Joanna Gaines Unveils A Stunning Design Idea To Keep Your Toilet Hidden

If there's anyone who knows a thing or two about leveling up the style in a space, it's Joanna Gaines. The well-loved interior designer, along with her husband Chip Gaines, has been serving up Pinterest-worthy home design inspo to the masses for over a decade, thanks to their highly-acclaimed "Fixer Upper" TV show franchise. Together, the dynamic duo has renovated an impressive array of properties, from historic castles to boutique hotels, transforming them from outdated spaces into modern showstoppers. In their most recent televised reno project, Gaines proved she is equally adept at balancing form with function, as seen in her stunning design choices from "Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse."

Take the kitchen, for example, which elevates the hidden pantry trend to gorgeous new heights with a green-tiled backsplash and custom shelves that offer ample storage. She also had reeded glass inlays installed in the primary bathroom's shower, which makes a strong design statement in addition to adding much needed privacy. While the lakehouse's kitchen and main bath both enjoyed plenty of airtime, the other bathrooms in the home didn't make it on-screen, prompting Gaines to post an Instagram video taking viewers on a behind-the-scenes tour of these spaces. In one of the bathrooms, she shared a clever design strategy she used that hides the toilet but also enhances the beauty in the space — an arched toilet alcove.

Although bathrooms are certainly one of the more utilitarian rooms within a home, Gaines always seems to take great care to infuse these spaces with thoughtful design details. From stylish tile patterns to sleek cabinet hardware, she wastes no opportunity to add elements that are both practical and pretty. As for deciding where to place the toilet, which tends to be the biggest eyesore, Gaines decided to tuck the toilet in one of the Lakehouse bathrooms into a wall alcove and had a beautiful archway installed over the top. Talk about a savvy solution that ended up being a huge design win. In addition to lending architectural interest, the arched alcove also pays homage to the home's Spanish revival roots.

To create the alcove, Gaines opted to have a wall built between the sink vanity and far wall, and then placed the toilet between the two walls. Not only does this hide the commode from view, but it also adds a bit of privacy by creating a semi-enclosed space for it. Gaines had the entire alcove painted white to match the bathroom's walls and ceiling, which kept the room feeling light and airy. However, we imagine the alcove would look equally stunning when painted in a moody accent color like a deep navy blue or a rich burgundy. No matter the hue, an arched alcove like the one Gaines designed is a surefire way to hide a toilet in style.