Bathroom decorating is mostly about the details that signal this room was considered: towels, hardware, the mirror, and the one thing on the counter that's there on purpose.
01Towels as textile
Towels are the bathroom's primary textile — the color and the fold matter more than most people realize. Two towels per person, folded consistently, in a color that works against the wall color and the hardware finish. Rolled towels in a basket work in a casual bathroom. Folded and hung works in a more formal one. What doesn't work: a different color towel hung from every bar, or towels that haven't been replaced in a decade.
02The one object on the counter
A bathroom counter should have at most one intentional decorative object: a small plant that tolerates low light and humidity (a pothos or small succulent), a candle, a tray holding the daily-use items that should be on the counter. One intentional object makes the counter read curated. Two or more requires careful composition. More than three is a shelf.
03Art in the bathroom
A single piece of art in a bathroom — a framed print, a small photograph — elevates the room's character for approximately $40 at a frame shop. Mount it at eye height on the wall opposite the mirror, or above the toilet. Use a frame with a backing and glass that protects the art from humidity. Skip canvas in a bathroom — it warps in the moisture.
04Plants
Certain plants genuinely thrive in bathroom humidity: pothos, snake plants, peace lilies, air plants. A small potted plant on a shelf or the back of the toilet tank is low-maintenance and adds a living element that no purchased decorative object replicates.
Marcus Webb is a general contractor and home maintenance writer based in Columbus, Ohio. He writes about the repairs and installs that come up every year in every house — the practical, repeating work that keeps a home livable.