Remodeling a bathroom is an exciting process — the perfect opportunity to turn the place where you prepare for your day into a place that reflects you and your style. You get to pick your favorite features, design a space to suit your needs and enjoy the process of making your dreams come to life. Plus, you can add value to your home in the process.

When you’re planning a bathroom remodel, modern design is a great way to go. Features such as sleek lines and minimalistic schemes can truly transform a bathroom into a showstopper that both you and future potential buyers will love! The best part is, there are so many ways to breathe modern style into a bathroom. To help you think through possibilities for a modern refresh, here are some inspiring design ideas:

1. White on white.

   It’s bright, it’s clean, it’s timeless and it goes with everything: white on white is a classic look that can be both modern and traditional. Give this simple style modern flair when you opt for minimal vanities, striking tile and lots of shiny, glossy accents in mirrors, chrome hardware and glass features. The key to a modern white-on-white bathroom that’s stylish instead of stark is using lots of texture, chosen strategically. Avoid mixing too many tones of white, and instead opt for different materials that can complement one another.

2. Simple and minimal.

   Even if you aren’t ready to go all white, you can go modern by just making your room design minimal and simple. The bottom line here is to remember that less is more. Instead of filling every nook and cranny with stuff, be choosy about what goes into your bathroom space, including only the most essential items. Allow for empty space around features such as the vanity or the toilet, creating a more open feel. Use built-in shelving or a single cabinet to house your needed toiletries.

3. Warm naturals.

   Natural materials are always in style, which is part of their undeniable appeal. So to create a modern style built on warm materials, look for natural materials such as wood vanities in warm stains, stone floors, linen fabrics, wicker baskets, etc. Add fresh greenery through a few plants that bring the outdoors inside your space. By emphasizing natural elements, you can build a bathroom with real staying power.

4. Rich and dark.

   Another way to go modern in the bathroom is with rich, dark wood. From your vanity to open shelves to wall trim, there are lots of ways to work in hardwoods in the bath. Pick a deep, rich color and pair it with bright, light-catching other features such as porcelain tile or marble countertops. By putting these materials together in intentional contrast, you can create a jaw-dropping, modern appeal.

5. A bold accent color.

   If you think modern means black, white and neutrals, think again. Another great way to create contemporary style in the bathroom is through color. Endow your bathroom with a taste of your own personality by picking a bold accent color — think your favorite blue or a deep green — and using it intentionally in your space. You can make this decorating scheme feel cohesive by carrying the accent color throughout the room in clever ways — maybe the wall color is also a tiny feature in the tile, or the bold tile color matches decorative elements such as towels or curtains.

1. A glass shower door: When you want an upgrade that’s both stylish and practical, consider frameless glass shower doors. Not only does a glass shower door look modern and luxurious, but it also adds convenience. On a flat bathroom floor, for example, it makes access in and out easier, without any steps required. This means it can be a great choice for frail or aging individuals. Glass shower doors also extend the visual sight line farther into the bathroom, making it possible to show off custom tile work and/or add a more spacious feel to the room.
2. Bench seating: A large shower is the perfect place to add a bench, creating a wonderful place to relax and enjoy a lengthy, luxurious scrub. While built-in seating is typically added during the building process, a simple teak shower seat or a new bench is doable any time.
3. Shower shelving: Storage solutions are a welcome addition to any bathroom, especially with shelving in the shower. Shelves create places for housing soap, shampoo and other necessities, conveniently and within reach. Today’s market includes shower doors with glass shelves, shower inserts with built-in shelving and, always, the option to customize shelving for your space. Think about what you’d like best and what works with your budget to make a smart choice.
4. A new showerhead: Believe it or not, the right showerhead can make all the difference in a luxury showering experience. You could go for a rain showerhead that mimics the feel of standing beneath a waterfall; or multiple showerheads that spray you from different angles, for example. When you install a new showerhead, you add fresh value to your shower space.
5. Better lighting or windows: Another upgrade with major impact is lighting. This is especially true in the bathroom. Determine how you can brighten and illuminate your current shower space: New overhead lights? Glass tile? A window or skylight? Find ways to make your shower feel brighter, and you make it more appealing for daily use.

Select a Theme

Choose a Color Scheme

Think About Functionality

Create Storage Space

Think Long-Term Solutions

The Average ROI on a Bathroom Remodel

What High-End Materials Generate a Higher Return?

1. Go white on white. Sticking to one color throughout a space is a way to trick the eye into seeing it as larger. Rather than breaking up the room into sections of light and dark, a white-on-white theme will create a seamless look. Bright and light is the way to go when you’re trying to make the most of the space. White walls against white tile against white towels and shower curtains will only expand your bathroom’s sense of space.
2. Or, at least go monochromatic. If you want a small bathroom to feel bigger, but don’t love the white-on-white theme, take the same idea and try it with another neutral. Any way you can repeat the same color and style throughout your bathroom, the better. Whether you go with a cream or a soft blue, take a light, bright color and use it everywhere. This prevents the room from feeling choppy and, by extension, smaller.
3. Pick a bigger mirror. Mirrors bounce light around a room and increase its overall sense of space. Use the largest mirror you can above your vanity — or even go with a wall-to-wall, counter-to-ceiling mirror, if possible.
4. Install a glass shower door. Glass doors lengthen your bathroom’s visual space by expanding the sight line into the shower. As a benefit, glass shower doors are trendy, attractive and a great, modern choice.
5. Hang longer curtains higher. If you go with a shower curtain, make it feel a little more luxurious by hanging it higher. Install the curtain rod as close to the ceiling as possible, and buy a longer curtain that will go all the way to the floor.
6. Opt out of a swinging door. If you have a bathroom door that swings into the bathroom when it opens, you are wasting valuable space. Go with a sliding or pocket door to expand the room’s spacious feel.
7. De-clutter. The more you have on surfaces, the more congested your bathroom can feel. First, remove everything that doesn’t need to be in the bathroom: knick-knacks, those 10 extra towels you always have on hand, etc. Then, move all necessary toiletries and appliances to appropriate storage areas — under the sink, in the cabinet, in containers, on shelves or elsewhere — out of sight. Try to free counter space and floor space so the room feels bigger and more open.