Playful and Functional Design Ideas for Kids’ Bathrooms
Kids’ bathrooms are all about color, fun, and creativity. Find out how professional designers integrate these elements into a bathroom your little one will love with these awesome kid’s bathroom ideas.
If you have room, dedicating one bathroom to your children might be the best idea you ever had. A kids’ bathroom—at least, theoretically—allows them to stop messing up yours. Kids’ bathroom ideas are more whimsical than the adult versions, but that doesn’t mean they have to be cartoonish. Your children’s bathroom can be impressively creative but still mesh well with your overall home decor.
Functionality is another important factor to consider when choosing kids’ bathroom decor. An easy-to-reach towel bar is as vital as a step stool in front of the sink. Toothbrushes are more likely to land inside a toothbrush holder if it has a fun design, and bath toys must have their own storage container. Enjoy this gallery of our favorite kids’ bathroom designs.
1. Monochrome Kids’ Bathroom Ideas
Black and white is a classic bathroom design scheme, and it’s just as great in kids’ bathroom spaces as it is in other rooms. The beauty of a simple black-and-white kids’ bathroom is that it can grow with your child. A fun white shower curtain printed with zoo animals can be replaced with a black-and-white stripe as your child grows up.
In fact, black and white may be the best bathroom decor option of all. Its classic appeal can easily flex toward modern bathroom design or traditional farmhouse decor. If you decide to reclaim the bathroom for yourself or your guests, redecorating is easier without bright colors and themed characters to paint over.
2. Imaginative Designs for Boys’ Bathrooms
A navy blue and white nautical theme is perhaps the first bathroom design idea that comes to mind when you think of boys’ bathrooms. However, boys’ bathroom design ideas extend way beyond these ocean-themed room options. Paint trees and bears on the walls for mountain-themed decor, or apply wall decals representing his favorite trains, cars, or construction equipment.
Monograms are a decorating idea that combines beauty and function. Buy towels with a name monogram to make it clear which towel belongs to whom. Monogrammed wall decals can add a sophisticated flair to your boys’ bathroom. You can place a wall decal of each child’s initial over towel hooks for an easy reminder of what goes where.
3. Exploring Colors
Kids love fun colors and can form strong opinions about their favorite hues at surprisingly young ages. One child might prefer soft shades of pink, while another demands walls doused in neon green. That can make it challenging to balance kids’ bathroom ideas regarding color. However, with enough examples, your kids will likely agree on a bathroom idea that works for all.
Bathroom design can create a soothing place for a bedtime bath or a more exhilarating space for morning showers. Choosing the colors to include in your kids’ bathroom may seem daunting; if so, go with a more neutral palette. Let each child choose accessories to suit their own style and roll with the eclectic vibe you create together.
4. Vibrant and Playful
Even a plain bathroom can become vibrant with a rainbow shower curtain, colorful towels, and jewel-toned accessories. Hang a fabric banner over the mirror and frame some of your kids’ most colorful artwork. If you’re feeling ambitious, cover your kids’ bathroom walls with wide circus stripes of color and hang a balloon-printed fabric shade on the window.
Use colorful plastic bins and baskets to contain your kids’ bathroom odds and ends. Tuck hair accessories, combs, and brushes inside bright color bins. Put cotton balls and cotton swabs inside unbreakable acrylic jars that look like colored beach glass. Using fun containers not only makes the bathroom look tidy but also makes up for a lack of storage space in a small bathroom.
5. Adding Charm and Character
A child’s bathroom decor is the perfect place to experiment with design styles you might not use in other rooms of the house. Go full bohemian by integrating artwork, fabrics, and accessories from around the globe. Plaster one wall with a loud palm tree wallpaper that you love, but just won’t work in any other room. Build a jungle-themed bathroom design around this leafy feature wall.
Hit your nearest IKEA if you long for clean Scandinavian bathroom decor. This retail giant has a huge, affordable selection of decor suitable for any kids’ bathroom. Naturally, your kids’ bath doesn’t have to scream “children live here” at all. You can design the room to fit in with the rest of your home, allowing for small personal touches that reflect each child’s style.
6. Charming and Playful Designs for Girls’ Bathrooms
If your daughter is asking for a girly kids’ bathroom, feel free to let her go crazy with unicorns, rainbows, and sparkles. Replace dull faucets with more elegant fixtures made of brass or copper. Use glass or ceramic knobs on the vanity cabinets instead of plain hardware. Take the boring builder-grade mirror down and replace it with a round or curved mirror in a detailed frame.
For the same reason, remove a standard overhead light fixture and replace it with a chandelier. If the room is small, find a girly lighting fixture, like something flower-shaped, designed for a smaller bathroom. Decorate her vanity and sink area with flowers, and hang butterfly wall sculptures on the walls around the sink.
See more about - Bathroom Tile Ideas
7. Unleashing Creativity
A cute kids’ bathroom isn’t a great bathroom design unless it functions well for bathing, hair styling, tooth brushing, and more. Install a mirror, cabinets, and hand towel bar where they’re easy for your child to reach. Get down on his or her eye level if you are unsure of where to place things.
