Large bathroom ideas – 10 ways to design a big bathroom

Large bathrooms provides the luxury of space – to include more features geared to your lifestyle and to create a haven of indulgent relaxation. It’s the opportunity to include a glamorous freestanding tub, perhaps positioned in the center of the room so that its beautiful shape can be enjoyed to the maximum. Or perhaps you want a double shower to share with your partner, or wellness features such as a sauna?

Double sinks will give couples a sense of personal space, while a generous vanity offers storage so that lotions and potions are close to hand. There are plenty of bathroom ideas to help you plan your space; the key is to consider your priorities before you start designing your room so that you can include the elements most suited to your requirements.

Below, we showcase the best large bathroom ideas, so that your space feels inviting, luxurious, and practical.

Large bathroom ideas

If you have a large bathroom, you may be looking for ways to make the most of the generous space. This could be choosing the best master bathroom ideas to make your bedroom and bathroom suite a retreat from the rest of the family. Perhaps you are looking for clever family bathroom ideas, or maybe you are considering a spa bathroom dedicated to unwinding and wellness? Whatever your needs, designing a large bathroom well is key to ensuring it feels inviting, despite its size. Below, we showcase the best large bathroom ideas to show you how.

1. Install double basins to create space for all

Whether you are considering the design of a Jack and Jill bathroom or simply want to create a luxury bathroom, double bathroom basins will feel both practical and indulgent. 

‘With a large bathroom, you generally have more choice about where you position all the elements and space to incorporate every conceivable luxury,’ says James Lentaigne, creative director of Drummonds. ‘Separate freestanding basins give each partner their personal space. As well as being practical, they also create splendid focal points and create a wonderful symmetry in the design scheme.’

Note the bathroom rug idea – and the bathroom wallpaper – both serve to create a welcoming scheme that echoes bedroom decor. Another trick is to introduce bathroom art ideas, again decorating a bathroom like you would a bedroom enhances its appeal.

2. Create a focal point in a large bathroom

A freestanding bath needs space to show off its sculptural shape and highlight its role as the eye-catching centerpiece of a beautiful large bathroom. This traditional freestanding bath from CP Hart matches the style of the architecture in the rest of the room and creates a sense of inviting and serene modern luxury. The bathroom paint idea behind the tub helps to showcase the bath's profile beautifully, too.

Don't be shy about decorating with mirrors in a large bathroom – particularly if your space is a little starved of natural light or is painted a dark color. Note, though, how the wall lights in this bathroom have cream-beige shades; this is purposeful, creating warm pools of light that will reflect further into the mirrors for a welcoming, warm feel – a must in a large bathroom.

3. Install twin showers for a luxe look

This may not be a large bathroom idea you use every day, but a double walk-in shower to share with your partner – or to pile the kids into at once – makes an indulgent addition to any bathroom. 

‘I recommend that a double shower be at least 5½ ft (160cm) wide to accommodate two people comfortably,’ says interior designer Irene Gunter of Gunter & Co.

4. Work a bath and shower into a large bathroom

A large bathroom means no compromise and a rethink of bathroom layout ideas. In this design, there is a luxuriously grand, super-size shower area, which frames bath tub in front of it. The panel of transparent glass, framed in black, enhances the airy feel of the room, while creating a definite style statement. The shower zone can be accessed from both sides, further boosting the sense of space.

5. Mix materials to create interest

The choice of two flooring materials in this bathroom, featuring the Flow collection by Jee-O, serves to do more than simply delineate the bathing and hand washing zones – it also adds a degree of design flair and textural contrast that elevates the interest in a large space, which might otherwise be in danger of lacking warmth or personality.

6. Maximize the storage – but make it beautiful

For anyone looking for large bathroom ideas, know that storage needn't be space-saving, but it can be designed to look more like living room or bedroom furniture. One way to do this is with impressive bathroom vanity ideas, which can make a design statement in a large bathroom, as well as providing twin sinks and plenty of bathroom storage, ideal for partners who are like to get ready at the same time. Hardware from Modern Matter and mirrors flanked with wall lights complete the glamorous and eye-catching effect.

7. Consider the tub shape

A large bathroom offers the opportunity to depart from the norm and create an individual look, for example by replacing a ‘standard’ rectangular tub with a circular design. 

‘This design expands from the bottom up – it is shaped like a white tulip,’ says internationally acclaimed designer Philippe Starck of his new collection for Duravit. The round White Tulip bathtub is undoubtedly a showpiece, ideal in this generously proportioned room where there is space to show off its freestanding elegance.

8. Design a wellness shower

A large bathroom can offer space to create a truly indulgent shower, as Giovanni De Filippo of Gessi explains: ‘A totally customized shower transforms the experience of water into a personalized source of balance and health,’ he says. ‘Choose from freefall, rainfall, atomization or concentrated jet showers, in different positions including ceiling, high on the wall for the shoulders, neck and back, or low on the wall for the legs, ankles and feet, and couple the benefits of water with those from light, chromotherapy and music.’

9. Focus on stand-out lighting

If you are looking for large bathroom ideas with real impact, think bathroom lighting ideas – and, specifically, bathroom chandeliers. These types of fittings will transform a functional space into one that's opulent and indulgent – though they do need to be safety-checked to ensure they are suitable for rooms where the odd splash might hit them. 

10. Make room for a sauna

In this generously-sized bathroom created by interior designer Karen Howes of Taylor Howes, a Yoku S Shelf 45 sauna in heat-treated aspen adds an extra note of luxury. The combination of warm, dry air and the fragrance of the natural wood create a calming effect, said to also stimulate blood circulation and deep cleanse the skin. 

In sizes from 68½ in x 52in (174cm x 132cm), the modular sauna system is designed to give you the opportunity to enjoy spa-like relaxation at home, from C.P. Hart. The sauna also creates an abundance of storage, great for bathroom shelf ideas.

What can I do with a large bathroom?

In a large bathroom, consider who will be using the space and the options – in order of importance – you would like to include, so that you can plan how many of them you can fit in. Wellness features, such as a shower with aromatherapy and massage jets, might be top of the list for a couple’s spa-like retreat, while a large bathtub might be more important for bathing young children. Perhaps you like to relax in the bath and soak away the cares of the day, gazing at the sky? Then a tub positioned below a feature window might be the most important element of the room.

How do I make a large bathroom feel inviting?

Avoid positioning all the elements around the walls, leaving a vast empty space in the center of the room. Use the central space for a freestanding tub, perhaps, or a chaise as somewhere to relax after your shower. Introduce variations in texture or color – with tiles, paint and screens – to zone the space and create a more intimate feel in each area, an effect that can also be enhanced by lighting. Ideally, position lights at ceiling, wall and low levels, set on dimmer switches, so that you can adjust it according to task and mood, such as an evening bathe in soft light to aid restful sleep.