Gone are the days when the bathroom was just a functional space. Modern bathrooms are now a design statement reflecting personal taste and peaceful retreats. If you’re feeling your bathroom is a bit plain and boring, one great design trick you could use to bring some character and style to your space is adding a focal point.

A focal point is a standout feature that catches your eye the moment you walk into a room. In the bathroom, it could be anything that grabs attention, like a vessel sink, a freestanding bathtub, a bold feature wall or a backlit mirror. Whether these will help make your space feel more alive and interesting. Here is how.

Vessel Sink

Considering it often has the central spot in the room, it makes sense to look for a bathroom sink that stands out. And the elevated design and bold presence of a vessel basin make it an excellent choice for creating a focal point in the bathroom. Sitting on top of the countertop rather than being recessed, a vessel sink draws immediate attention with its striking shape and materials.

Available in a wide range of materials, each offering a distinct look and feel, a vessel basin allows you to customise your bathroom’s aesthetic. If you’re aiming for a more luxurious, spa-like atmosphere, a vessel sink made from luxurious stone, such as marble, granite, or quartz, can lend timeless elegance and a natural, textured finish to your bathroom.

Sleek glass vessel sinks, on the other hand, offer a modern, minimalist appeal, perfect for contemporary spaces where lightness and transparency are key. For a more vibrant or playful look, a colourful ceramic bathroom sink can inject personality and style into the bathroom, often with hand-painted or patterned designs that make a bold statement.

In addition to serving as a stunning focal point, vessel sinks bring many other benefits to your bathroom. For example, for taller individuals, using a traditional lower sink can sometimes feel uncomfortable as it requires more bending. With a vessel sink, the elevated design allows for a more natural, upright posture, enhancing comfort during daily tasks like washing hands, brushing teeth, or applying skincare.

The elevated design of a vessel sink also contributes to a sense of airiness and openness in a bathroom. It doesn’t overpower the space, allowing light to flow freely around it, which helps make the room feel more spacious. This is especially valuable in smaller bathrooms, where bulky fixtures can make the space feel closed off and cramped.

By pairing a vessel sink with complementary fixtures, such as a tall faucet or statement mirror, you can further enhance its role as the room’s visual anchor, elevating the entire bathroom aesthetic.

Freestanding Bathtub

If space and budget allow, a freestanding bathtub can become the main attraction of your bathroom. With their sculptural beauty and commanding presence, freestanding tubs instantly add a sense of luxury, relaxation and high-end design.

Freestanding bathtubs come in a variety of styles, each with its personality and charm. This makes it easy to find the perfect match for your bathroom.

For something cleaner and contemporary, a pedestal tub can be a great choice. Instead of fancy feet, these tubs sit on a sleek, solid base, offering minimalist vibes that feel effortlessly modern. For the ultimate in comfort, a slipper tub is hard to beat. With an elevated backrest, these tubs are designed for lounging in style, offering the perfect angle for long, luxurious soaks.

For a vintage feel, opt for a clawfoot freestanding tub. With their ornate, decorative feet and timeless silhouette, clawfoot tubs bring a touch of Victorian-era drama and romance to your space. They’re perfect for adding old-world elegance and pair beautifully with classic fixtures and opulent décor.

Accent Wall

One of the easiest ways to create a standout design in your bathroom is with an accent wall because it delivers a big visual impact without requiring a complete overhaul. Instead of redoing the entire space, focusing on just one wall lets you introduce bold colours, eye-catching tile, unique wallpaper, or interesting textures that immediately transform the room’s feel.

Using wallpaper is probably the easiest way to create an accent wall. Wallpaper allows you to instantly add colour, pattern and texture to the room with minimal effort.

Unlike painting or tiling, wallpaper doesn’t require major prep work or special tools, it can often be installed in a single afternoon. Plus, the range of designs available means you can achieve almost any look you want, from bold geometric prints to soft florals or dramatic murals.

Wallpaper also allows you to introduce layers of visual interest without taking up physical space, which is perfect for smaller bathrooms. And if you choose a peel-and-stick option, it’s even easier to apply and remove, making it a low-risk way to experiment with bold styles or update your bathroom’s look whenever you want.

Backlit Mirror

Backlit mirrors come with LED lighting built behind them. This extra feature not only offers practical illumination but also an eye-catching visual effect.

The soft, ambient glow that radiates from behind the mirror gently highlights the basin area, adding depth, warmth, and a sense of dimension to the space. This subtle yet impactful lighting transforms the mirror into a natural focal point, enhancing the overall atmosphere with a sleek, modern touch.

Many LED mirrors also come with additional features such as adjustable brightness, colour temperature control, and even anti-fog technology, making them a smart and stylish upgrade for any contemporary bathroom.

Unique Light Fixture

In a space where the decor is often minimal, a statement light draws the eye upward and adds personality, creating a strong visual impact. Whether it’s a striking pendant, an elegant chandelier, or a pair of bold wall sconces flanking a mirror, the right fixture can completely elevate the room’s atmosphere.

When choosing a light fixture to serve as the centrepiece, consider options that fit the scale and style of your bathroom. For a luxurious, dramatic look, a small chandelier or multi-arm pendant above a freestanding tub or in the centre of the room makes a bold statement.

If you prefer something more streamlined, modern pendant lights or oversized sculptural sconces can create a clean yet eye-catching effect. Even a beautifully designed vanity light with distinctive shapes, finishes, or materials can serve as a subtle but effective focal point.