Bathroom Inspiration

Have you ever tried forest bathing? The term (known as shinrin-yoku) originated in Japan during the 1980s. Forest bathing is all about submerging yourself in a forest location, and using your senses to immerse yourself in the different sights, sounds and smells of the outdoors. In fact, it represents a way to build a bridge between ourselves and the natural world. And its advocates believe that reconnecting with the great outdoors in this way can help to improve both physical and mental health. So, like biophilia, forest bathing strives to increase our connectivity with the natural environment.

The best medicine

Forest bathing has been proven to reduce stress, improve feelings of wellbeing, lower heart rate/blood pressure, and increase creativity. In other words, I think it’s one of the best medicines for modern living.

Without a doubt, art in the bathroom has been seen as a 'mistake' in the past. However, times are changing and, these days, with a little thought and careful planning, bathroom wall art has become a valid trend. So, it's time to put any pre-conceived ideas of the 'horrors of humidity' aside. The truth is you can still add artwork to a bathroom with plenty of ventilation. Instead, I'm asking you to embrace your inner creativity. After all, I believe the bathroom should be your sanctuary. So, why not pick a few pieces of art to stimulate your senses, whether you're lounging in the bath or cleaning teeth at your basin? As a result, you can transform your bathroom into a personal gallery, which you can enjoy for years to come. In this blog, I speak to interior design team AB Design and Interiors and home stylist Post Prentis Design:

First considerations...

Transitional design typically refers to a balanced blend of contemporary and traditional. However, it can encompass so much more. Take elements from each and you can mix different genres too, such as edgy industrial with rustic country. At Origins Living, we're all about the aspirational, yet attainable. And, when it came to one of the bathroom settings in our virtual showroom, our co-founder Sofia Charalambous felt transitional design should be a key focus. Discover the thinking behind our luxury transitional bathroom display here:

Transitional vibes

Mixing it up is the new trend

“Necessity is the mother of invention”, so the famous saying goes. And it’s certainly true that the unprecedented events of last year have led to huge changes within the world of retail and design. Like many other high-end interiors brands, since the emergence of COVID-19, we have had to be resilient and resourceful to adapt the way we work. So, I’m very proud to unveil the next stage in our evolution: our new inspirational bathroom showroom. Through this exciting digital initiative, our clients can enjoy a new, immersive experience – and browse our carefully curated collections –anywhere in the world, at any time. In today’s ‘new normal’, I believe it makes perfect sense to showcase every special piece and design in this way.

Navigating our new virtual bathroom showroom is quick and easy. You’ll find there

Japandi is best described as a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design. Think natural materials, a muted colour palette and minimalism, all rolled into one. In fact, at Origins Living, Japandi is one of our favourite styles. After all, this notion will evoke a sense of calm and serenity in every bathing haven. So, it made perfect sense to create a luxury Japandi-style bathroom in our virtual showroom. This is where we could feature essential design elements, in particular our own statement pieces. Our co-director Sofia is going to talk you through the thought process when it came to this innovative design:

Choosing Japandi

Luxury bathroom design is all about creating individual bathing spaces, which reflect calm, soothing vibes. And, as

“Colours, like features, follow the changes of the emotions” Pablo Picasso

It seems colourful bathrooms are making a comeback. This is because the bathroom is now much more just a place to simply wash and go. So, it stands to reason that we are investing more thought into the aesthetics of this space. And this is where colour plays such an important role.

Interesting

“Life is like a mirror. Smile at it and it smiles back at you." Anon

 I am a huge fan of luxury statement mirrors. They are a fast, effective way to transform any room – but they really make a difference in the bathroom. It's easy to make the mistake of choosing your mirror last, almost as an afterthought. However, ideally they should feature in the room plan right from the start, in order to complement and enhance the colour scheme and design. Of course, it’s never too late to make changes – but this is not a job that should be rushed. There are lots of different elements to consider when choosing the right luxury bathroom mirrors for a home. So, do take plenty of time to think hard about size, shape, colour, location, material and style.

The minimalism mantra is over – at least for bathroom storage ideas – and I couldn’t be happier. No longer must you advise clients to hide everything away, hiding all traces of personality and pizzazz. In the past, luxury bathrooms have been synonymous with the bare and unembellished. So there has been no place (literally or figuratively) for beautiful display items. However, times are changing, and the opportunity to display stylish possessions in the bathroom is an exciting game-changer for interiors. Time then to embrace and experiment with the wide variety of open bathroom storage options available. Think play and display, as opposed to cover and conceal.

Here at Origins Living we’re always gazing into the future, looking into our crystal ball to predict what will be trending in bathroom interiors for the next 12/24 months.

Fashion and interior shows have been going wild for white. Scroll on Instagram and pin on Pinterest where you won’t escape images featuring white outfits and home decor. And, what’s big in clothing and homewares doesn’t take long to flow into bathrooms.

So, we can see… white taps, accessories and framed mirrors… making a big splash in 2020 and beyond.

Responding to our prediction for the demand in white fittings, we’re introducing a matt white finish to our best-selling City and Docklands mirrors and ever-popular Tecno Project range.

Available soon.