The bathrooms of style icons (and how you can achieve that look without a Chanel budget)
Bathrooms of style icons like Coco, Audrey, or Jane Birkin are like their outfits: classic, elegant, a touch mysterious, and above all effortlessly chic. Of course, they often had interior dream teams and a budget limit that exceeded our vacation budgets, but believe us: that atmosphere? You can create it too. Without your bank account starting to sweat.
Less is très chic
Are all beautiful bathrooms in 2025 already noticeable to you? No hysterical prints or an excess of color. What stands out to us? Calm. Colors like white, black, sand, or warm gray — possibly finished with a golden accent here and there. Not too shiny, not too perfect. It’s those lived-in finishes or those matte faucets that provide that French nonchalance. You don’t need to import marble from Italy. Marble-look tiles can already work wonders. Just like a coat of paint in the right tone (tip: soft taupe always works well).
Bathroom mirrors with character
A mirror is not only practical (especially when you’re trying to apply eyeliner with one eye still closed in the morning), it’s also a beautiful element you can’t ignore. Choose a decorative, vintage-style frame or a sleek design with rounded corners. Not in the mood to scour flea markets? Nowadays, you can find plenty of mirrors online with the allure of a Parisian antique shop, but then for the budget of a Zara Home candle.
Light that is flattering (and doesn’t cause fluorescent trauma)
No one looks good under bright white light. Period. Icons have known that for ages. So opt for warm light, preferably dimmable. Wall lamps next to the mirror provide that hotel luxury without having to sleep in a suite. And above your bath, a subtle pendant lamp or glass globe? Bonjour allure. Add a small table lamp on a niche or shelf.
Bathroom accessories that make your life a little more beautiful
Okay, so you don’t have perfume bottles with a French name of three digits. But a beautiful glass bowl with a few favorite pieces of jewelry, a linen towel in soft tones, and maybe a vintage perfume bottle (empty, but chic) already do so much. Add a stack of folded guest towels, a small vase with a single flower, and a little book that you only open on Sundays. Also, place some scented candles — not too many — and you’re halfway to a Vogue shoot, but then in your own bathroom, at your own pace.
That nonchalant finishing touch
Plants: absolutely! But with care. One green friend in a terracotta pot or a simple vase with eucalyptus on your sink: perfect. And also think about art. A black-and-white photo in a simple frame, a minimalist line portrait on the wall. Nothing flashy, just something that lifts your mood while you go through your morning routine.
The good news? Style is not about money, but about choices. And with a little creativity (and a Pinterest board full of style icons), you can transform your bathroom into a space where even Jackie O would feel at home. With a latte in hand, of course.
