An eclectic bathroom design embraces a fun, whimsical, and colorful aesthetic. It’s all about mixing and matching elements from different eras and styles to create a space filled with visual interest, personality, and charm. If you’re looking to give your bathroom an exciting makeover that celebrates your love of vintage finds, bold patterns, and imaginative decor, embracing the eclectic look is the perfect way to go.
What Defines an Eclectic Bathroom Design?
An eclectic bathroom rejects uniformity in favor of creative freedom of expression. This look celebrates diversity in design by blending components that are unusual yet harmonious. Some key characteristics of eclectic bathroom style include:
- Mix of vintage, modern, retro, and antique pieces
- Playful use of color, texture, and pattern
- Imaginative artwork and accessories
- Furniture and fixtures in different styles
- Unexpected, unconventional arrangements
- Sense of whimsy and playfulness
The hallmark of a successfully eclectic space is that all the elements, despite their disparities, come together to create a visually interesting, personalized whole. This look thrives on imagination and a willingness to break with aesthetic conventions.
Benefits of an Eclectic Bathroom
There are many advantages to embracing eclectic style for your bathroom remodel or makeover:
Creativity and Self-Expression
An eclectic bathroom is a fun outlet for personal creativity and self-expression. Everything from your choice of colors to accessories reflects your individual taste and spirit.
Freedom to Mix Old and New
The eclectic look supports seamlessly blending vintage, antique, retro, and modern pieces in fresh new ways. From farmhouse sinks to art deco mirrors, the style possibilities are endless.
Budget-Friendly Approach
Eclecticism invites you to incorporate unique flea market and thrift store finds along with splurge items and DIY projects. This flexibility makes it a great budget-friendly option.
Conversation Starter
With so many beautiful details and points of interest, an eclectic bathroom design sparks curiosity and conversation. The look naturally intrigues guests.
Artistic Appeal
From mosaics to vibrant paintings, the eclectic aesthetic provides the perfect backdrop to showcase your favorite artwork and decor.
Timeless Charm
While on trend, eclectic style avoids feeling too of-the-moment. The timeless charm and nostalgia of curated vintage pieces ensure enduring appeal.
How to Create an Eclectic Bathroom
Ready to start designing your colorful, creative eclectic bathroom oasis? Here are some key tips for nailing this playful aesthetic:
Find Your Inspiration
Gather inspiration from books, magazines, and Pinterest boards depicting spaces that appeal to your unique taste. Identify the eclectic bathroom elements that speak to you.
Select a Color Palette
Choose 3-5 core colors to anchor your space. Feel free to get creative with bold, saturated hues and pair them with some neutrals.
Mix Up Patterns and Textures
Incorporate patterns with abandon – Florals, geometrics, stripes, and solids can live side-by-side in an eclectic bath. Play with a range of natural and handcrafted textures too.
Layer in Artwork
Display treasured paintings, posters, and prints to accentuate your color scheme and patterns. Include a mix of frame sizes and styles.
Add Whimsical Lighting
Seek out sculptural, artistic, or vintage-inspired lighting fixtures to infuse a playful spirit. Crystal chandeliers, exposed bulbs, and ornate sconces all shine.
Curate Your Accessories
Treasure hunt at antique stores and flea markets for charming glass bottles, vases, trays, and baskets. Display collected items in fun groupings.
Select One-of-a-Kind Fixtures
An eclectic bathroom is the perfect place to showcase unique sinks, tubs, mirrors, and other plumbing fixtures that speak to you.
Upcycle and Recycle
Give tired furniture pieces new life with a coat of paint or change of hardware. From dressers converted to vanities to repurposed ladders holding towels, let your imagination run wild.
Add Personal Touches
Infuse your space with sentimental artwork, beloved travel finds, and family photos. These personal layers help tell your story.
Eclectic Color Palettes to Inspire
Color is integral for creating a lively, eclectic bathroom that sparks joy. Consider one of these captivating color palette ideas:
Vintage Hues
Channel vintage charm with softened pastel hues like powder blue, dusty rose, peachy coral, and pale yellow paired with gray-greens and antique whites.
Bold Brights
Make a vibrant splash with saturated primaries and secondaries. Combine cherry red, sunflower yellow, grassy green, cobalt blue, and grape purple.
Earthy Neutrals
Ground your space with warm shades of brown, tan, and terra cotta alongside cream, light gray, and wheat. Punctuate with navy and olive green.
Retro Blues
For midcentury flair try baby blue, duck egg, denim, and periwinkle complemented by neutral tans, black accents, and pops of cherry red.
Boho Chic
Embrace free-spirited bohemian style with fiery orange and fuchsia, dreamy aqua, earthy olive and mustard, plus sophisticated black and white patterns.
Coastal Hues
Channel breezy beach house vibes with soft greens, sky blues, sandy tans, sun-bleached driftwood grays, and touches of navy and coral.
Creative Ways to Use Wallpaper
Wallpaper is the perfect way to infuse an extra dose of color, pattern, and interest into your eclectic bathroom. Consider these creative applications:
Focal Accent Wall
Make the loo the star of your bathroom by covering one wall in lively, ornate print wallpaper. Opt for playful tropical or Moroccan designs.
