9 Basement Bathroom Ideas

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.

01 of 09

Go Bold With Florals

Construction 2 Style

Using dramatic wallpaper is a go-to move for adding a dose of style to a powder room, and this basement bathroom from husband-and-wife team Jamie and Morgan Molitor at Construction 2 Style is no exception. They used Hunter Green paint by Benjamin Moore for one wall, while a bold accent wall using a dark floral wallpaper from Rebel Walls adds style without overwhelming the small, low-ceilinged room. Black penny tiles cover the floor, and bright white trim adds contrast.

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02 of 09

Try Understated Elegance

Kaemingk Design

This lovely basement bathroom from Brandt and Chelsea Kaemingk at Kaemingk Design is blessed with a small window that brings a modicum of natural light into the shower area. The designers have created an airy feel throughout by using a prominent ceiling-mounted shower head, and a drapery-like shower curtain mounted flush with the ceiling. Creamy natural stone and tile throughout, a rich walnut vanity, vintage brass sconces, and a vase of cherry blossoms give the space an understated elegance and organic feel that elevates the concept of a basement bathroom to inspiring effect.

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03 of 09

Install Graphic Tile

Quinn's Place

Blogger Quinn from Quinn's Place completely renovated the dingy, dated 70s-style basement bathroom of her 1912 house to create an updated and functional space. After a DIY gut renovation, she transformed it with bright white paint, classic white subway tiles with graphic dark grout, black penny tiles on the floor and shower pan, and a clear sliding glass shower door to keep sightlines clear and create a sense of space in the snug room. It's a simple, neutral, pleasing design that looks as good as any other bathroom in the house.

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04 of 09

Make Your Guest Bathroom Beachy

This Is Our Bliss

Rachael from This Is Our Bliss didn't let the basement location of this bathroom stop her from creating a breezy, beachy look. She revamped the basic white space into an elevated version of itself using a bright white vanity to compensate for the lack of natural light. She used black, blue, gray, and gold accent colors and framed a blown-up beach photo from a trip to Maui to add color and coastal-inspired vibes on a budget.

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05 of 09

Do a DIY Makeover

Lemons, Lavender, & Laundry

Erin from Lemons, Lavender, & Laundry managed to pull off a $100 makeover of a dated basement bathroom by using some leftover materials and plenty of DIY. Spare pale gray paint went onto the wall; she repainted the vanity in a smart navy blue; made some DIY wall art; and stenciled the floor in an ode to cement tiles for just $40.

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06 of 09

Go Earthy With Tile Colors

Fresh Exchange

Northern Michigan-based Blogger Megan Gilger at Fresh Exchange created a relaxing and functional basement bathroom from what was a blank slate largely by using an abundance of Fireclay Tile, black hardware, and a wash of pale pink wall paint. "Since the rest of our house was designed from the inspiration of the landscape around us here in Leelanau County, we wanted to keep that theme in order to tie it all together," she writes on her blog. "We also felt we wanted warmer tones in this area since it was a basement. Our main floor was focused on greens, i.e. the land since that is the level it is at and the upstairs was focused on the sky and water. We wanted the basement though to exude the feeling of the ground and layers of earth within the landscape."

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07 of 09

Try Bright and Contemporary

Jennifer Allwood Home

This basement bathroom remodel from Jennifer Allwood Home is bright and contemporary, done up in cool grays, whites and a shot of turquoise blue that is a nod to the pool area beyond the sliding glass doors. A spacious shower is the scene-stealer here with its graphic black iron grid patterned door. Bright white paint on the walls and can lighting in the ceiling ensures that the space is full of light. An extra-wide mirror over the sink doubles the space. With laundry set up nearby, the basement bathroom means that wet bathing suits and towels never make it upstairs.

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08 of 09

Mix Marble

Valerie Wilcox / Sarah Richardson Design

This clean modern bathroom from Sarah Richardson Design uses variations of marble, metal, and glass to create a streamlined, elevated feel despite the basement location. She used marble on only one wall of the shower, and carried the look through with a custom marble vanity. She created a custom sconce by cobbling together pieces of leftover lighting and spray-painting it in a cool pale gray.

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09 of 09

Install a Basement Dog Shower

Tiffany Leigh Design

Who says your basement bathroom has to be reserved for humans? This stylish basement shower room designed to keep canines clean is dressed up enough to make dog owners happy. "Many of our clients have precious pups who become a key factor in our design decision making," says interior designer Tiffany Leigh of Tiffany Leigh Design, adding that dog shower requests are "becoming the norm" among her clientele. "I think it’s safe to say dogs rule the design, but it doesn’t have to mean compromising style.”