The Traditional Bathroom Style Guide

Traditional style bathrooms (also commonly referred to as "Federation" or "Period Style") continue to hold a special place in Australian homes of today. Full of charm and laced with the feeling of nostalgia, traditional bathroom style is a truly timeless aesthetic and has remained a popular look for good reason.

This month, our design team has put together this Bathroom style guide to help you masterfully recreate the elegance of a classic era, so let's dig in.

Federation Basin / Sink

There are a few options to go with here, and this section is arguably another article on it's own, but in general and to stay true to theme, period style bathrooms work well with Inset basins, Undercounter basins, Consoles and Pedestals. See images below:

Federation style toilets are now available with the technology of today's era, and can be found in most configurations such as the back-to-wall suite, wall faced pan or even wall hung variations.

Besides aesthetic, look for a toilet with quality flushing internal components. To really step it up, consider pairing your toilet with a traditional style bidette!

Nothing says period style bathroom like a freestanding claw foot bath.

Available in a wide selection of materials and finishes, including options to paint the bath exterior, you can really make a big impact here by opting for an attention stealing metallic finish or colour on the bath, and match tapware accessories with the selected finish on the feet themselves.

Moving along to tapware and accessories, you can tie in the whole aesthetic with a consistency here of style and metallic finish.

Chrome is traditionally a safe choice for classic style but don't be afraid to go for warmer metallics like brass and copper, or a more textured look like brushed nickel or satin chrome.

Add instant charm to your traditional bathroom with wall panels or pine moulding. Pine moulding is a simple and cost effective accent that can quickly bless plain walls with period era finesse.

The trick here is to make sure the appropriate measures have been taken to ensure moisture doesn't set into the accents.

Black and white chequered tiles are a popular go-to choice for traditional bathrooms but you can also opt for a more ornamental patterned floor tile which are rising in popularity again.

You can create a stunning feature wall with traditional style Wall Paper. There are a range of bathroom-suitable wall papers available with water-proofing qualities;

We recommend going for big, beautiful botanical imagery or edwardian styled patterns to add an eye-catching focal point.

A little left field from the norm in standard Australian bathrooms, but you can certainly (with care) introduce timber floor boards in place of floor tiles in your federation style bathroom.

Some companies have produced bathroom ready timber boards, and there are also 'timber look' tiles that can achieve a similar result.

If you do opt for timber flooring, darker tones work well with contrasting walls, but again be sure to consult with professionals to ensure the wood is treated and properly protected from moisture.

Subdued and muted colours work really well for a timeless look, helping to cultivate a calming mood whilst tieing in all the design elements with ease.

We love how soft greys or subtle pastels look especially against freestanding clawfoot baths.