Inside Cabinetry
Lining the interior of glass-front cabinets with pages from botanical books, sheet music, or maps adds charm.
Ceiling Statement
Take wallpaper up over your ceiling for a fun enveloping effect. Retro geometric or graphic black-and-white prints work well.
Alcove Application
Frame out a vanity alcove or tub/shower recess with adhesive wallpaper in a vibrant motif. Both floral and graphic prints pop.
Faux Wainscoting
Use wallpaper with a panel design to create the look of classic wainscoting vertically on walls.
Backsplash Alternative
In lieu of tile, adorn the wall behind a retro sink or stand-alone tub with water-resistant wallpaper.
Unique Eclectic Sink Options
The sink is a natural focal point in any bathroom. For eclectic flair, seek out vintage, salvaged, and handcrafted basin styles:
- Antique farmhouse sink – Timeworn tin or porcelain exudes rustic farmhouse charm.
- Vintage wall-mount sink – Wall mounts with graceful legs evoke early 20th century elegance.
- Pedestal tub sink – Make a statement by converting an old clawfoot into a sink.
- Stone vessel basin – Hand-carved marble, travertine, or onyx vessels bring organic texture.
- Repurposed dresser sink – Give worn dressers new life topped with a vessel sink.
- Oversize terrazzo sink – Make a bold splash with a sink molded from chunky multicolored terrazzo.
- Hammered copper sink – Hand-hammered copper offers artisanal Old World character.
- Curvaceous ceramic sink – Choose a fluid glazed ceramic sink in lustrous sky blue or mint.
- Outdoor stone trough – For rustic charm, use a stone trough sink salvaged from a garden.
- Custom concrete sink – Make your own distinctive concrete sink molded in abstract shapes.
Inspiring Eclectic Bathroom Ideas
Need a jolt of inspiration for your eclectic bath remodel or makeover? Here are some creative ideas to stir your imagination:
Nature-Inspired Eclectic
Bring the outside in by mimicking the layered textures, details, and colors of nature. Incorporate wood surfaces, natural stone, botanical prints, greenery, and organic accessories.
Retro Eclectic
Merge midcentury modern and vintage pieces like spherical pendant lights, atomic starburst mirrors, sleek consoles, and groovy tile for a retro eclectic mood.
Traditional Eclectic
Blending traditional elements like molded millwork, ornate mirrors, clawfoot tubs, andPersian rugs with modern and global accents makes for a refined eclectic statement.
Industrial Eclectic
The combo of utilitarian industrial components like galvanized metal, exposed pipes, and reclaimed wood coupled with vintage accents epitomizes eclectic edge.
Bohemian Eclectic
Channel free-spirited bohemian style by combining an exotic Moroccan tile backsplash, round rattan mirror, clawfoot tub, woven textures, and abundant plants.
Budget Eclectic
Even modest budgets can achieve eclectic awesomeness with judicious use of paint, wallpaper, and creative refinishing of budget-friendly flea market finds.
Maximalist Eclectic
Push eclectic to the max with an opulent mix of layered patterns, intricate detailing, lush fabrics, gallery-style walls, and lavish lighting for visual overload.
Choosing Fun Finishes and Materials
The finishes, fixtures, and materials you select will bring your eclectic bathroom design to life. Some charming options to consider include:
- Vintage or mosaic tile – For floors, walls, backsplashes and tub/shower surrounds.
- Wallpaper – Provides a simple yet dramatic impact in bold prints.
- Painted or refinished wood – For flooring, wainscoting, vanities, and furnishings.
- Colorful patterned rugs – Level bare floors and add softness.
- Ornate wall mirrors – Embellished antique mirrors add romance.
- Rain showerheads – Luxe oversize showerheads for a spa vibe.
- Soaking tub – Make a statement with a standalone clawfoot or curvaceous sculptural tub.
- Salvaged lighting – Funky vintage lanterns, sconces, or chandeliers.
- Custom vanity – Commission a one-of-a-kind furniture piece as your vanity.
- Handcrafted tiles – Choose artisanal handpainted, molded, or crackled tiles.
- Graphic black and white floor – Bold harlequin or checkerboard vinyl flooring.
Eclectic Bathrooms on a Budget
The eclectic look celebrates found objects, reimagined pieces, and thrifty treasures. This makes it a fantastic budget-friendly option if you’re willing to put in some DIY elbow grease. Here are some tips:
- Shop secondhand stores, garage sales, and swap meets for fixtures, furnishings, and decor. Look for interesting shapes, sizes, colors, and materials to reimagine.
- Scout clearance home improvement stores for discontinued or irregular tiles, flooring, sinks, and faucets that offer big savings.
- Repurpose and upcycle items like old dressers and end tables into charming vanities and counters. Add a coat of paint, new hardware, or tile top.
- Embrace materials like painted plywood, concrete, galvanized metal, pegboard, and barn wood. Often cheap or free, their imperfections add character.
