Set up Spanish bathrooms: 40 Ideas For Bathroom Design With Mediterranean Glamour

Terracotta tiles, vintage-style bathroom fittings, and colonial-style bathroom cabinets: Spanish bathrooms bring Mediterranean glamour to your own four walls. The interior design style of the country in the heart of southern Europe is eclectic and is characterized by many influences of different architectural styles. At the heart of the design, the concept is the relationship with nature, which is typical of the Mediterranean. We explain which are the most important furnishing principles, what you need to pay attention to when planning the room and how you can bring Spanish flair to the bathroom.

Spanish Bathrooms: Eclectic Aesthetics in Earth Tones

Generously cut, practical, stylishly furnished, and decorated in natural nuances: the bathroom in the Spanish style has a lot to offer. Perhaps that’s why Spanish bathrooms are more popular than ever. They bring with them a romantic touch from other eras, combine style with functionality, and provide sensual aesthetics through the use of noble materials. But what makes the charm of the Mediterranean baths? The successful mix of materials and styles is important. Since the Spanish colonists conquered large parts of North and South America in the 16th and 17th centuries, the immigrants have left many deep traces in the colonies. But the colonial countries also had a great influence on Spanish architecture. This is reflected in the interior design of the Haciendas.

Spanish Bathrooms Eclectic Aesthetics in Earth Tones 1

So it is not uncommon nowadays that the bathrooms in Spain effectively pair the magnificent Moroccan look with the purest Mediterranean design principles. The neutral color palette grounds the décor and makes the Spanish bath shine in cream, camel, sand color, as well as numerous brown and terracotta nuances and create visual calm. Accents in copper color visually enhance the color ensemble and detailed wooden elements and decorations complete the opulent living image.

The Spanish bathroom: the interior design

The classic Spanish bathroom is spacious and visually divided into several areas, between which there is no direct connection at first glance. At the entrance there are one or two washbasins, right next to it is usually the shower zone, which is housed in a specially built niche for this purpose. In the middle of the bathroom is the large free-standing bathtub, which provides the ultimate spa experience and transforms the bathroom into a feel-good oasis. The Spanish bathroom is a light-flooded room, as the windows are an absolute must for the Spanish interior design. Leaded glass windows set accents and at the same time provide visual protection.

The ceiling has either a saddle roof shape, a sloping roof, or a slightly curved shape.
The bathroom wall is divided into two halves: the lower half is tiled, the upper half is plastered. There is another variant: all walls are plastered, only the shower area is covered with mosaic or patchwork tiles.
The floor is laid with terracotta tiles. Multi-colored patterned tiles with Mediterranean motifs enhance the décor.

Bathroom in Spanish style: The design elements at a glance

Five design elements set the tone in the Spanish bathroom. These are, first and foremost, the tiles that give character to the room and highlight important details of the interior design. Furthermore, the bathroom cabinets, which are richly decorated with wooden decorations, are an important part of the furnishing of the typical Spanish bathroom. In third place are the bathroom fittings in the outlook, which score with an appealing copper or brass look. Then comes the lighting, which is very specific in the Spanish bathroom. Finally, there are decorative elements such as mirrors, statues, carpets, and vases, which effectively complete the design.

Set up Spanish-style bathrooms: The color palette

The Spanish bathroom shines in bright and warm colors such as yellow, ochre, brown, red, orange, and sand color. A paint in yellow creates a comfortable atmosphere typical of the Spanish-style baths. The wooden furniture is dark, unlike other Mediterranean facilities. In addition to local classics such as cherry, beech, and core beech and walnut, exotics such as Sheesham, rosewood, or mahogany are also used. Not only the bathroom cabinets but also the window frames are made of this.

Spanish Bathrooms: The Tiles

Tiles are not equal to tiles. In the Spanish bath, a lot of emphases is placed not only on the optics but above all on the high quality. Ceramic mosaics in dark blue, orange, or green and mosaic images give the room an exotic touch. The ceramic mosaic is used everywhere: as an accent wall behind the shower or as an edge around the sink. The strongly stylized patterns are inspired by nature. Flowers and plants bring charm from bygone eras to the bathroom.

