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Basement shower ideas


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(Image credit: Porcelain Superstore)

Basement bathroom ideas can help turn your unused lower level into some of the most desirable living space in your home: an in-law suite, guest quarters, or a basement theater room that doesn't require pausing the film every time someone needs to run upstairs for a restroom break.

Aside from the practical considerations, bathroom ideas in a basement are also a chance to add style and even luxury to your home. Because it's off of the main floors of your house, you can step outside the style constrictions of the rest of your decor. And if you have the room, fun add-ons like a home sauna or rainfall shower can make the room the best bathroom in the house.

Basement bathroom ideas

By necessity, any basement ideas you search might be compromised by space restrictions more than any rooms at ground floor level and above will be, with the exception of the attic. For this reason, basement bathroom ideas need to include clever, space smart options that can feel luxurious and look aesthetically pleasing, too.

1. Let in light where you can

(Image credit: Erick Zumwalt, Phil Ruhl)

Depending on how far below grade your basement sits, you may not have room in your basement bathroom for a full-size window. But any natural light is better than none, so get creative with the types of windows that will work in your space.

Clerestory-style windows, like the one in this bathroom by California-based design duo Erick Zumwalt and Phil Ruhl, sit high up on the wall, providing natural light without the need for a full-length window. Plus, the position means you won't have to deal with window treatments or privacy concerns. 

2. Warm it up

(Image credit: Samantha Burkhart)

Basements can tend to feel a bit cold and industrial thanks to their subterranean location. One way to cozy-up your basement bathroom and make it feel like a part of your home? Incorporate furniture pieces, like the warm-toned wooden dresser and tufted chair in the Montana bathroom of celebrity stylist Samantha Burkhart.

If you have a basement bedroom, too, choose complementary furniture to tie the spaces together and make it feel like its own suite. 

3. Draw the eye up

(Image credit: Leah Atkins / Photo: Adam Pendleton)

Unless you've hit the basement jackpot, there's a good chance your basement bathroom has standard height ceilings of eight or nine feet, possibly even less if you live in an older home or an area where building codes okay lower ceilings.

'Painting the crown molding black in this showhouse bathroom originally got some pushback from the builder; she had originally painted it gray and was afraid to go darker. The gray was meh and didn't help the space out at all!' says designer Leah Atkins . 

'Painting the trim black and adding a collage wall really made this basement bathroom feel larger. Adding a red and blue oriental rug to ground the space was the homey finishing touch it needed.'

4. Add wallpaper

(Image credit: House of Jade Interiors / Lindsay Salazar)

Just because it's a basement bathroom doesn't mean you should scrimp on the details. like this space by House of Jade Interiors proves. From the checkerboard floors, to the marble walls and the built-in shower nooks, there's a lot to love about this chic space. But it's the wallpaper that brings the wow factor. 

Choosing a rich color and traditional pattern adds gravitas and sophistication to this otherwise monotone space, and warms up the cool palette. 

5. Add a luxurious shower

(Image credit: Classic Homeworks)

Oftentimes, the basement serves as a home's guest suite, so why not add a high-end  feature that'll make your nearest and dearest feel like they're at a posh hotel? The designers at Classic Homeworks in Denver made this basement bathroom one of the home's most luxurious spots thanks to a glass-walled shower. 

6. Tile a wetroom

(Image credit: Stone & Ceramic Warehouse)

Is there anything more luxurious than a wetroom? Pair a flush shower tray with matte or slip-resistant tiles with a realistic marble-effect to create the ultimate showering experience.  

This bathroom goes one step further and includes a freestanding bath with ceiling speakers so you can sit back and relax away from it all. 

7. Embrace unusual basement spaces for a unique bathroom

(Image credit: Matki One)

To make the most of your basement, you'll have to embrace its quirks. If your project deals with a sloping site, or if you’re wrestling with low ceilings in the basement, embracing the individual qualities of the space could make your new bathroom even more special. 

A change in floor level and an innovative shower recess – with built-in storage – design makes the most of the space available and creates a bespoke finish in this stunning, modern bathroom. 

8. Remember good lighting is key

(Image credit: Mereway Bathrooms)

When planning your lighting for a bathroom always remember the three essentials: task, ambient and accent lighting. 

Glamour lights in vanity mirrors or strategically placed pendant lights are great to illuminate jobs like putting make-up on or shaving while recessed downlights in the ceiling can take care of general (ambient) lighting.  

Accent lighting – such as LED strips or wall sconces – adds that finishing touch to any space, highlighting special objects or pictures. 

9. Create a light well 

(Image credit: Maison Vanentina)

Where possible, adding a glazed light well to the outside of your bathroom will always be worth the effort. 

