Creating a great rustic bathroom

Row upon row of crisp white tiles and fittings with hard modern edges are one way to tackle a bathroom makeover. But for those wanting a more homely, lived-in feel to their bathroom, creating a rustic bathroom style is becoming a popular option.

According to Melbourne interior designer Joanne Patterson, rustic bathroom decor is easy to achieve by choosing the right mix of tiles and paint. She advises home renovators to stick with lineal textured tiles and either crisp white paint or textured paint, such as Wattyl i.d. Stone Effect, which is designed to imitate the worn look of stone.

Joanne suggests that a rustic bathroom would work best in a renovated Victorian home or in a new home that is away from the city. "The style of the bathroom should complement the architecture, rather than standing out," she says. "In saying that, you can still create a contemporary bathroom with a rustic feel if you're careful."

Those after a rustic bathroom look should consider timber flooring if money isn't an issue, or even rammed earth as a feature wall. Other elements worth contemplating are a stone benchtop and timber veneer cabinets. Joanne adds that mirrors and natural lighting are still important, no matter what look you're going for.

For those considering tackling a rustic bathroom makeover, try scouring your local antique stores or second-hand shops for some distinctive and individual-looking fittings. Old-fashioned towel racks and shelving with a cracked paint finish are a great way to complete the rustic look. 

If your budget doesn't quite stretch to antique pieces, there are low-cost alternatives for rustic bathroom decor. Leaning an old ladder against a wall and using it to store folded towels and pretty bottles of lotions and potions is just one way of achieving a rustic look for less. 

If you don't have the time to shop around for rustic bathroom decor, an interior designer can help put together a look for you.