Creative Washroom Design Ideas

The Commercial Washroom can sometimes be a stale environment and points of difference can be hard to integrate. Breaking away from the same-old, same-old needn’t be daunting and with a little flair, your Commercial Washroom Design can leave visitors inspired. Here we take a look at some creative washroom design ideas that may inspire your next washroom refurbishamnet.

The level of creative flair you unleash on your washroom will most likely depend on the setting of your business. Boutique hotels, bars and trendy retail outlets can afford to be a little more flamboyant than say, a law firm or council office building. However, small touches can go a long way to breaking away from the norm. The offices of tech startups are renowned for being playful and engaging with the washroom design being no exception. From exposed brick and up-cycled items, through to solid concrete wash-basins and industrial lighting, there is plenty of room for design in the commercial washroom and confirming to tradition is not always necessary.

Expose it all
Exposed brick can work exceptionally well in a number of settings, though the type of brickwork you are revealing will need to be of an attractive nature. If you are in an old Victorian property, then this is likely to work very well. However, if you have grey sandstone brickwork, then it will be best left covered.

Exposing pipework can also look great and works particularly well if you are going for the utilitarian, industrial look. If you are going down this route, then make sure your pipework looks smart. Plastic pipework is a no-go, instead opt for copper and don’t overlook the route you bring the pipes in from. In some cases, many designers make the exposed copper pipework a feature in itself and divert them in a variety of different ways.

Wall coverings
Wall coverings are a simple area to add some flair and character to the room and beyond the aforementioned exposed brick, you still have a number of interesting options. Laminate wall panel systems now come in a huge variety of colours and are incredibly easy to clean. You can also look at intricate tiling patterns and in some cases allow for cladding. In a barbecue restaurant, you may even choose to clad in corrugated sheet metal. However, in the humid, wet environment of a washroom, you’ll need to make sure it won’t rust and specialist materials are going to be needed.

Take a load off your feet
This is an area often overlooked in washroom design, mainly because it is a non-essential area of the commercial toilet. However, if space allows, seating can be a really impressive addition to your facilities. High-end retail outlets, boutique hotels, restaurants and bars all benefit from this. In some cases, a free-standing sofa is suffice, but if you are going for a different style or look, then you may wish to incorporate it into the build.

Don’t be afraid of colour
Colour is your friend. Whilst it can look smart to stick to a strict colour scheme, random splashes of vibrant colour can be hugely effective. Going multi-coloured in a tutti-frutti fashion can be done in a number of ways. This could be from making each cubicle a different colour, using tiles or laminate partitions. A diverse spread of colours is best handled on a plain white background, but can work effectively against exposed brick too.

Embrace a shape
Clean sharp lines look great and if this is the look you are seeking, then going for angular, squared fixtures and fittings help maintain this. For a great example, take a look at the Architect washroom in our Virtual Showroom. Alternatively, you might want to focus on curves and circles. Whilst on the subject of shape, be sure to look beyond the main fixtures and think on how shape can be incorporated into all areas of the washroom. This could be from circular mirrors to rounding the edge of worktops and even looking at the shape of floor and wall tiles.

Up-cycle
Quirky features often work well and re-purposing items is a great way to do this. Old tin baths and wooden crates are often fixed to the wall by their base to provide a sheltered shelf. Tin buckets are also used for hand wash stations regularly. These features work especially well in boutique settings like bars and fast-casual restaurants.

Artwork
There’s a lot going on in a washroom design, what with all the taps, dryers, sinks and loos. Not to mention the cubicles, wall and floor coverings. However, spare a thought for a little artwork. Whether this takes the form of a painting, a photography print or even a framed map. The same attention to detail you give the dining room, office or reception should be given to the humble washroom. A series of pictures or photographs looks really good and can be more interesting than one solitary big piece. In men’s washrooms, the area above the urinal is often exploited for adverts. Why not break away from this and incorporate a series of related pictures, which could reflect or be related to your business. Another great idea is to commission a mural.

Lighting
Lighting can really set-off a room, controlling both the mood and ambience. Down-lighters and strip lighting are both very effective and good-looking options. However, there is still a world of contemporary and urbane options to explore. Wall mounted up-lighters can give a dramatic feel to a washroom and works particularly well in clubs, bars and restaurant facilities. Give thought to individual lighting above each wash basin and remember not to overlook the power of reflecting light around the room through mirrors.

As always, our team are at the end of the telephone for all your queries and questions and have a wealth of knowledge they’re happy to share with you. So if you need some guidance, or would like to talk over your options, you can give them a call on 01202 650900.