Basement bathrooms by their very nature struggle with natural light and anything you can do to fight feeling cramped or claustrophobic will get you one step closer to your dream room. 

10. Reference natural elements

(Image credit: Porcelain Superstone)

Basement bathrooms suffering from a lack of natural light can feel a bit disconnected from the outside world so introducing links to the great outdoors where you can is essential. 

Wooden vanity units, natural stone tiles and even a natural clay wall finish are all wonderful ways to connect a bathroom basement to nature. 

11. Install walk-on roof lights

(Image credit: Mereway Bathrooms)

Consider installing walk-on rooflights above the basement as they are a great way to ensure natural light will be able to permeate the room from spaces above.  

It's an excellent small basement bathroom idea for creating a space that feels more expansive, and also works wells for spaces that are entirely subterranean. Do keep privacy in mind though – think carefully about their position and ensure the glass is opaque.

12. Make the bath the star of the show

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

Freestanding baths are without a doubt one of the most beautiful elements to include when designing a new bathroom. 

Placing the tub in the middle of the floor – and adding LED wall panels as in this example – not only provides a luxurious finish inspired by boutique hotels, but also makes bath time fun for young children. 

Although be sure to choose a suitable flooring for the splash zone.

13. Get creative with lighting

(Image credit: Matki One)

Planning in basement lighting ideas with your architect or electrician in advance of your basement project can inspire some wonderful results. For instance, recessing an LED strip within a shadow gap before adding the finishing touches can create a beautiful wash of light, as this bathroom goes to show.  

14. Contrast light and dark

(Image credit: Porcelain Superstore)

Matching a pale wall tile with an on-trend bold wall and industrial-style matte black fixtures is a sure-fire way to make a big impact. Tile floors are also one of the best basement flooring ideas because they're resistant to moisture and dampness.

15. Create a view with a feature wall

(Image credit: DelightFULL)

This majestic monochrome bathroom is a masterclass in elegance and timeless style. Keep your fixtures simple and splurge on a mural or statement wallpaper so your new space in the basement takes you to another place. 

How much does it cost to put a bathroom in the basement? 

Let's talk money, how much does it actually cost to put a bathroom in the basement? 

'The answer is — it depends,' says James Hockley, managing director of Trace Basement Systems . 'In respect of the waterproofing, for a full conversion of a responsibly-sized single room from a reputable company providing the worthwhile guarantees could be in the region of £10-£15,000 ($12-19,000). '

Add on top of the costs of a normal new bathroom, which can range anywhere from £3,000 up to £9,000+, depending on the quality of finish and professional installation costs. 

How do I plumb in a new basement bathroom?

There are also logistics to consider, like how you go about plumbing a new basement bathroom.

Plumbing is one of the most challenging aspects of creating a bathroom in a basement so positioning the layout close to existing plumbing above will reduce costs a little as extending the water lines to create new hot and cold water taps is naturally cheaper than routing new ones. 

'Pay particular attention to mechanical ventilation as basement bathrooms do not typically include windows and the structure may effectively be vapor tight as a result of the installed waterproofing,' explains James Hockley. 

'Therefore you must take provision to adequately deal with vapor production or otherwise suffer condensation issues.'

Do you need a special toilet for a basement?

Yes, you might need a different or special toilet for a basement bathroom.

While installing a normal toilet is feasible in some basement bathrooms, if your space is positioned below the sewer lines an upflush (also known as a macerating) toilet would be more suitable. 

Where a normal toilet flows down towards the soil stack, upflush units discharge into a tank (which can be concealed behind drywall), where waste is ground up before being piped towards the stack, meaning these toilets can be installed pretty much anywhere. 

How should I decorate a basement bathroom? 

Once the structure and waterproofing has been completed, it's time to think about how to decorate a basement bathroom.

The design can be similar to any other bathrooms, although you may want to compensate using various tricks of the trade for the lack of natural light, such as including large mirrors, rooflights or even small courtyards outside the basement. 

How do I light a basement bathroom? 

Rooms underground are going to be dark, so it's important to think about how to light a basement bathroom.

'Compensate for natural light by using multiple layers of light in your bathroom,' advises Sian Parsons, associate designer at John Cullen Lighting. 

'Use downlights to provide ambient lighting and wall lights either side of a mirror for task lighting. Look at building your layers with a mid level of light such as downlights in niches, uplights behind a bath or floor washers — by putting the layers together you get a good feeling of general light.'

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She’s written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future’s Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator. 

9 Basement Bathroom Ideas

By

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.

