I’ve never shown you a good look at our main level bath, so today I thought we’d take a peek at where it’s come from, where it is today, and what few items are essential for a hospitable hall bath. When you think about it, bathrooms are a rather personal space. It’s the most secluded room in any home and the one space that mother’s can sometimes get a minute of peace notice I said sometimes. While guest baths don’t usually get the use that private bathrooms do, it’s still important for them to be functional and a moment of respite in the midst of a bustling holiday party or family get-together.
I mean, this area has come along way.
Our guest bath holds the title of strangest room in the house. Essentially, it’s a hallway to the laundry room. It’s small and narrow, with the doorways on one side and the facilities on the other. Because it feels like part of the hall running through the kitchen I thought it was important to keep it looking as such. Normally I encourage people to do something bold in a hall bath. It’s a great place for a little drama and fun, but in this case I plan to go bold in the attached laundry room and leave this room feeling like an extension of the kitchen. When we renovated the kitchen, we decided to tackle this room at the same time. Because of budget and the odd size of the space we kept the same fixtures we looked at getting new but anything budget-friendly was too big but we did take out that terrible soffit and replace it with sconces.
I had the sconces in storage from our last home’s master bath the globes had broken during shipping so they sent us all new and I picked up these milky shades for less than a dollar at ReStore. They’re not my dream lights, I think something more stately would be great against the clean and classic elements already going on, but they are so much better than the soffit and something that can easily be switched out when I find Mr. and Mrs. Right.
And putting powder bath lights on a dimmer is great for entertaining. Creating a glow really sets the mood and everyone looks and feels better in soft light. I put a dimmer on everything I can!
Now let’s dive into the items I think are important to creating a hospitable hall bath, shall we? I was able to pick most of these things up at At Home or pull out things I already had. Quick updates you can do in an afternoon are always so gratifying!
THINK OUTSIDE THE BATH TOWEL: There’s nothing wrong with a classic, white bath towel, but an absorbent turkish towel has a lot more style. I grabbed a few stacks of these in the kitchen section of At Home and they are soft, beautiful, and dry faster than their traditional counterparts. There’s nothing luxurious about having to dry your hands on a wet towel.
DON’T FORGET THE TRASH: Let’s face it, trashcans aren’t always nice to look at, but they’re a necessity in a private space. Opt for something with a lid to keep a clean look.
ADD FURNITURE: This room is TINY, and I still managed to sneak in this gilded side table for some storage. Every bath looks better with a piece of furniture, and even if it’s a wooden stool tucked into the corner to stack towels on, it will add warmth and comfort instantly. The basket underneath is perfect for extra toilet paper, and I like to keep other little things guests might need tucked inside: qtips, feminine products, cotton balls.
THINK OUTSIDE THE SOAP: What else might your guests need while they’re in there? Lotion in the drier months is nice and some room freshener is never a bad idea. I corralled everything on a tray and used mirror on mirror for an extra clean look in this small space.
KEEP IT FRESH: A scented candle and some blooms go a long way. And don’t feel like you have to overthink or spend a lot on flowers. Hearty stocks in a simple vase bring great color and last for several weeks.
MAKE A STATEMENT: Don’t forget the art. It doesn’t have to be big, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. I tore this George Hoyningen-Huene piece out of an old book I had, picked up a frame and had a mat cut for very little money. It’s graphic and plays well against the floors, but feels personal to this home since this is the restroom everyone uses when they come over for a swim.
What else do you think is important to have for guests? Do you have a fun and eye-catching powder room or a calm and serene hall bath?
*I’m really honored to be a part of At Home’s Inspiration Team for 2016. This post is in partnership with them, but all thoughts, opinions and selections are my own.
Julia@Cuckoo4Design says
It looks so so good
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks so much, Julia!
Lori says
Love it!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Lori!
Krystal says
Great job!! I could so see the below sconces in there as an idea ( found on Craigslist in Canada )
https://images.craigslist.org/00V0V_5E1dkGFqaud_600x450.jpg
themakerista@gmail.com says
Yes, those are amazing!!! Now, where to find these in the U.S…
Vicky says
Lovely! What is the paint color on your door and trim here? Thanks!
themakerista@gmail.com says
It’s just Sherwin Williams straight out of the can. 🙂 Thanks!
Brandi says
This is so beautiful. I just love your taste!!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Brandi, thank you so much!
Lauren says
Love this space! Like you, I’m a huge fan of floor-to-ceiling subway tile. So clean and timeless. And don’t even get me started on the flooring you chose…amazing.
Are you able to provide the source and finish color for the door hardware? Thanks Gwen!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Lauren, we still love it very much! It’s the Emtek Merrimack lever…they are really heavy and feel so great! http://emtek.com/Passage-Privacy-Levers/merrimack-lever