Thanks to their warm color and pleasant feel (they are foot warm), terracotta tiles are a true Mediterranean classic. Many assume that the popular floor tiles come from Italy. But that is not true, because many of the clays used in the production of terracotta tiles come from Spain. The charm of the tiles is undisputed, but those who choose to do so should expect an average higher price than ceramic tiles and more elaborate maintenance. If the tiles are sealed with a special wax coating, they are suitable for use in wet areas. However, there is a danger that over time stains will form that can only be removed with difficulty. Therefore, they are only used in the dry area in the bathroom.

For the wet area, for example in the shower cubicle or around the bathtub, there are natural stone tiles. They are significantly lighter than terracotta, durable, waterproof, and look super both as flooring and as the wall covering in a Mediterranean bathroom. The popular natural stone tiles are offered in different sizes and shapes so that everyone can find the right one. In any case, they are an inexpensive alternative, especially for the spacious Spanish bathroom.

Set up Spanish bathrooms: bathroom cabinets and bathroom fittings

Typical of the Spanish bathroom are the vintage bathroom cabinets. They have a worn look, are richly decorated with wood carving, and have handled in the old look. Much of the mobile in the classic Spanish bathroom is either inherited or found and restored at the flea market. The look is completed by metal sinks embedded in the natural stone washbasin and bathroom fittings with cross handle in the trendy antique style.

Spanish-style bathroom: hand-painted sinks and other decorations

In the Spanish bathroom, valuable decorations, which are handmade, are used. Hand-painted sinks are typical of Mexican baths, but over time they have also gained popularity in Europe. They are the perfect option for those who want to bring an exotic touch to the bathroom, but still do not want to do without the functional puristic bathroom design. Mirrors with elaborately worked metal frames can also compliment the mid-century look of the bathroom. If you reach for a mirror with antique-finished mirror glass, you will also spread a touch of romance in the bathroom. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be unique, because luckily in numerous Shabby Chic online shops there are mirrors with an antique look.

Setting up a Spanish bath: The lighting

Antique chandeliers with LED candles over the bathtub and metal wall lantern around the wall mirror scatter soft light and create a romantic atmosphere and relaxed ambiance in the Spanish bathroom. When purchasing the LED lamps, care should be taken to ensure that they are not too strong. In the Spanish bath, the light is muted and so effectively compliments the design. Also, you can set accents with windlights.

Interpret ingest interpret the Spanish bathroom in a modern way

It doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive unique pieces made of sensitive materials: with a bit of creativity, you can imitate the Spanish “look” even with modern materials. We give you tips that can help you with the task:

Choose dark wood cabinets and combine them with a light natural stone washbasin. For example, wenge and white marble fit together particularly well. Or you can opt for Jura Yellow Marble and combine it with alder, lime, or pine wood.
You can either paint the bathroom in a popular color or lay it with monochrome tiles. Set accents by designing the area around the mirror with ceramic mosaic, patterned, or patchwork tiles. This will save you money and create a true Spanish-style eye-catcher at the same time.
Combine antique bathroom fittings with an antique-look mirror. Optionally, you can opt for a modern mirror with a simple frame if it has the same color as the bathroom fittings. For example, metallic shades such as copper or old gold look super chic.

Interpret ingest interpret the Spanish bathroom in a modern way 1

Choose a round metal or natural stone washbasin embedded in the washbasin to complete the Look in Spanish style. With the right lighting, you can enhance the bathroom design. Lamps made of metal and frosted glass, as well as almost all industrial-style luminaires, will make a good figure in the modern Spanish bathroom. Two-flame wall lamps in brass with champagne-colored glass look particularly attractive. If you want to hang a chandelier over the bathtub, it must fit stylistically to the lighting and furnishing concept.

Interpret ingest interpret the Spanish bathroom in a modern way 2

The typical Spanish bathroom is very spacious. Of course, everyone would like a 15 m2 bathroom, but nowadays this wish is unfortunately rarely feasible. With a simple trick, however, you can make your bathroom appear more generous. Paint the walls in a very bright or even white color and accents with darker terracotta floor and dark bathroom fittings.

Stylish, romantic, and classy: this is what a Spanish-style bathroom looks like. In the photo section below you can also find more examples of bathroom designs. Let yourself be inspired and create your bathing oasis with a Mediterranean touch.

Spanish-style bathroom with vintage bathroom cabinets