Designing a bathroom can be one of the most rewarding and fun upgrades you can do to your home design. In general, you want your bathroom design to be a reflection of your personal preferences as well as a good fit for the rest of your home design. People will sometimes struggle finding a place to start with their bathroom remodel, but it can be narrowed down to essentially two different choices. Should your bathroom design be more traditional or more modern? This guide will cover the pros and cons of each option and help you along your bathroom design process.
What is a Traditional Bathroom Design?
A traditional bathroom design can mean different things to different people, but in general they will all have the same set of features. For example, a traditional bathroom will have all of the classic bathroom fixtures in a very recognizable sense of the word. A bathroom sink, a traditional looking toilet and various other common bathroom necessities will all be present and familiar. Nothing will be too forward-thinking or avant-garde, but everything will work how you need it to work and as long as it is set up properly, everything will look fantastic when the bathroom design is finished.
Traditional bathroom designs will convey a comfortable and familiar feeling that can fit essentially any bathroom or home design. They're incredibly easy to visualize and put into practice, as the blueprint has been around for many years. Traditional bathroom designs will also have the ability to be relatively affordable compared to more modern bathroom themes. This is because traditional bathroom fixtures, accessories and other aspects are very standard in the industry. Of course, traditional bathrooms still evolve over time, they will always maintain that traditional and familiar atmosphere.
Pros of Traditional Bathroom Designs
Like any bathroom design type, a traditional bathroom design will have its own set of benefits that make it attractive in its own way. The main benefit, as previously stated, is a familiarity with the design overall. A traditional bathroom design has so many familiar and user-friendly aspects that it is one of the most used bathrooms in homes, although that may be changing. Traditional bathroom designs will also feature very easy to use and understandable functional features. Generally nothing will be hidden and everything will be obvious right from the start.
Traditional bathroom designs are also fairly easy to assemble to make a cohesive bathroom design. For example, all the fixtures and accessories you will need for traditional bathroom design will be available essentially anywhere that sells bathroom fixtures and appliances. The traditional look is very attractive to many people, young and old. On top of that, traditional bathroom fixtures will also be pretty affordable as well. Sometimes you can also repurpose existing furniture such as an old dresser, and transform it into a beautiful traditional bathroom vanity.
Cons of Traditional Bathroom Designs
Like everything, traditional bathroom designs will also feature their own set of unique drawbacks. Perhaps the most obvious of these drawbacks is the feeling of the design itself. Other traditional bathroom designs can be seen as very comfortable, warm and familiar, they can also be seen as somewhat outdated. With modern design crawling into essentially every space in the home, sometimes a traditional bathroom design just isn't the right fit simply on the look itself. This is especially true if your home revolves around modern themes, making a traditional bathroom feel a little bit awkward.
Traditional bathroom design can also impact things from a monetary standpoint as well. Although a decent amount of these fixtures will be fairly easy to find and relatively affordable, there are other issues that you may run into. For example, a traditional bathroom may not be the most attractive thing that a home buyer will see. As different generations are stepping up to buy new homes, modern bathroom designs are a bit more attractive than the traditional bathroom design. This is still definitely a point of personal preference, but in general, a modern bathroom design may be better for the future value of your home.
What is a Modern Bathroom Design?
A modern bathroom design centers around forward-thinking design features and beautiful fixtures and accessories. One of the most attractive things of a modern bathroom design is the variety in which it can be implemented. Modern bathroom fixtures and accessories can come in essentially any type of color or design, making it one of the most versatile ways to decorate and construct your bathroom. In general, a modern bathroom design will take traditional features and upgrade them into a more present and modern-day version of themselves. Instead of the familiar feeling that a traditional bathroom design conveys, a modern bathroom design will convey a more exciting and explorative feeling.
The features of a modern bathroom design will be sleek and smooth, with the emphasis on geometric shapes being a main point of this style. The finishes and colors used will also be more neutral and modern, getting away from the more traditional colors and finishes. These colors include matte black, matte white, different shades of gray and other beautiful neutral tones. Of course, colors from traditional bathrooms can also be used in modern bathrooms, but modern bathrooms will add a flash of forward thinking style to the existing features.
