How To Snag Hilary Farr's Design For A Perfectly Preppy Coastal Bathroom
With trends like quiet luxury and coastal grandmother decor absolutely booming in popularity these days, everyone should be very glad to see preppy, beachy bathrooms making a comeback. This timeless style is classic, and for good reason; with its high-end appearance, the coastal look has long been a favorite of many homeowners, particularly with its uncanny ability to make small spaces look bigger. That is, of course, especially ideal for anyone stuck with small bathroom quarters.
On a 2024 episode of HGTV's "Love It or List It," Hilary Farr showed the gorgeous style off in two renovated bathrooms for a couple in need of a remodel. The bathrooms both featured a bright white vanity, pale grey walls, wall-mounted lights, brushed nickel fixtures, and many other beautiful details. The result was a bathroom that felt very clean but not sterile, homey but uncluttered. It's exactly the sort of small bathroom upgrade that today's homeowners want.
How can you make it happen in your own house, however? Don't stress yourself out. With our helpful walkthrough, you don't need Farr to stop by your house to give you the gorgeous bathroom of your dreams. Here's how to nail this look with a few simple design choices, including choosing the right color palette, and nailing the perfect accents.
White is the key color for your Hilary Farr-inspired preppy coastal bathroom - but don't forget blue and gray
When it comes to beachy bathrooms, blue and white are the classic color choices, but don't feel restricted. Blue and white might be a more common combination for many, many beachy-vibed bathrooms, but it can also read a little cliche. Gray and white is very sophisticated but clean, and as Hilary Farr proved with her bathroom remodel, you can still use decor items to add in more color. That's something gray offers you that blue often won't.
There are a lot of different tones of gray, and even white, that can offer very different vibes. When it comes to choosing the right white shade for coastal bathrooms, we like true whites without a strong warm or cool undertone. These will look very crisp and clean, and if you go with blue, this tone stands nicely against nearly any shade of blue that you choose. Examples of true whites include Behr's Ultra Pure White and Benjamin Moore's Chantilly Lace. You'll find a lot more variation in gray colors, and what you choose really depends on the beachy vibe you're going for. The most important thing is choosing something that isn't too pigmented or dark, as this will make the bathroom feel gloomy — for example, consider Farrow and Ball's Purbeck Stone No. 275.
Luckily, gray and white of any shade is very easy to pair with other accent colors and finishes. Farr, on her HGTV show, chose gray subway tiles and white painted walls, which look beautiful alongside chrome plated shower fixtures, but you could also pair matte black and brass with the gray and white. Once you have the basics down, be open to experimentation.
To achieve the effect of Hilary Farr's preppy coastal bathroom, it's all about the finer details
The other element that Hilary Farr absolutely nails in this beachy, preppy bathroom is the pieces of elegant accent décor. Take a note from her styling choices and don't bother with tacky seashell-shaped hand soap. One of the best techniques she uses to decorate the bathroom is wooden countertop trays to create coastal-inspired vignettes with small décor objects. On one natural wood toned tray, she styles a piece of white coral next to a natural reed fragrance diffuser: We love this combination because it pairs the natural elements of the sea with the coral piece, but in a clean white tone, and the organic, warm touches of the tray and the reeds. These types of details can give your coastal bathroom a refined, sophisticated edge like a beachside spa, much more so than a wicker basket full of seashells.
Bathrooms always feel more elevated when they don't just rely on a single giant overhead light, but Farr's lampshade covered sconces in particular really add to the preppy vibe of the room. Recreate a pretty solid dupe for this look with the Robert Sconce from Ralph Lauren. Crystal accents for candle holders, cupboard doorknobs, and soap dishes would also stun on the bathroom countertop. Put it all together with the right colors, and you have an excellent coastal bathroom that will impress all your guests.