20 ideas for country bathrooms

From dual-purpose furniture to refreshing decorating colours, discover the best ways to transform a bathroom

1. Warmer and less clinical than ceramic tiles, tongue-and-groove boards will create beach-house or Shaker simplicity. (As a quick alternative to cutting and fitting individual lengths of wood, look out for ready-made Easipanel cladding, which is water-resistant and therefore practical in humid rooms.)

2. Install a freestanding rolltop bath to give the room a sense of style. They come in a range of sizes, and you can adapt the effect by adding gilt mirrors and marble washstands for old-fashioned luxury, or scrubbed floorboards and enamel pitchers for a simpler, utilitarian look.

3. If you have space to spare in a large bedroom, turn the room into the ultimate sanctuary by installing a freestanding bath at one end. Divide off with curtains or a floor-standing screen.

4. Choose a basin that suits the size of the room - a small sink or bowl on a neat countertop is best where space is limited, while a vintage design of more generous proportions will add a sense of luxury.

5. Add a comfortable armchair to make the room feel ‘furnished', and use wooden chairs or stools to double as side tables.

6. If you're trying to fit a WC into an awkward space, look out for Victorian-style designs with a two-piece circular pan (still made by some specialist companies), so that the wastepipe link can be swivelled to the best position before the two parts are cemented together.

7. Choose toiletries that contribute to the colour scheme. Look for soaps, bath oils, crystals and lotions in complementary shades and pretty containers.

8. Accessorise the room with pretty ceramics and glassware (for soap dishes, toothbrush holders and cosmetics trays) and a plentiful supply of fresh flowers.

9. Look for fittings of different shapes and sizes to make the most of whatever space is available. For instance, a shorter bath may fit across the width of the room to even up the proportions and let you plan the space more efficiently, while an extra-slim cistern could enable you to plumb a WC into an otherwise wasted slot of wall.

10. Where space is tight, use fitted furniture to create a streamlined, uncluttered look that ekes out all available inches and provides built-in storage.

11. Use towels and other linens to create your bathroom colour scheme. If you don't want solid-colour towels, look for plain white towels with ribbon or braid edging.

12. Dual-purpose furniture provides extra storage without looking too functional. Traditional Lloyd Loom linen baskets in various colours are still made by the company (or can be found second-hand at antique sales), while blanket boxes and benches with lift-up seats offer space for linens and cleaning materials.

13. Marble and ceramic floor tiles look smart but will feel chilly unless you install underfloor heating. For the simplest effect, paint floorboards white using a water-resistant gloss or eggshell finish (specialist floor paints are available). Vinyl and linoleum will add practical colour, and some natural floor coverings are suitable for bathrooms (check with the supplier).

14. Fit ladder radiators that will keep your towels dry as well as warming the whole room. Or, for a more rustic look, hang your towels on an old-fashioned wooden orchard ladder propped against the wall.

15. Water colours such as gentle blues, greens and aquas always work well in bathrooms - pale and restful for the most relaxing look, or bright and fresh for a more invigorating effect.

16. If the room has a view over open country, make the most of it and don't obscure the window. If it is overlooked, screen it with a simple lace or voile panel, or add a layer of frosted film. In a small room, blinds or shutters will be neater than curtains.

17. In attic bathrooms, make the most of the restricted ceiling height by using the lowest part to house the bath (which doesn't need standing space) and building in low-level cupboards.

18. Hanging storage will keep the floor clear of unnecessary clutter. Fix cloakroom-style hooks or Shaker-style pegrails on the walls, and use drawstring bags to hold laundry, cleaning supplies, spare linens and children's bath toys.  

19. Use pictures and prints to make your bathroom feel welcoming. It's the perfect place for family photos, and for inexpensive junk shop finds.

20. White is the most elegant finish for bathroom fittings, but it is sometimes worth playing around with other colours, particularly if you inherit a bathroom with an original suite in blue, green or pink in classic angular Art Deco or 1950s style.

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