In the grand scheme of things, the downstairs bathroom (or cloakroom) is often an afterthought. Whether its under the stairs, beside a utility or next to the front door, they are small rooms with not a lot going on. But their small size is their superpower. It’s a great room to be creative and have lots of fun, without the same daring commitment through the rest of the house. Guests will nearly always use this room so why not make it a talking point, something to gush about when they return. And with it often hidden away, we believe there’s an unwritten rule to be as free as you like in there.
We’ve pulled together some ideas to really give this room some character.
1. Wallpaper
We often suggest panelling and a bold wallpaper to brighten a small room like this. The cloakroom in our showroom (pictured) features T&G panelling painted in F&B’s Brinjal with William Morris Pimpernel wallpaper and mosaic floor tiles. For some added drama, we’ve installed a high level chrome cistern from Burlington and a wide basin with chrome stand to complement.
2. Groovy Tiles
These herringbone tiles are guaranteed to wow any unsuspecting guests. Experimenting with tiles is a great way to add colour and character to your cloakroom. If you’re hesitant to cover all four walls in tiling, try putting them behind the basin or WC instead to create a feature.
3. Paint
Being creative with paint colour and its application is a clever and inexpensive way to transform your cloakroom. If you’re not planning to replace the sanitaryware just yet, trying using varying paint colours, paint finishes or painting different areas for maximum impact. Whether it’s the walls, just the ceiling or playing with shapes and creating focal points, a tin of paint will give your cloakroom a new lease of life.
4. Sanitaryware
Like most things, we are swamped with choice when it comes to sanitaryware. Kast Concrete create basins in over 26 colours, across multiple different designs. Let the sanitaryware do the talking if you want to keep the walls simple.
To those looking for a traditional, statement piece we often suggest a Thomas Crapper. A name that’s reputable and steeped in history. A Thomas Crapper basin or cistern is the perfect addition to a downstairs WC that oozes luxury.
Image via Kast Concrete Basins