of the shower. The common wall with the vanity room blocks any drafts.
I suppose it would depend upon the placement of the shower door. I don't have a huge shower but I don't have a draft.
We opened up our ensuite wall to the bedroom so I can sit in the bath and look out over the palm trees