17 refreshing windowless bathroom ideas from the House & Garden archive

It’s the perennial oxymoron of design: the smaller the room, the more difficult it is to design. Even more difficult a room is to decorate when natural light is lacking and even further, it seems, windowless bathrooms – common fixtures in many a house – can be the most perplexing to zhuzz up properly. Of course, with our stylish windowless bathroom ideas, you’ll soon find that there are plenty of ways to brighten up even the darkest of spaces. No window? No problem!

Consider panelling

Great panelling is a guaranteed way to add texture to any room. By choosing light, zippy or plain white paint colours, as Rita Konig did in this Manhattan house, your windowless bathroom is instantly given a new sense of vitality. To minimise the darkness of a room, be sure to paint your panelling in colours which have no grey tones, as recommended by the design duo Salvesen Graham.

Be imaginative with tiles

Tiles are a surefire way to make the most of any bathroom’s decor. For those of the windowless variety, however, Salvesen Graham say that being creative with your tile design is of utmost importance: “Even with an inexpensive tile,” says Mary, “you can create great patterns”. For those uninterested in pattern, opt for more colourful options – still perfect for adding verve to your space (after all, even without a view, you still have something interesting to look at). Additionally, tiles are an excellent choice for darker, ill-ventilated bathrooms, as they impede mould and bacteria growth and are easier to clean. If you have a generous budget, try a dramatic style of marble, as this will add a sense of luxury to the room, distracting from the fact that windowless bathrooms can feel a little mean.

Don’t be afraid of a multi-toned room

Painting any dark room in lighter colours can help to brighten the space. However, with windowless bathrooms, dare to do even more with that paint. Consider painting a trim around the room or giving your bathroom a multi-toned spin, as the Salvesen Graham duo suggest. “It’s all about interesting details,” says Nicole.

It took just three months for photographer and artist Zoë Zimmer to make her mark on this London flat, guided by her love of classic 20th-century design and atmospheric lighting. Zoë was inspired by the combination of white tiles and black grout she had seen on buildings in Tokyo. The basin is similar to Lefroy Brooks’ ‘Belle Aire’ design. Zoë’s use of large mirrors refracts light throughout the room and gives the illusion of a larger space.

Taran Wilkhu

Double the light with mirrors

By simply adding a large mirror or two, as Zoë Zimmer did in her London flat, any light in a dark or windowless room will be captured and amplified. As a bonus, too, mirrors create the optical illusion that your space is twice the size, giving you a bit more wiggle room in the bath.

Bring light to your shower

No matter how good the interiors, it is great lighting that makes the room. For windowless bathrooms, adding lighting (strategically, of course!) wherever you can will help revive the space. By adding a great lighting scheme in your shower, for instance, as Georgina Cave did in her London house, the room feels instantly fresher and the space more breathable.

Windowless bathroom ideas from the House & Garden archive