Bathroom Design: 5 Missed Opportunities You’ll Wish You Knew About

Creating the bathroom design of your dreams comes down to one critical thing: the details. As an interior designer, I’ve seen firsthand the impact one great touch can make—and how the forgotten opportunities can lead to missing the mark on your bathroom entirely. 

In this post, I’m sharing the most common missed opportunities in bathroom design (and how to make the most of them). Whether you’re working on a small bathroom renovation or creating the master bathroom of your dreams, you’re going to want to take note of these.

Bathroom Design Details You Don’t Want to Miss

Here are our bathroom interior design tips for creating beautiful, functional, perfectly-flowing bathrooms.

1. Bathroom Tile.

One of the most common missteps in bathroom design is using the same tile throughout the entire space—on the floors, shower walls, and shower floor. We can’t even count how many times we’ve seen white Carrara porcelain tile used on both the bathroom floors and walls. While this might feel like a safe choice, it often leaves the room feeling flat, sterile, and one-dimensional.

A well-designed bathroom should feel layered and intentional. Varying tile size, shape, and finish is one of the simplest ways to add visual interest and elevate the entire space. We love to get creative with these combinations, balancing contrast and cohesion.

Take our Brighton project, for example. In the shower, we used a large matte 12" x 24" tile on the lower walls to ground the space, then transitioned to a glossy white 2.5" x 8" subway tile on the upper half for a fresh, classic feel. A Carrara marble bluenose tile seamlessly transitions between the two, really elevating the design. For the bathroom floor, we opted for a light-toned 12" x 24" tile that brought a subtle softness, while the shower floor featured a hexagon marble mosaic that tied everything together in both tone and texture.

2. Bathroom Grout.

When it comes to grout, there’s so much more to the story than the colour (though that’s important). You always want to consider grout width, colour, and how it interacts with the tile itself. We often source tiles that don’t have rectified edges, which means they’re slightly irregular. This is intentional. These tiles aren’t meant to be perfectly aligned or pristine. 

They’re full of character, and we believe the grout lines should reflect that same story. Clean, tight joints may work for some tiles. But with imperfect edges, trying to force perfection only detracts from the overall look.

In our Highbank Project, we leaned into this philosophy. The powder bathroom floor design leaned into a timeless look, with a nod to traditional red brick. To bring that vision to life, we used a wider grout joint with a slightly messy over-grouted finish. It took extra care and time, but it gave the tile that “it’s always been here” feeling—and the results speak for themselves.

A quick tip for bathroom installations: we don’t recommend narrow grout joints (like 1/16") in damp spaces. Tile needs room to breathe and expand. Without it, you run the risk of cracking and water infiltration—not exactly the kind of patina we’re going for.

If possible, confirm your grout colour in the actual space during a dry lay. Just like paint, grout can shift dramatically depending on the lighting and whether it's used on a wall or floor.

Remember that while grout may seem like a small detail, it truly plays a big role in the overall look, longevity, and soul of the space.

3. Bathroom Shower Enclosure.

Some of the most commonly overlooked opportunities in bathroom design happen in the shower—and we’re not just talking about the tile. Think: curbs, sills, niches, and enclosures like glass. These small architectural details might not seem like a big deal, but they significantly impact both the function and the overall feel of the space.

Let’s start with curbs and sills. We’re strong advocates for using solid stone thresholds in these areas. Why? They eliminate the need for exposed Schluter edging (which can cheapen the look), provide a smooth, flat surface ideal for glass installation, and instantly elevate the feel of the entire shower. You can see this approach in action in our Brighton and New Beginnings Project , where the use of solid stone brought a refined, seamless finish.

If we’re already sourcing that stone for the curb and sill, we like to take it a step further and carry it into the shower niche as well. This not only creates cohesion, but also avoids interrupting the visual flow with unnecessary Schluter pieces. 

Another element to consider utilizing stone is on shower shelves, like we did in our By The Bay project. Again, we are trying to avoid other forms of shelving (ie: schlutter) that cheapen the overall look. It’s a simple move that makes a big difference—seen in both our Brighton and New Beginnings projects.

What about curbless showers? While they’re having a moment—and we absolutely support them when accessibility is a key priority—they’re not our go-to. Why? Because they require meticulous planning and precise execution to avoid water escaping onto the bathroom floor. But beyond the functional challenges, curbless showers often lean more modern than our typical aesthetic. We love what a curb adds: another chance to layer in materiality and reinforce the overall design story.

When you’re designing a bathroom, timelines can be tight. The lead time for custom shower glass isn’t always ideal, especially when a project is nearing completion. But time and again, we recommend going the custom route. 

Here’s why: Prefabricated shower enclosures often come with bulky, off-the-shelf hardware that can visually weigh down a space and compromise the overall aesthetic. Plus, the more hardware there is, the greater the opportunity for hardware failure and problems down the road.

In contrast, custom glass allows for cleaner lines, more refined detailing, and a more integrated look—something we value deeply in all of our bathroom designs.

Beyond the visual benefits, custom shower glass opens the door to thoughtful functionality. At our New Beginnings project, we incorporated a custom hinge system at the center of the glass, allowing for easier access during bath time—especially important in a family-friendly space. These kinds of tailored design choices simply aren't possible with standard options.

4. Bathroom Lighting and Bathroom Mirror Placements.

One of the most common—and frustrating—mistakes in bathroom renovations and new builds is the poor placement of bathroom light fixtures and electrical outlets. This typically stems from one root issue: lack of proper planning and detailed drawings in the early stages of a project.

Beautiful, functional lighting doesn’t happen by chance. If your electrician doesn’t have access to the right information (like your vanity dimensions, mirror specifications, or the type of fixtures you've selected), they're essentially working blind. The result? Sconces installed too high, off-center, or awkwardly hovering above a mirror instead of flanking it properly.

A tip for wall sconces: When placing a pair of wall sconces beside a mirror, they should generally sit at eye level—typically between 60" and 66" off the floor—to ensure the light is both flattering and functional. Proper placement not only improves visibility, but it also elevates the entire feel of the space.

If you’ve read Tips for Flawless Home Lighting, you already know we’re not big fans of pot lights. While they may be convenient, they rarely contribute to the soul of a space. Your bathroom design should reflect your personality, and each room should feel layered, lived-in, and full of character. 

That’s why canned lighting just doesn’t cut it. The only place we’ll consider using a pot light is inside the shower, where it serves a truly functional purpose.

Instead, we prefer to layer lighting using fixtures that bring visual and textural interest—like the cement rope-inspired sconces in our Highbank Powder Room. There are so many incredible lighting options available today that do more than illuminate—they tell a story.

Great bathroom lighting isn’t just about brightness—it’s about intention. And when it’s done right, it becomes one of the most transformative elements in a home.

Let’s Chat About Your Bathroom Design Ideas

Beautiful bathroom design is the result of thoughtful, intentional choices tailored to the space. As your interior designer, I take the elements that matter most to you and transform them into a cohesive, stunning space backed by smart strategy and meticulous planning.

Get in touch with me if you’re ready to create the bathroom of your dreams—with no detail overlooked.

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