Downstairs toilet decorating ideas to liven up your space

A downstairs bathroom is often an overlooked area when it comes to interior design, with much of the design process focusing on the main bathroom. If your downstairs bathroom is not your main bathroom, you may find that it is often smaller and as such, more tricky to create a stylish yet functional space that isn’t either too bland or too overwhelming. 

If you are struggling to think of ideas for your downstairs WC, don’t worry. We’ve curated a list of practical and beautiful ideas to help inspire your space and breathe more life into this hidden area of the home. Keep reading as we discuss how to implement these design choices into your downstairs bathroom.

Panelled downstairs toilet

If you prefer a clean and traditional look, we’d recommend opting for PVC panels in place of tiles. This is because bathrooms are usually more humid than other rooms in the house and they are exposed to water more often, this can facilitate the growth of mould or discolouration in grout - especially if your downstairs bathroom has little to no ventilation. PVC tiles do not require grouting, which makes them more practical and easy to clean. There are plenty of tile-look styles available, but for something classic and seamless we’d opt for the Vox Motivo Honey Marble. This neutral colour palette works in any space, whether you have a large and airy bathroom or a more compact one. It can be paired with minimalistic decorations to give tranquil spa-like qualities, or it can be spruced up with splashes of colour by using green plants.

Vox Motivo Honey Marble

Another option that still evokes a sense of timelessness would be to use a wood-effect panel such as the Vox Motivo Brown Marble. You can use these panels to create a feature wall, or use them all around your bathroom to create a rustic panelled look, akin to a cabin or lodge, or to embody the Scandinavian aesthetic. Our personal choice for a downstairs bathroom would be to incorporate these on the wall behind the toilet to help break up the room a bit, you can then use small wooden or metal stands to store extra toiletries and hand towels whilst still adhering to a cohesive colour palette. Additionally, you can read more about creating a feature wall in a bathroom with our dedicated blog if you want further inspiration and guidance.

Vox Motivo Brown Marble

Small downstairs toilet ideas

Even small bathrooms can have a powerful effect when done right. Just because you’re working with a small space, that doesn’ mean you have to avoid bold patterns, textures or colours. To create something striking, we’d recommend adding a feature wall into a downstairs toilet. This can be wherever you see fit, such as behind the sink, or adjacent to a toilet or window. 

For something unique, you could try to embrace a darker colour palette and use something like the Hexagonal Shower Panel to curate a visual focal point. However, if you don’t have the space for a large shower panel or you want to brighten up a room, you can experiment with other textures by opting for a PVC panel like the Rustic Brick in Grey.

Hexagonal Shower Panel 

To optimise the space you have and squeeze functionality out of every little area, you should choose things like combined sink vanity units where you can store toiletries and cleaning supplies, or radiator covers to place diffusers and ornaments on. You can complement your feature wall by using bathroom-safe paint on adjacent walls, alternatively, if your downstairs bathroom consists only of a toilet and sink, you can add waterproof wallpaper for versatile patterns and maximalist aesthetics.

Downstairs toilet flooring ideas

Of course, walls aren’t the only place to look when it comes to design inspiration. The flooring is also an important aspect and can even be a point of visual intrigue if you want it to be. Statement flooring is often better suited to smaller spaces because when it is used minimally it stops the floor from becoming too overbearing or distracting from other elements of the room.

The Pittenweem Victorian Tile SPC Flooring is the perfect way to add more character into your downstairs toilet, and it is much easier to clean than traditional tile whilst also maintaining the water resistant properties.  

If you are going to go bold on your floors, we would advise making the floor your feature and keeping the walls simple with some neutral PVC panels to avoid clashing patterns and colours. Ideally, you should also avoid creating a tiled look from floor to ceiling, and instead paint the top half of your walls with bathroom-safe paint. This will help to make the room feel more spacious, ideal for small downstairs toilets. You can choose to paint the ceiling a plain colour to hone in on the Victorian look with a contemporary twist, or you can soften up the room with a bath mat, wicker plant pots, and colourful prints.

Pittenweem Victorian Tile SPC Flooring

Tips for decorating your downstairs toilet

Once you’ve picked out a theme or colour palette for your bathroom, you’ll need to find some furnishings. These extra touches are not to be missed, as they can truly complete the look and bring the whole thing together. To help you further with your design choices, take a look at the tips listed below before you purchase your decorations:

• Use tiles (PVC tile-effect panels or traditional) to create a splashback behind your sink, especially if you need to protect any paint on the top half of your walls.
• Try to counteract the shape of your tiles to help your space look more appealing. For example, if you have lots of small rectangular shapes, opt for a circle or arched mirror to break up the harsh lines. 
• If you are very limited with space, think of other ways that you can incorporate essential furnishings. For example, if there’s no room for a towel rail, install a hook on the back of the door. If you have no place for a soap dispenser, try a wall-mounted soap holder or hang a mirror with a shelf attached to the bottom.
• If your bathroom has no window or an extractor fan that isn’t very powerful, place a humidifier in a concealed area of the room to absorb excess moisture from the air.

Revamp your downstairs bathroom with The Panel Company

Even when working with a small space, the possibilities for decoration are endless. Especially with the use of versatile PVC bathroom panels and SPC flooring. At The Panel Company, we offer a wide selection of options to suit a range of interior design schemes and aesthetics. Alternatively, for smaller bathrooms without windows that need brightening up, we invite you to read our dedicated blog on kitting out this specific type of bathroom with brightening features.