Pros of Modern Bathroom Designs
Modern bathroom designs are becoming quite popular in the bathroom industry and home design industry. This is mainly due to the versatility of this design in nature, and how many possibilities you have in terms of creating the perfect bathroom design. Firstly, modern bathroom designs are incredibly attractive in terms of looks. The modern features are sleek and smooth, making it an incredibly beautiful space once the design is finished. In addition to the attractive look, modern bathrooms will also optimize functionality. With technology constantly evolving with modern bathroom designs, functionality becomes increasingly user-friendly.
Another amazing benefit of a modern bathroom design is the value it will add to your home. Whether you plan on selling your home in the near future or not, the modern bathroom design will undoubtedly increase the value of your home in terms of resale value. Modern bathroom features, if implemented correctly, improve almost every aspect of your bathroom. For example, the sheer amount of different modern bathroom fixtures and accessories that you can Implement in your bathroom, automatically gives the modern bathroom design a leg up in some regard. The bathroom fixtures in a modern design are sleek and attractive, while being incredibly easy to use with smooth operation.
Cons of Modern Bathroom Designs
Of course, modern bathroom designs will also come with their own set of unique cons. Although there aren't too many to list, there are a few. Firstly, modern bathroom designs can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. if there are too many modern or abstract fixtures all together in one place, the design can feel a bit too cluttered for avant-garde. There are plenty of ways to make sure this doesn't happen, but sometimes you can get ahead of yourself and start implementing fixtures that don't work too well together all for the sake of a modern bathroom design.
Another con of a modern bathroom design, is the limitations on the color palette. Modern bathroom designs revolve around neutral colors that work very well together. However, these neutral colors can sometimes feel a bit boring compared to some of the brighter colors that you might find in a traditional bathroom design. This can be fixed with adding subtle splashes of color into your modern bathroom design, so it isn't that big of an issue. Overall, a modern bathroom design isn't the most exciting type of bathroom design compared to some of the more vibrant and exciting options available to you.
How to Balance a Mix Between a Modern and Traditional Bathroom Design
Creating a balanced mix between a traditional and modern bathroom requires a thoughtful approach that blends key elements from each style. Start by selecting a neutral color palette that serves as a canvas for both themes. Incorporate classic materials like marble, granite, or wood alongside contemporary materials like glass, chrome, and concrete. This combination of textures provides depth and visual appeal.
For fixtures and accessories, contrast traditional pieces with modern ones. Pair a vintage-style clawfoot tub with a sleek, wall-mounted rain style showerhead. Incorporate a traditional vanity with beautiful details and complement it with clean-lined, modern sinks and faucets.
In terms of tile, combine timeless subway tiles or mosaic patterns with larger, more geometric tiles. By thoughtfully placing these tiles, you can create distinct areas that show off the best of both designs. Balance the design with symmetry in your layout. If you have a classic freestanding bathtub, position it across a contemporary walk-in shower. Employ elements like lighting to bridge the styles. Blend vintage sconces with modern pendant lights to strike a good spot between the two aesthetics. Ultimately, achieving a perfect blend of traditional and modern in your bathroom design involves selecting elements from each style that complement each other rather than clash, resulting in a unique space that caters to both modern and vintage styles.
Should You Choose a Traditional or Modern Bathroom Design?
Modern bathroom designs and traditional bathroom designs both come with their own set of pros and cons. In general the decision you make will come down to your personal preferences, but there are a few things that you should know before settling on a choice. Firstly, you need to make sure the bathroom design fits well with your existing home design. if you have a modern home, and your bathroom looks more traditional, it may be a bit jarring. The same can be said with the opposite in regards to traditional home designs and modern bathrooms.
In general, most people are leaning towards the modern bathroom design for current and future homes. The modern bathrooms design allows for the most versatility in terms of design options and creativity, with a slight edge over traditional designs. However, both are great options. Keep your options open and choose the bathroom design that best fits your personal preferences and home design.