Rustic-style bathrooms embrace the beauty of the outdoors with raw, natural materials and warm, cozy textiles. And while rustic style is inspired by the past, today’s interpretation can also lean more contemporary. Here are some rustic bath elements to look for:
- Rough-hewn wood beams, cabinetry and wall paneling
- Natural stone floors, wall treatments and accents
- Dark metal hardware with hammered or matte finishes
- Earthy, nature-inspired color palettes
- Materials with a patina, such as natural wood, copper and stone
What You Won’t Find in Rustic Bathrooms
Rustic style is about getting away from it all, not complicating life with fussy decor or quickly fading trends. Here’s what you won’t see:
- Wild color palettes
- Cutting-edge trends
- Highly polished finishes such as chrome
- Lucite, molded plastic and other clearly man-made materials
- A mix-and-match approach to materials and finishes
Echo the hues of natural materials such as stone and warm woods with paint colors and accents in similar shades for a rich, cozy look.
Colors for Rustic bathrooms:
- Neutrals. Buttermilk, cream, straw, wheat, stone
- Earth tones. Chestnut, mushroom, umber, terra cotta, sepia
- Spicy hues. Cinnamon, saffron, pumpkin, chile pepper, baked apple
Furniture-Style Vanity
Wood (or wood-look) vanities with furniture-style details such as legs and open shelving bring a homey touch to rustic bathrooms. In the space shown here by Conrad Brothers Construction, a rough-hewn wooden table was transformed into a vanity with the addition of a vessel sink and towel bar.
Warm Wood
Wood plays a key role in rustic bathrooms, warming up cool stone and referencing the outdoors. Consider wood for beams, paneled feature walls, flooring, vanities and accessories. Proper installation and finishing (along with excellent ventilation) is generally enough to prevent moisture damage. But if you’d like to avoid the risk altogether, consider limiting real wood to use in a powder room or opt for wood-look materials instead.
A vessel sink made from stone or copper can become the focal point in a rustic bathroom or powder room. Look for rounded and organic natural shapes with tactile texture or patina.
Stone counters, floors and wall treatments — like the shower in this space from Estate Homes —also bring natural texture to rustic-style bathrooms. Rich, earthy materials such as slate, fieldstone, travertine, soapstone and pebble tile are all good options.
Statement Bathtub
A freestanding bathtub can make a beautiful centerpiece in a rustic bathroom. Look for a warm copper tub (as seen here), a Japanese-style soaking tub or a classic claw-foot. Modern freestanding bathtubs can also work well in rustic bathrooms if your take on the look is more contemporary.
Rustic-style metal finishes often have a bit of patina — think softly gleaming or matte rather than shiny or high-gloss. Look for cabinet pulls, faucets and lighting in dark, weathered metal finishes such as oil-rubbed bronze, antique brass or hammered copper. Or opt for something more whimsical like twig- or stone-shaped hardware.
Give your rustic bathroom a cozy, outdoorsy vibe with finishing touches such as nature art or photography; a flat-woven or kilim rug in earthy hues; filament bulb vanity lights; and accessories in amber glass, copper, stone and wood.
Your turn: Are you a fan of rustic style? Describe or show us your favorite rustic-style bathroom in the Comments.
Content provided by Laura Gaskill at Houzz.com
