Create a relaxing atmosphere

Bathroom renovation: Ideas for a successful makeover

Bath tub in front of plastered wall and houseplant
The rough plastered wall is water-resistant and a great alternative to tiles. Combined with the stones and the houseplant, it creates a harmonious picture.

Create the renovation concept for your new place of wellbeing

​​​​​​​Want to give your bathroom a new shine? Looking for redesign ideas? Then put all your eggs in one basket and use our suggestions to develop a vision of your very own oasis of wellbeing. We’ll show you how to combine exclusive materials, exciting surfaces, and timeless design elements to create a bathroom design for feel-good moments.

Tiles off: Fresh ideas for bathroom renovations

Wet rooms are traditionally tiled to keep moisture under control. But bathrooms today are more than functional spaces with a bathroom sink and shower. That’s why there is a wide range of alternatives for the classic tile backsplash.


For the wall design, water-resistant materials that emphasize the character of the bathroom work best:

  • Plastered walls for industrial charm: Walls can be structured using a variety of plastering techniques. Diffusion-open plaster absorbs moisture and reduces the risk of mold growth. Lime plaster can even be used in wet areas.
  • Wallpaper for a homey atmosphere: Patterns, colors or photos can be brought into the bathroom with wallpaper. When choosing your wallpaper, look for the symbol indicating water resistance according to DIN EN 235. In the bathroom, pick a wallpaper with the highest grade "Highly abrasion resistant". Fiberglass wallpaper, non-woven wallpaper, and vinyl wallpaper are often the best choice.
  • Slatted wall for that sauna feeling: Create a rustic Scandinavian ‘hygge’ character using walls made of wooden slats. Combining them with monochrome walls made of plaster or exposed concrete will give them a modern touch.
Sink with shelf in front of blue, spackled wall
Dark blue, spackled walls and warm wood tones: The different surface textures create an exciting contrast.
During the redesign, the floor most often gets refresh, as well. Here, too, you can do without tiles and turn to other materials:
  • Stone: Stone floors have a strong character. Their textures can bring variety to minimalist bathrooms. Combined with wood, they emphasize the natural flair of a room.
  • Wood: A wooden floor brings cozy warmth into the bathroom with its texture and color. It’s also very pleasant to walk on barefoot. Native woods like oak, Swiss pine, and larch are recommended, as well as wood species with a high basic moisture content, so that they absorb less moisture from the environment. The wooden floor should be coated.
  • Vinyl: This material is moisture-resistant and offers a wide range of patterns and colors. Choose vinyl flooring if you don’t want to sacrifice the tiled look, but want a comfortable barefoot feel. Designer vinyl also offers authentic reproductions of wood and stone. 
  • Cork: With the right waterproofing and full-surface bonding, even this natural material can find its place in the bathroom. It is a sustainable, sound-absorbent, and elastic material. Bring a touch of the natural into your bathroom with cork flooring.

Sustainable ideas for lasting design

If you want to radically remodel your bathroom over the course of renovation, choose functional, aesthetically high-quality elements that will support the effect and atmosphere of the room. 

Here are some ideas:

  • Faucets: Classically beautiful in gold, silver, or copper, or modern-minimalist in Matte Black – coordinate the faucets with the bath tub and sink.
  • Bathroom cabinets and shelves: Choose glass or metal to strengthen a streamlined design. Elements made of solid wood emphasize the warm character of a bathroom.
  • Accessories: Keep an eye on details like grab bars, soap dishes, or the toilet paper holder. For a coordinated design experience, these elements should be cohesive with the overall design of the bathroom.

Make your new bathroom shine

Wooden sink and black faucet
The combination of warm wood and a fresh wall design in silver gray look down-to-earth and natural. One exciting contrast to this is the clear faucet design.

New flooring, pleasantly designed walls, great bathroom furniture, and select accessories create a homey atmosphere in the bathroom that invites you to linger and relax. All that’s missing now is the right light for those moments of pleasure in the bath tub, during your evening skincare routine, or for that morning kick of freshness in the shower.


This requires a well thought-out lighting concept, one you can use to create a perfect lighting mood for any situation by combining several lighting elements. Changing your bathroom is also the perfect opportunity, for example, to install spotlights in the ceiling and wall without much effort.

Frequently asked questions about finding ideas for your bathroom renovation

How do I use design elements?

A timeless faucet, the rain shower as a central eye-catcher, or the mirror with back lighting finish off the new bathroom and give it its sense of character. So be sure to also use functional elements like the bath tub faucet creatively.

What are the alternatives to wall tiles?

Wallpaper, wooden slats, plaster – all of these materials can be made waterproof and shape the character of the bathroom.

What materials are suitable for the bathroom floor?

Vinyl, wood, natural stone, or cork – there are many substrates that, with the right finish, are waterproof and enhance the bathroom enormously.

New ideas for your old bathroom: Create your wellness experience

Materials, colors, furniture, and accessories: Gather all your ideas together before you commission a remodel. Coordinate the elements and you’ll get a cohesive concept for your personal oasis of wellbeing.

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