So, bathtub decorating. That’s what we’re calling it now. People think it means putting a candle and a sad-looking loofah on the corner of the tub and calling it a day. It’s not. It's about the whole setup. A place you actually want to use.
I’ve been ripping out and putting in bathrooms since '98. Seen hundreds of them. The ones you remember? They’re the ones where the tub feels like it belongs there, where the whole thing makes sense. It's the permanent stuff—the tile, the lights—and then the little things you bring in.
Forget those pictures you see online with a million bottles and flower petals floating in the water. Nobody lives like that. Let’s talk about how to do this in the real world, so it actually looks good and you don't have to clean a pile of junk every time you want to take a bath.
Start with the Foundation: Accent Walls, Tiles, and Lighting
A simple tile, like this vertical subway, can make a small space feel custom and elevated.
Listen, before you buy a bath tray or some fancy towel, you have to get the bones right. This is where it all goes wrong. The wall behind your tub. That's everything. It’s the backdrop for the whole show.
Best thing you can do is an accent wall. Tile. All the way to the ceiling. A nice big porcelain tile that looks like stone, or if you've got the money, a real marble slab. Gives it some weight. Or something modern, a dark hex tile or whatever. For example, using "green tile in a bathroom" can create a stunning focal point. Just make sure it’s rated for a wet wall. Please.
To make this a bit clearer, here's how I break down the main tile options for my clients:
| Tile Type | What It's Good For | My Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Porcelain | Getting the look of expensive stone without the maintenance. It's tough as nails. | The best all-around choice. Durable, waterproof, and tons of styles. |
| Ceramic (like Subway Tile) | A classic, budget-friendly look. Very versatile. | A solid, affordable option. Just make sure the grout is sealed well. |
| Natural Stone (Marble, etc.) | The high-end, luxury look. Every piece is unique. | Beautiful, but high-maintenance. It stains easily and needs to be sealed often. |
My Take: For 90% of jobs, porcelain is the way to go. It gives you the look of stone without the headache and the price tag. It's a workhorse.
Did a job last year, over on Dalton Street. The house where the whole second floor had a slight tilt to it. We used cheap subway tile, the basic stuff. But we ran it straight up and down, vertically. Made the ceiling look way higher. It took an ordinary tub in a little alcove and made it look custom. And don't cheap out on the finish. Use those metal trim pieces, the Schluter edges. Makes it look clean. Professional.
And the lighting. A single bulb in the center of the ceiling is just awful. It’s like an operating room. You need layers. I always tell people, put a couple of sconces on the wall. Put them on a dimmer. A dimmer switch is the best fifty bucks you'll ever spend in a bathroom.
Got high ceilings? Fine, put a chandelier over your freestanding tub. Just make sure it's damp-rated. If it's not, you're asking for a whole different kind of trouble. Big trouble.
Curate Your Space with Spa-Like Bathtub Accessories
Choose accessories that are both beautiful and built to withstand a humid environment.
Alright, the walls and lights are done. Now you can bring in your stuff. But the key is not to bring in too much junk. Curated, not cluttered. That's the phrase, right?
A bathtub tray is fine. Useful, I guess. But don't buy those cheap bamboo ones. I've seen them. They get black mold spots and warp in about three months. A waste of money. Get one made of solid teak, it can handle the water. Or a metal one that matches your faucets. Big enough to hold a book, not big enough to land a plane on.
Towels. Quality, not quantity. Don’t have a pile of five mismatched, crunchy towels sitting there. Get two really good ones. Those Turkish cotton ones are decent. They dry fast. And get a simple hook for them. Or one of those wooden ladders. Looks a lot better than a standard towel bar. A good bath mat, too. Nobody likes stepping out onto a cold, wet floor. If you're aiming for a specific theme, you could explore a collection of "rustic bathroom accessories" to create a cohesive look.
And then there's the plants and candles. A plant is good, makes the room feel less sterile. But you have to pick the right one. Had a homeowner, Judy, over in those new townhouses on Finch Lane. She loved succulents. Lined her whole tub with them in these little pots. A month later, I was back to fix a leak and it was just a row of gray mush. They hate humidity. You need something that likes steam. A snake plant. A fern. Something tough.
That story about Judy's succulents wasn't a joke. You can't just stick any old plant in a bathroom. Here’s a quick guide to what lives and what dies.
| Plant Type | Why It Works (or Doesn't) | Good for a Bathroom? |
|---|---|---|
| Ferns / Pothos | These plants evolved in humid forests. They love the steam from a shower. | Yes. They will thrive in here. |
| Snake Plant | It's nearly indestructible and tolerates low light and moisture. | Yes. The best option if you forget to water things. |
| Succulents / Cacti | They come from dry deserts. Humidity makes their roots rot. | No. They will turn to mush, guaranteed. |
Pro-Tip: If you have a black thumb, get a snake plant. You basically have to try to kill that thing. It's the toughest plant I know.