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Published on 01/13/21

Fresh Exchange

The basement bathroom is a practical room that is often treated as a purely functional space. Often lacking in natural light and located out of sight of the main part of the house, it's easy to overlook. But passionate home renovators and interior designers increasingly see this room as a decorating opportunity. Whether you're thinking of installing an extra bathroom in your finished basement, or looking to renovate or redecorate a basement powder room as part of a basement remodel, there's no reason why this useful room can't be a well designed destination unto itself.

Like a good-looking basement kitchenette, a basement bathroom offers the chance to have a little fun with the design and to go bolder than you might in a room in a more visible part of the house. At a minimum, the interior design of your basement bathroom deserves the same care and attention as every other room in the house.

Check out these bathroom ideas in a variety of styles and sizes that show this often neglected space a little love.

how to create coziness in such a difficult place for interior design (ideas for different budgets)

The bathroom on the basement floor is a practical solution for using a seemingly purely functional space. Natural light rarely gets there, and this area is out of sight of the main part of the house, so it's easy to forget about it. But many home remodelers and interior designers are increasingly seeing it as an opportunity to showcase their talents. Are you thinking of installing an additional bathroom in your finished basement, or would you like to renovate or refurbish it as part of a renovation? There is no reason this space can't be a well designed place.

A basement bathroom is an opportunity to experiment with design and be daring. And, at least, its interior deserves the same attention as any other bathroom in the house.

Check out these ideas for bathrooms in different styles and sizes, which prove that you can create a beautiful room in the basement.

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Bright flowers

Spectacular wallpaper is a great way to add some style to the bathroom, and this basement room is no exception. A bold accent wall using dark floral wallpaper adds style without overpowering a small, low-ceilinged room. The floor is covered with black mosaic tiles, and bright white plumbing adds contrast. This idea will suit you if you are looking for a budget, but effective repair option.

Understated elegance

Another beautiful but expensive bathroom in the basement has a small window that allows some natural light into the shower area. The designers created an airy feel throughout with a prominent overhead shower head and a draped curtain. Creamy natural stone and tile, a luxurious walnut vanity, antique brass sconces and a cherry blossom vase give the space an understated elegance and organicity that elevates the basement bathroom concept to the next level.

Graphic tiles

Want to know how to save money on renovations? With no help from professionals, the owners completely refurbished a dingy, outdated bathroom in the basement of their 1912 home to create an updated and functional space. They gave it a makeover with bright white paint, classic white tile with dark grout, black floor tiles, and a shower tray with a see-through sliding door to create a spacious feel.

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Guest beach bathroom

on the beach. The bright white color compensates for the lack of natural light. And black, blue, gray and gold accents add brightness and create a coastal vibe on a budget.

Mixed Marble

This contemporary bathroom uses a variety of marbles, metal and glass to create a streamlined, elevated ambience despite its basement location. Marble singled out one wall in the shower room. An important accent is a custom-made marble sink and unusual lamps. Such a room, although it will cost you a lot, will delight you with its classic elegance for many years to come.

DIY

The owner managed to renovate her outdated basement bathroom for only $100 using some leftover materials from home renovations and lots of personal crafts. She repainted the vanity unit an elegant navy blue, added some accents to the walls, and stenciled the floor tiles.

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Brown tiles

The hostess created a relaxing and functional bathroom here in the basement, mainly due to the abundance of brown tiles, black fittings and pale pink wall paint. Warm tones create a feeling of warmth and comfort, which is often lacking in a room without natural light.

Bright and modern bathroom

Decorated in cool grays, whites and turquoise blues, this converted basement bathroom looks like it's an extension of the pool area behind sliding glass doors. A spacious shower with a black iron grating door is an eye-catcher. Bright white paint on the walls and ceiling lighting ensure the space is flooded with light. A very wide mirror above the sink doubles the space. There is an in-house laundry nearby, which means that wet bathing suits and towels never make their way upstairs to the main part of the house.

Basement dog shower

Who says your basement bathroom has to be made for people? Designed for keeping dogs clean, this stylish shower room is dressy enough to please pet owners.

“Many of our clients have pets that are becoming a key factor in our design decisions,” says interior designer Tiffany Lee, adding that requests for dog showers are “becoming the norm.” "I think it's safe to say that design is often driven by dogs, but that doesn't necessarily mean compromising style and lack of coziness. "

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Private Home Basement Interior - Luxurious Recreation Area

Joel and Shauna May were considering moving their growing family into a larger home, but after seeing a 3D rendering of their basement that offered to renovate by Brad McCallum, owner of Urban Abode, they realized who want to stay.

The couple had many demands for their 84 square meters of space, which is now a piece of design art.

“It's important to say something about the couple: they are some of the most hospitable people I've ever met,” says McCallum. “They weren't afraid to turn their wildest ideas into reality as they dreamed of a place where they could relax with friends, display their growing wine collection, or even just curl up on the couch and watch a movie. The only thing they didn't want was routine."

