Bathroom Lounges Are Trending—but Are They Worth the Splurge?

Lately, it seems like interior designers and homeowners alike are going for the lived-in look, giving a little softness and personalization to rooms that were once minimal and purely functional. Kitchens, for example, are now getting revamped with homier pieces like artwork and table lamps. Now, bathrooms are following suit and designers are using bits of extra space to create little vignettes, or lounges. Adding a vanity, chair, or chaise to a bathroom instantly makes it feel more like a boutique hotel, and suddenly, waking up early doesn’t seem so bad! It’s also a great way to bring additional function to a room. Here are a few ways to transform your bathroom into a relaxation-worthy lounge.

Add Functional Furniture

We’re not saying you need to start doing your taxes in your bathroom, but creating a table for makeup and accessories is pretty awesome. Here, designer Liz Williams of Liz Williams Interiors took an unused nook in her bathroom and created a sophisticated moment of zen in her Atlanta home. She didn’t have to commission a custom-built vanity, but just performed a little magic on a desk she already owned. “I actually had the vanity, but it was a medium wood stain and needed some work. I decided to pull a green paint color from the wallpaper and have it lacquered,” she says.  “It really changed the look and I love it!”

Bring Seating to the Center

Nothing says “take a load off” quite like a chaise lounge. And if your bathroom has big windows or beautiful views like this one, then you’ve got to take advantage—even if the available lounging space is right in the middle of the room. “Bathrooms are typically laid out so that the wall areas are used to route plumbing, leaving a gaping hole in the center,” says interior designer Summer Jensen of Hawk & Co. If you don’t quite have room for a chaise lounge, consider positioning an ottoman adjacent to the bathing areas to put a towel or discarded clothing. For families with young children, this also provides a convenient spot to swaddle or dry off the little ones.

Build a Vanity

This bathroom, designed by Danielle Rose Co, isn’t giant, but that’s an even better reason to use every free inch for something practical. “Rather than leaving the extra space underutilized, we saw an opportunity to create a luxurious and practical zone for self-care rituals. This approach not only enhances the overall layout but also adds an elegant, personalized touch to the bathroom,” she says. They built a custom vanity right outside the shower and made sure it had plenty of room for makeup storage.