Storage is a huge part of successful kids’ bathroom design. Instead of a fragile towel bar, consider hanging a sturdy towel hook or two next to the sink and the tub. Add additional hooks for bathrobes or extra towels, especially if the room doubles as your guest bathroom.
Watch the video below to learn how to hang bathroom hooks securely.
8. Timeless Elegance
A neutral color palette can work very well in a kid’s bathroom, especially if the rest of your house is modern and minimalist. You can accent neutral decor with child-centric accessories, such as paintings depicting grey elephants or bears in a range of brown tones. Remember that older children may prefer a neutral, more mature bathroom design instead of one that looks childish.
Using a variety of patterns keeps neutral kids’ bathroom ideas from being too mature or too boring. Incorporate stripes, checkerboard patterns, or polka dots into your kid’s bathroom decor, all while keeping to a neutral color palette. Include some kid-safe house plants to liven up a mostly beige or grey room.
9. Soft and Serene Pastel
Pastel colors look wonderful in kids’ bathrooms and aren’t just for girls. Use a range of pale blues and greens to create a soothing bathroom design that reminds you of the outdoors. This type of bathroom is suitable for all children and easy to renovate into something more sophisticated as they grow.
Pastel peach is an often underused color that works particularly well in bathroom decor. Its warm hues are welcoming without being as overpoweringly feminine as pink. Butter yellow is a classic pastel shade for bathrooms and creates a soothing, sunny vibe in a kid’s bathroom.
10. Adding Pizzazz
Sometimes, just one accent color is all you need—even in a kids’ bathroom. Think of a black and white bathroom with sunny yellow mirrors and window treatments. Or imagine a soothing blue and white bath retreat that includes bright pops of red accessories.
Your pop of color should be whatever element you most want to draw attention to. If you find a fabulous light fixture or a sleekly designed step stool, buy it in bright green or purple instead of basic white or black. Paint a beautiful antique cabinet vanity hot pink, but make it the only splash of color in an otherwise neutral space.
11. Simplicity and Style
A child’s bathroom doesn’t have to be elaborate to be fun. Include artwork that features funny statements or silly illustrations. Simple countertops, a basic sink design, and an unfussy floor are all easy to clean—an important factor when it comes to kids’ bathroom ideas.
Even in a simple kids’ bathroom, include elements that make the room easier to use. Place a stool or chair in the corner for your children to sit on while drying off or getting dressed. Include a clothes hamper to keep dirty clothes from getting lost somewhere between the bathroom and each kid’s room.
12. Immersive Experiences
Bath time is fun time when your child gets to hang out with his or her favorite characters. You can find bathroom accessories bearing the likeness of just about every character imaginable, from classic cartoon figures to superheroes. Other themes include the beach, outer space, the rainforest, cats, and dogs.
While it may seem like a great idea to fill the bathroom with themed decor, know that your child’s preferences are likely to change quickly. If you choose themed bathroom accessories, go with a basic or neutral background color, so redesigning it is easy. Or, go all-in with your theme, realizing that your next bathroom renovation will be a bit more complicated.
13. Inspiring Ideas to Transform Spaces
Wall decor is often what transforms a basic kids’ bathroom into one that wows your little one. A plain white bathroom morphs into an aquarium with the addition of a fish-themed mural extending on all four walls. A decorative tile mosaic is also an impressive way to add color and texture to a kids’ bathroom.
Wallpaper can be time-consuming to hang, and it is often an expensive wall treatment. However, most designers feel the investment is worth the impact that it makes. If you cannot afford a full room of wallpaper, cover an accent wall with an impressive bathroom wallpaper pattern.
See more about - Kids' Bedroom Ideas
FAQs
How do you make a bathroom kid friendly?
Choose fixtures that are easy for little hands to operate. If you cannot replace the fixtures, look into adjustable shower mounts and sink faucet extenders to help little ones reach the water. Set your water heater at 120 degrees to protect delicate skin from burns. Make sure rugs are non-skid to avoid falls.
What does every kid’s bathroom need?
Besides the obvious fixtures—toilet, sink, mirror, and tub or shower—every bathroom needs certain things for functionality. When shopping for bathroom decor, be sure to get each of these items:
- Shower curtain and hooks
- Shower curtain liner
- Non-skid bath mat
- Hand towels, bath towels, and washcloths
- Hand soap dispenser or soap dish
- Toothbrush holder, preferably covered
- Toilet paper and tissues
- Trash can
- Toilet plunger
- Toilet brush and cleaning supplies
How can I make my kid’s bedroom look great on a budget?
A kid’s bathroom renovation doesn’t have to be expensive to be impressive. One inexpensive way to spruce up a child’s bathroom is to purchase a new shower curtain, which can give the room an entirely different look. Replace a worn terry cloth bath mat with a new non-skid rug. Clean the tile grout and apply new caulk along tile seams.