Their dream basement now includes a fully stocked practice area, media room, bar, wine cellar and bathroom with large steam room. This project is great! It is definitely worth getting to know him better.

"Newlyweds are happy people who love to spend time with friends and share everything they have"

McCallum speaking.

The designer decided to install a full staircase in the basement to get rid of the “dungeon effect”. “The stair railing alone makes it feel less like you're in the basement and much more like the third floor of a house,” he says. Forged racks make the stairs look stylish.

As soon as you go downstairs, one of the ingenious design solutions in this cellar becomes noticeable: McCallum has hidden an impressive wine cellar under the stairs.

“What I admire most about spouses is their passion and sense of style. Few people have the courage to use such unusual and bright purple wallpapers and rich velvet furniture in the interior. The finished space really gives away their personality.”

The designer speaks.

The clients wanted a home theater but didn't like the idea of ​​having a separate room for it. They also wanted to be able to relax with friends and family. Featuring a wall-mounted fireplace, this media area features a 360-degree sound system and a 70-inch LED TV. So the space can easily turn into a small cinema.

Fireplace: L42 gas model, Montigo

McCallum chose a dark color for the built-in maple media cabinets to disguise the TV. And the fireplace, which the owners of the house wanted so much to highlight, the designer revetted with tiles resembling natural stone, which contrasts with dark furniture.

Tip: When setting your TV at a certain height, think about your neck! McCallum deliberately designed the proportions of the fireplace so that it sits low enough to make watching the TV set a little higher comfortable.

"Lower cabinets are used to hide home theater components, while upper cabinets are open to display collectibles"

Designer explains.

The display shelves are illuminated so that the items placed there can be seen.

Another feature the clients wanted in their basement was a bar.

“They wanted it to be as if you were in a hotel when you entered the premises. So we took some ideas from the clubs in Calgary as a basis.”

McCallum speaking.

The countertops of the bar and work area are Brazilian Arabescato stone, and the kitchen backsplash is a combination of marble and glass tiles. Translucent glass cabinet doors reflect light.

Implementation of the designer's idea was not without some difficulties. So, for example, low-hanging air ducts and support columns in some places complicated the task.

“This rack was designed and built by us to hide two columns in the basement. Usually they are just hidden in the wall, but if we did that, it would create an enclosed space effect, and we did not want to abandon the open space concept.

The designer is speaking.

The gym is located behind translucent glass French doors.

“As a designer, I was tasked with designing something for the bathroom that would look amazing and still match the overall style of the interior. It's much more uncertain than you can imagine!"

Shared by McCallum.

So he turned to Houzz for inspiration, and then created an original bathroom that echoed the materials of the rest of the basement, such as floor tiles, dark maple furniture, and Arabescato Brazilian marble countertops, like those used in the bar. This created the effect of uniformity, compatibility of elements of the entire space.

One of the most important items on the newlyweds' wish list was the steam shower. It had to accommodate up to four people, be easy to clean and also play some music so that you can sing along to it. But even this daunting task was carried out with brilliance: the large size of the tiles chosen for decoration makes cleaning the bathroom easy, and Kohler waterproof speakers let you listen to your favorite tunes.

The bathroom fittings include a Hansgrohe shower system with jet control and a Thermasol steam shower.

Accent tile: Ames Tile & Stone

Joel quit his career in finance a few years ago and ventured to join his friends at coffee roasting company Fratello's Roasters.

"Having become a true connoisseur of taste through many coffee tastings, Joel has come to a deep understanding of wines and spirits"

McCallum speaking.

So the couple is putting together an impressive collection of wines, for which they needed a special cellar to store and display to guests.

The biggest problem with building a wine cellar was that there didn't seem to be room for it.

“After looking at hundreds of other images of such spaces, I gathered all my inspiration and took a closer look at the space under the stairs,” says the designer. "We didn't intend to make it big, but we wanted it to be impressive."

The cellar holds almost 300 bottles. It's built right, with spray foam for the insulation, a custom-designed and custom-built cooling unit for the wine cellar, and built-in furniture.

Proper storage of wines was a priority. But the superbly arranged "exhibition" of the collection rightly ranks second in importance to the cellar.

"Wine bottle angles, lighting and storage styles are all related to the functionality of the room, and for newlyweds is very important"

McCallum speaking.

Work for this family was a kind of explosive wave, a boom for the designer himself. “The clients have allowed us to bring some of our most exciting projects to life and it has given us the chance to build such an incredible space,” he says. “Now that they've been enjoying the basement for several months now, their friends affectionately call our work the Purple Living Room. And although both owners, husband and wife, are very busy, they can always slow down in time, postpone business in order to relax with friends.

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