Sarah Pidgeon’s Bathroom Reveal Features an Unorthodox Wooden Detail That Proves This Overlooked Material Belongs in Modern Bathrooms

Wood might not be your first choice for a bathroom, but cleverly incorporated accents in this natural material can instantly elevate an otherwise stark scheme

Wooden sink vanity and Sarah Pidgeon
(Image credit: Future / Getty Images – Photo by Dominik Bindl/WireImage)

We can't get enough of Love Story actor, Sarah Pidgeon (starring as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy) at the moment, and that goes for her taste in interiors, too. She posted a picture of a stunning bathroom that piqued our interest thanks to a unique wooden washstand design.

Whilst we don't naturally think of wood as a typical bathroom material, it can look beautifully rustic. However, you might be wondering how you should use wood in a bathroom to avoid the practical concerns of water damage.

Bathrooms Editor, Molly Malsom, explains: 'A lot of people overlook introducing wood in a bathroom design, but if you want to add warmth and lived-in style, it's the perfect material. The vanity is the perfect place for it because it's exposed to the least water, and paired with a beautiful marble countertop, it becomes an instant focal point.'

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If you like the idea of incorporating wood in your bathroom, start with my curated buys below, plus find more advice on how to nail this Sarah Pidgeon-approved look, further down.

Wooden Bathroom Buys Inspired by Sarah Pidgeon's Style

Molly explains: This bathroom is ticking so many of the biggest bathroom trends this year. Designers and homeowners alike are choosing washstands over a traditional vanity, but the wood in this scheme takes it to the next level.'

As opposed to choosing a boxed-in vanity, a more traditional, perhaps Victorian-inspired washstand (like Lumens' Toulouse washstand) can add character and charm to a space that is often considered purely functional. And why shouldn't your bathroom feel stylish and inviting, too?

Another way to achieve this look is by embracing Feng Shui in a bathroom. Wood is thought to be a calming element in the practice, and its tactile nature encourages a sense of relaxation. It's no wonder that wood features so heavily in some of the most luxurious spas and saunas.

Wooden washstand in bathroom

(Image credit: Future)

What this bathroom does so masterfully is keep the whole color scheme muted and natural, thanks to details, such as marble tiling and the wood-panelled entrance.

You can, of course, mix color with wood, as shown in the above image, where the olive-hued paint brings out the natural tone of the wooden vanity. But, in turn, wood can undoubtedly add a comforting element to what might otherwise be a stark and clinical space.

Molly concludes: 'Wood pairs beautifully with any color, but in a neutral bathroom like this one, it adds contrast and warmth in abundance. I like to think of it as a material to add softness to all the cold finishes and hard edges typical of a bathroom.'


Adding wood to a bathroom, like in the stunning example Sarah Pidgeon posted, can bring instant warmth and be a really soothing decorating idea – just be sure to keep it away from direct sources of water, unless they are naturally resistant, and stick to a single type of wood for the most cohesive look.

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Katrina Harper-Lewis
Contributing Editor

Katrina was formerly Head of Living at Homes & Gardens, where she covered hosting and entertaining, seasonal styling ideas, sleep and wellbeing, alongside a highly experienced team of writers and reviewers. With more than 15 years’ experience in lifestyle content, she was previously an editor at luxury lifestyle platform Muddy Stilettos, a features writer at Sainsbury’s magazine, and has written for a range of food and lifestyle titles including Ideal Home, Waitrose Food, John Lewis’ Edition and The Home Page. Katrina now works as a freelance lifestyle writer and editor. Passionate about heritage style, she lives in a 100-year-old cottage in rural Hertfordshire, where she enjoys finding creative ways to live and host stylishly.