Candles? Sure. One or two. Don't line the entire edge of the tub like you're trying to summon something.
Modern Bathtub Decorating Trends: Colors, Finishes, and Shapes
Don't be afraid of color. A non-white tub can act as a stunning piece of furniture for your bathroom.
A plain white tub is fine. It’ll always be fine. But there’s other stuff out there now that can really anchor a room. The freestanding tub is still the king.
The old clawfoot tub has its place, but the new ones are different. Softer shapes. And colors. I'm putting in more and more tubs that aren't white. Matte black, dark gray. Just put a deep green one in a house last spring. It becomes a piece of furniture, really. The whole room ends up revolving around it.
And the faucets and drains are changing, too. For about twenty years everything was polished chrome. Now, it's all matte black or brushed brass. That’s the stuff people want. Everyone's asking about these new faucet finishes. Here's the rundown on the big three I'm installing these days.
| Finish | The Look | Things to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Polished Chrome | Shiny, classic, and bright. The standard for decades. | Easy to clean and matches everything. Can look a little dated now. |
| Matte Black | Modern, bold, and dramatic. Makes a statement. | Shows water spots and fingerprints. You have to wipe it down often. |
| Brushed Brass | Warm, elegant, and a bit softer than shiny gold. | Great at hiding fingerprints. Has a high-end, custom feel. |
My Take: Matte black looks sharp but shows water spots and fingerprints like crazy. Brushed brass hides smudges better. Chrome is the old standby for a reason—it's easy. Just pick one and stick with it. The main thing, the the only thing that really matters, is that you match them. If you get a black tub filler, your shower head and sink faucet better be black, too. People try to mix metals. Just... don't. Unless you're a designer, and even then, it's a gamble. Stick to one. It's easier. It looks better.
The shape of the tub matters. We're seeing fewer of those sharp, boxy tubs. More curves, more organic shapes. Tubs that actually look comfortable to sit in. They don’t need a lot of decoration around them because the tub itself is the decoration.
Creating a Vibe: How to Craft a Luxurious Bathtub Atmosphere
The right atmosphere is created by layering light, scent, and texture.
Someone told me the goal is to create a vibe. Whatever that means. I think it just means making it a place you don't hate being in. It's about more than just what you see.
I already said it, but I'll say it again. Dimmers. The lighting has to be right. It’s not negotiable.
Then there's sound. A little waterproof speaker is a good idea. Play some music. Or a podcast. Just try not to drop it in the water. And smells. People love those essential oil diffusers now. Probably safer than a candle, to be honest. You can make the whole room smell like a forest or whatever it is you like. Lavender, eucalyptus. Fine.
The last thing is texture. Think about it. The tub is smooth and hard. The towel is soft. A wooden bath tray is warm. The bath mat is thick.
It's just about having different feelings. Contrast. That’s what makes a room feel finished instead of feeling like a sterile box. It's the combination of all of it—the soft light, the quiet music, the smell, the textures. That’s the whole spa thing everyone is chasing. It’s not one thing. It’s all of it.
Harmonize Your Design: Creating a Cohesive Bathroom Theme
Repetition is key. Matching the finishes on your fixtures creates a polished, intentional design.
Your bathtub is not on its own little island. It has to make sense with the rest of the bathroom. This seems obvious, but you’d be surprised.
First, pick your colors. Two, maybe three. And use them everywhere. If you have a blue vanity, maybe have a blue stripe in your towels or a blue soap dish by the tub. It ties it together. Simple.
Materials, too. If you have an oak vanity, a teak bath tray looks right. If everything else is slick and chrome, a chrome tray looks right. You just have to make them talk to each other. I was on a job once on Cranston Avenue. Beautiful tile work. I mean, perfect. But the homeowner had bought all the fixtures himself. A chrome shower head, a matte black sink faucet, and a brushed brass tub filler. It looked like a hardware store had thrown up in there. A total mess.
Think of it this way: all the metal in the room should be the same family. All the wood should be the same family. If you use a certain tile behind the tub, maybe use it for a little shelf in the shower. Repetition. That's what makes it look like you planned it.
It makes the whole room flow. And it makes your tub look like it belongs there, instead of being an afterthought.
Conclusion
Look, this bathtub decorating thing comes down to a few basic ideas. Get the background right first. Your tile and your lighting are permanent, so don't mess them up. Then you can worry about the bath mats and the trays and all that.
Then you can add the layers. The textures. The stuff that makes it feel comfortable. It’s not about following some trend you saw online. It’s about building a space that works, that feels solid, and that you won't get sick of in two years.
It’s your bathroom. But if you think about this stuff, you’ll probably like it more. And you won’t have to call someone like me to come fix it.