Steal These Guest Bathroom Remodel Ideas We Use in High-End Homes

A great guest bathroom can be a showpiece for your home, allowing anyone you host to enjoy an inviting space that's functional and stylish. But in most cases, a guest bath is a smaller bathroom with less room to add classic luxury features like a freestanding tub.

Despite the typical space limitations, a full remodel can create a guest bathroom that wows anyone who stays at your house. In this post, I'll outline how your guest bath remodel can take advantage of high-end design ideas that we use in luxury bathroom renovations.

#1 A Clerestory Window

Installing a clerestory window is one of our favorite bathroom remodel ideas, and it shines in a guest bathroom. Natural light can make your guest bath feel bigger and brighter, creating a more welcoming atmosphere. Especially in a basement space, a clerestory window can prevent the bathroom from feeling dark and enclosed. At the same time, this type of window preserves privacy, which is essential for your visitors.

In this West Des Moines remodel, we built an extra-wide clerestory window into the shower wall, but the size and location of the window can be adapted to suit the space available in your guest bathroom.

#2 Convenient Outlets

In a guest bathroom, your visitors will appreciate all the details that make the space usable and convenient. Electrical outlets that are easy to see and reach are a prime example of those kinds of details.

In this remodel, we included an outlet on each part of the double vanity just above the countertop and to the right of the sink. That makes it easy for your guests to plug in anything they need, such as a hair dryer or electric toothbrush. With the pendant light fixtures right overhead, the outlets are simple to see and use.

This may seem like a small detail, but it's the kind of feature that immediately makes your guest bathroom more functional.

#3 Combo Showerheads

Even if your shower has to fit in a small space, we suggest installing a luxury dual showerhead with both a fixed overhead element and a hand-held wand.

We put this type of combo showerhead in virtually every luxury master bathroom remodel that we do, and it's an excellent choice for guest bathrooms as well. On top of being functional, dual showerheads come in a huge range of colors, materials, and styles, so you can use these fixtures to complement the rest of your bathroom's style.

#4 Putting the Water-Closet Behind a Door

For a guest bathroom remodel, I'm a big fan of creating a separate space for the water closet. This adds extra privacy and makes it easier for two people to use the bathroom at the same time, which is a nice touch when you host a couple or a family in your guest suite.

In this Urbandale remodel, we used a barn door to hide away the water closet. The barn door adds a visual element and saves space by reducing the floor area needed for the door to open and close. In a larger room, you could go with a traditional door. In a smaller bathroom, a pony wall can partially hide the water closet.

#5 An Expanded and Stylish Shower Niche

A shower niche is one of the most easily appreciated upgrades that you can include in your guest bathroom. It's normal to have bottles of shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner for your guests to use. But a small niche may not have enough space for these and any products that your guests bring themselves. To avoid that problem, you can install an expanded shower niche, such as this five-level niche we installed in this remodel.

But this isn't just about functionality. With a mix of light and dark tile with distinct patterns as well as a pebbled backsplash in the niche, this remodeled bathroom feels stylish and vibrant. Using a variety of materials, colors, and patterns in and around an expanded shower niche can enhance your guests' shower experience both functionally and aesthetically.

#6 Open Shelving

Most people appreciate open shelving in a guest bathroom because they can easily see and access items without having to open every cabinet door. In this bathroom remodel, we installed open shelving between the two sinks above the white marble countertop, and then we put in more traditional vanity storage underneath.

A similar approach can work well in a guest bathroom. If you've got less space to work with, you could consider a compact floating vanity with open shelving or a pedestal sink with a medicine cabinet and wall-mounted shelves nearby.

#7 A Zero-Threshold Walk-In Shower

For some people, accessibility is the linchpin to a truly inviting space. A zero- or low-threshold walk-in shower can make it possible for guests with reduced mobility to use your remodeled bathroom.

If you want to create an accessible guest suite, some other design elements to consider include:

• No-step entry into the guest suite itself

• A shower door that isn't too heavy or narrow

• Grab bars in the shower and near the water closet

• Easily usable cabinet pulls and drawer pulls

• Slip-resistant floors

In planning your remodel, it's worth thinking about who you expect to host and whether these types of accessibility upgrades are worth including. It's usually easier and less expensive to install them proactively from the get-go, which also makes it easier to incorporate them into your overall aesthetic and style.

#8 A Full-Length Mirror

A full-length mirror is a luxury upgrade for your guest bathroom. If your guests want to make sure they look good before heading out, a full-length mirror is a meaningful plus. On top of that, a big mirror can make your bathroom feel more spacious and open. In this remodel, we installed a full-length mirror that has the same type of frame as the vanity mirrors, giving the space a cohesive and unifying color scheme.

Planning Your Bathroom Remodel

A guest room shouldn't be an afterthought. Instead, it can be a dynamic space with meaningful features that enhance its usability and visual appeal.

As a custom remodeler, we apply fine-tuned design skills and expert craftsmanship to turn your bathroom remodel ideas into reality. Whether it's a spare bathroom, a powder room, or a master suite, we collaborate with you to make the project a success.

We've been serving the greater Des Moines area for more than 15 years, providing the highest level of service and results. If you're considering a bathroom renovation, we invite you to contact us today to learn about how we can work together to make your project truly compelling.