The Bathroom Design Trend That Experts Are Seriously Conflicted On (Is It An Eyesore?)

Your toilet: It's the one seat in the house deemed "the throne." And a recent bathroom decor trend — deemed "toiletscaping" by some — has inspired folks to treat it as such. Perhaps you've already seen TikTok videos (like the one below) by Sarah Velush, the content creator who seemingly kicked off the whole thing.

In addition to other content, Velush makes themed bathroom decor videos centering around her toilet, amassing millions of views. In most of her looks, you can expect to see a furry or velour zip-on toilet seat cover, gummy gems on the inside of the toilet bowl, a foot massager, a fancy toilet paper holder with colorful tissue rolls, and a corresponding side table holding fans, room sprays and — wait for it — snacks. "You can relax anywhere," Velush told People, "even in the bathroom."

No argument there. And there's no doubt that different toilet designs can complement your bathroom. But what about decorating your actual toilet and its direct perimeter? The abundance of items in Velush's videos not only seems to be visual overkill but feels claustrophobic as well. Loads of TikTok users reacted with the same resounding word: "overstimulating." Design experts definitely have mixed views on the matter, some believing an excess of decor is one of the toilet mistakes you're making. 

When it comes to toilet decor, you'll find experts and designers on both sides of the trend. "I almost always style the back of a toilet, especially in an open bathroom floor plan," Alabama designer Leslie Davis told House Beautiful. "I like to use fresh flowers, and if the client is agreeable to a styled toilet tank, I will create a faux floral or simple stem arrangement for a more permanent look."

While bathroom specialist Brian Toward agrees the commode can be a place to add personality and self-expression, "Hygiene should always come first," he said. Toward, owner of a bathroom retail company, told Ideal Home, "Bathrooms are naturally humid environments and this can create a breeding ground for bacteria if decorative items aren't cleaned regularly or if they trap moisture."

The bottom line: Toilet decor is all a matter of personal choice and style, and a happy medium between barren and excess does exist. Heck, the bathroom is an often neglected space for decor and storage. Should you decide to explore toiletscaping, choosing non-porous decorative items that are easily cleaned and disinfected will help keep things sanitary. But if you must have that fluffy fabric toilet seat cover, make sure it's machine washable and wash it often, as it will be misted with toilet water with every flush. Leaving the toilet as is? Then you'll just have more money to decorate somewhere else.