En Suite Decor Ideas And Inspiration — MELANIE LISSACK INTERIORS

*Cloud Countertop Basin by Waters Baths of Ashbourne*

After the discovery of water damage last summer in our downstairs toilet (the small en suite off my office/the guest room), everything had to be ripped out, stripped back to bare bones and started again. While the timing couldn’t have been worse during a pandemic when we couldn’t let anyone into our home, at least it has given me a good while to decide how I want to design it this time around!

A stunning en suite bathroom by Bella Bathrooms

Small en suites and single toilet rooms are a great opportunity to be adventurous with your decor because you do not spend much time in there. The lack of square footage allows you to use strong colours without the concern that they will be overpowering (nor are they a big commitment to a brave decision). You can also choose big, bold patterns, as it is not a space to entertain or relax - it’s a ‘in and then out’ room.

En suites and small bathrooms are a great place to be bold with your decor choices, like this wallpapered ceiling as part of a scheme designed by Shaun Smith — *En suites and small bathrooms are a great place to be bold with your decor choices, like this wallpapered ceiling as part of a scheme designed by* *Shaun Smith*

This vibrant yellow (‘Mister David’ by Little Greene) creates a really cheery space in the bathboom of Mama Sparrow Blog — *This vibrant yellow (‘Mister David’ by Little Greene) creates a really cheery space in the bathroom of Mama Sparrow Blog*

For my own en suite, I required new tiles for the shower enclosure and on the floor. I’d been particularly drawn to the layout of upstanding rectangular tiles (as featured below in some of my favourite tile design schemes), so decided this was the look that I would have in the shower.

Mirror: Gubi. Design and styling: @nicolabarutto, Image production: @terzopianoimagestudio Tiles: @ceramicadelconca — *Mirror: Gubi. Design and styling:* *@nicolabarutto, Image production:* *@terzopianoimagestudio* *Tiles:* *@ceramicadelconca*

One of my favourite tile layout schemes by the very talented Emma Merry Styling — *One of my favourite tile layout schemes by the very talented* *Emma Merry Styling*

*Upstanding white tiles and white grout looks fresh, clean and modern, as seen here in in the Gerrale St Kitchen by Humphrey & Edwards Architects*

White, upstanding tiles provide a great base for the marbled window sill and geometric floor tiles. Image: Born & Bred Studio. Photographer: @annastathakiphoto — *White, upstanding tiles provide a great base for the marbled window sill and geometric floor tiles. Image:* *Born & Bred Studio.* *Photographer:* *@annastathakiphoto*

For tiles, I headed to the Verde Tiles showroom - an independant tile retailer located not far from me in Bishop’s Stortford. The owner, Brad, is a previous tiler and fitter, so you can guarantee a really knowledgeable service. What I really like about the showroom is that all tiles are laid out for you to touch, move about and moodboard. Showrooms where tiles are just stuck on the wall (so you can’t mix and match with other tiles, lay with your paint sample cards or move about in different lights) do not offer the opportunity for any in depth consideration of your tile choice. That ‘just pick and go’ method can often result in making the wrong decision.

verde tiles showroom.jpg — *A selection of the smaller tiles available in the Verde Tiles showroom.*

As well as the tiles being upstanding, I really wanted a bit of texture to my tile choice. I didn’t want the tile to be smooth and glossy, so veered towards tiles that had a raised surface.

*Raised and textured tiles in the Verde Tiles showroom.*

For the floor, at first I was drawn to real marble herringbone - but then the realisation of the maintenance hit. With a mud-attracting dog (who will get washed down in the en suite shower) and a young family, I quickly realised that my selection of bumpy textured tiles in the shower are not the easiest option to wipe down, and that real marble on the floor will need protection and sealing. Instead, for the floor I went for a marble-like pattern on an easy to maintain porcelain hex tile, and an aged-edge rectangular tile for the shower to give me the rustic look I was after without the bumps.

My marble hex floor tiles and aged-edged tiles from Verde Tiles. Plus, a sample of my Orac Decor wall panel.

To bring some visual interest to the rest of the space, I decided that I’m going to panel the bottom half of the walls by installing some modern 3D Orac Decor wall panels. These panels can easily give a ribbed, fluted or slatted effect, and they come pre-primed ready for painting.

3D wall coverings by Orac Decor — *3D wall coverings by* *Orac Decor*

With the shower and floor tiles both being white, the panels I want to paint in a really pigmented, deep tone. I’ve been drawn to strong plums, rich purples and lavender tones, and after some deliberation in the paint shop, I purchased four tester colours to try out: Plum Brandy by Paint & Paper Library, Lavender Garden by Mylands, Purple Tulip by Zoffany and Brassica by Farrow & Ball.