- Invest in a few key splurge pieces like an ornate mirror or vintage chandelier to anchor the space, then fill in affordably with flea market finds.
- Use stencils, decoupage, mosaic tiles, wallpaper, chalk paint, and other easy affordable methods to customize basic surfaces.
- Display your own paintings, family photos, and favorite collected objects rather than buying pricey decor.
Eclectic Bathroom Layout Ideas
The charmingly diverse look and feel of an eclectic bathroom can adapt to layouts and footprints of all shapes and sizes:
Attic Bathroom
Take advantage of the angles, dormers, and pipes in converting an attic to a bathroom. Paint the beams, highlight architectural details, and decorate with lightweight furnishings.
Galley Bathroom
Make the most of a long, narrow footprint by lining one wall with a bold vertical stripe or floral wallpaper motif. Float the vanity and toilet to maximize space.
Shared Kids’ Bathroom
Fuel imagination with whimsical details like patterned feature walls, under-sink nightlights, mirrors hung at kids’ heights, and ceramic animal knobs on cabinets.
Master Bath Addition
When building out a master bath addition, opt for luxurious vintage components like an oversize soaking tub, glass block window, and dual vanities with glam lighting.
Powder Room
Make the powder room a jewel box space brimming with color and pattern for a dramatic impression on guests. Paper the walls and ceiling and add a fun vintage print on the floor.
Basement Bathroom
Take advantage of the basement’s innate quirks, like support posts and low ceilings, and make them stars. Add handcrafted wood accents and earthy textures.
Showstopping Eclectic Bathrooms to Inspire
Need a boost of eclectic inspiration? Check out these jaw-dropping bathrooms celebrated by design industry experts:
Whimsical Paris Apartment Bathroom
This petite Paris powder room designed by Dorothée Delay packs a bright eclectic punch. Splashes of corals, reds, and fuchsia meet mod black and white mosaic tile in this cheery space accented with vintage furnishings.
colorful Handcrafted Marrakech Rental Suite Bathroom
This artsy suite bathroom in a converted 400-year-old home in Marrakech, designed by Athena Calderone, delights the senses. Lush blue and green tile paired with hand-painted sinks, baskets, woven textures, and exotic accents evoke Moroccan style.
Vibrant Maximalist Bathroom by Mark D. Sikes
Designer Mark D. Sikes brought this lackluster 1980s bathroom to vibrant maximalist life. The fresh color scheme combines deep teal walls, blue and white tile, a mirror framed in coral, and punchy vintage art.
1950s Inspired Eclectic Bathroom by Emily Henderson
Emily Henderson blended midcentury modern, contemporary, and vintage components to create this retro-fresh bath. Round sconces, globe pendant lights, geometric floor tile, and sleek wooden accents dominate this room.
Sophisticated Antique Eclectic Bathroom
This elegant bathroom designed by Heather Garrett exudes timeless sophistication. A vintage slipper tub and chandelier form the focal point, complemented by antique furnishings like an intricately framed mirror and demilune console sink.
FAQs About Designing an Eclectic Bathroom
What colors work well in an eclectic bathroom?
Eclectic design loves color, so be bold! Any color combinations are fair game as long as they delight your eye, from bright retro primaries to earthy vintage pastels to daring colorful contrasts.
How do I choose an eclectic color palette?
Select a base color that excites you, like teal or mustard. Next add two compatible accent colors, one light and one dark. Then layer in some neutrals like white, black, gray, and wood tones to ground the scheme.
Should eclectic bathrooms mix metals?
Yes, feel free to combine metal finishes like unlacquered brass, antique bronze, polished nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, and chrome for an eclectic mix. Just be sure the selections relate well to your overall design.
What flooring works well in eclectic baths?
Vinyl or linoleum with retro graphic patterns, stained concrete with aggregates and mottling, patchwork vintage encaustic tiles, and painted or stained wood planks are great eclectic flooring options.
How do I decorate walls in an eclectic bathroom?
Get creative with wallpaper, framed artwork salon-style, collections of mirrors or plates, painted medallion motifs, removable wallpaper murals, beadboard, or shiplap. Mix and match patterns and textures.
What type of vanity works in an eclectic bathroom?
Let your imagination run wild! An ornate antique dresser, repurposed console, or multi-level assembled vintage piece all make artistic eclectic vanity choices. Top with an undermount sink.
Should an eclectic bathroom have a theme?
Not necessarily. The fun of this look is blending eras and influences. But if you want to nod to a specific era like midcentury modern or the Roaring 20’s, decorating to evoke that time can work beautifully.
How can I add an eclectic touch to a basic bathroom?
Paint the walls a vibrant color, replace cabinet knobs with whimsical hardware, display a gallery of mismatched frames above the toilet, and top the vanity with an intricate vintage runner for easy eclectic enhancements.
Eclectic Bathrooms: Infusing Playfulness and Personality
If you crave a bathroom that escapes boring beige in favor of lively colors, patterns, and imaginative decor, take inspiration from the eclectic look. This artistic, anything-goes style celebrates creative freedom and self-expression. By blending vintage, retro, salvaged, and handcrafted elements in playful