A few friends came over for lunch recently, and before long we all made our way upstairs to have a look at our master bathroom. I don’t normally take visitors up there, but since one of them was going to be renovating her bathroom soon we thought it would be a good idea to see a fairly newly renovated example.

After we squeezed ourselves in the space and my friends kindly had sung their praises (my friends are nice like that), they all said they were so positively surprised by the fact that we have a decent amount of art on display in our bathroom. How interesting!

I suppose because bathrooms typically are relatively small spaces compared to most other rooms in a house, and as they usually are considered private places in which one doesn’t receive visitors, they perhaps are easily neglected from a decoration point of view.

I feel however that bathrooms have all of the potential to become beautiful places in which you can relax and find balance — if designed and decorated well.

A few fluffy and pretty towels, some nice toiletries on display, a scented candle and a little plant already add ambience.

And while perhaps you don't immediately think of displaying art in the bathroom, it can definitely be such a good idea. A selection of pretty pieces of art makes the space instantly feel more pulled together, personal and luxurious!

Art in the bathroom, some tips and ideas

• Think of sculptures and ceramic pieces as well as photos, prints and paintings.

• Make sure the room is well ventilated — either mechanically, or by opening a window. (A bathroom should always be well ventilated to prevent mould.)

• It's best to frame 2D art so that it is protected from steam and moisture. Plus, it looks better on the wall!

• If you have a shower in the room, hang framed art as far away from the shower as possible.

• Be creative! Because this room is quite private, you can display more daring or private pieces here. (I personally love cheeky nudes in my bathrooms!)

• Remember nothing is permanent -- you can easily switch pieces around.

• If you don’t know where to start, you can group some pieces together. Black and whites or art in neutral colours work well. Or you can create unity by choosing frames in similar materials (for example wood, or silver frames).

Most important, of course, is to have fun, and choose what makes you happy.

xxx Esther