Steal This Look: A Sunshine Bath in a London Townhouse

Imagine stepping into a bathroom that feels like standing in a beam of sunlight, even on a classic gray London afternoon. That’s the magic of the sunshine bath in this London townhousean electric, yellow-clad space designed by Bradley Van Der Straeten and spotlighted by Remodelista. It’s cheerful without being childish, bold without feeling chaotic, and smartly planned to squeeze every last drop of daylight out of the city sky.

The good news? You don’t need a London townhouse (or a designer budget) to borrow this look. With the right mix of color, light, tile, and hardware, you can recreate the same sunny bathroom vibe in a suburban split-level, a small city condo, or even a rental with a willing landlord. Let’s break down what makes this “sunshine bath” so specialand how to steal the look, piece by piece.

Why the Sunshine Bath Works So Well

On paper, an all-yellow bathroom sounds risky. In real life, done well, it’s glorious. The Remodelista-featured bath is wrapped in yellow from floor to ceiling, then flooded with natural light from its south-facing position. The effect is like walking into a warm, glowing lantern instead of a cold, echoey washroom.

Several design choices work together here:

• Sun-hungry orientation: The bathroom faces the bright side of the house to maximize daylight, turning yellow tiles into a giant reflector for natural light.
• One strong color story: Instead of mixing multiple bold colors, the designers committed to a single sunny hue, which keeps the look intentional rather than loud.
• Simple, modern shapes: Clean-lined fixtures, minimal ornamentation, and unfussy details prevent the space from feeling cluttered.
• Balanced materials: Warm color is paired with calm finishesthink pale grout, simple metal fixtures, and maybe a bit of warm wood or stoneso your eyes have a place to rest.

The result isn’t just “pretty”it’s functional. The color and light make morning routines feel energizing, help small-space bathrooms feel less cave-like, and create a mood that’s much more spa-day than subway-station.

Key Elements of a Sunshine Bath (And How to Copy Them)

1. Go All-In on a Sunny Color Palette

The heart of this look is color. Specifically: yellow. Not neon highlighter, not muddy mustardmore of a saturated egg-yolk or marigold tone that looks warm in both daylight and artificial light.

To steal the look:

• Tile first: If you can renovate, choose yellow ceramic or porcelain tiles for at least one major surface: the shower walls, the vanity wall, or even all four walls if you’re feeling brave.
• Or paint it: On a tighter budget, use moisture-resistant paint in a warm yellow on the walls and keep tile simple and white. You still get the glow without the full remodel.
• Control the shade: Test your yellow under daytime light and at night. Some yellows go green or dingy under cool LEDs; others look too intense under warm bulbs.

Pair your yellow with quiet neutralssoft white, pale beige, or light gray. The sunshine bath works because yellow is the star; everything else is the supporting cast.

2. Maximize Natural Light (Even If You Don’t Have a South-Facing Wall)

In the London townhouse, the yellow bathroom was deliberately placed on the south side of the house to soak up as much daylight as possible. If you’re not moving plumbing across your floor plan, you can still borrow the logic: treat light as a key “material,” not an afterthought.

• Keep windows clear: Skip heavy curtains and frosted films where you can. Use sheer, moisture-safe shades or bottom-up blinds for privacy.
• Add reflective surfaces: Use a large mirror or mirrored cabinet to bounce daylight across yellow walls and tiles.
• Consider a skylight or sun tunnel: In top-floor baths, overhead light can transform a dark nook into a sun-washed retreat.

Even if your bathroom faces an alley or interior lightwell, pale finishes, reflective surfaces, and clutter-free lines will help amplify what light you do get.

3. Layer the Lighting Like a Designer

Natural light is amazing… until you’re getting ready at 6 a.m. in winter. That’s where layered lighting comes in. The most successful sunshine bathrooms combine ambient, task, and accent lighting so the color reads well at all times of day.

• Ambient lighting: A flush-mount ceiling light, recessed fixtures, or integrated LED strips provide overall brightness.
• Task lighting: Wall sconces or vertical bath bars flanking the mirror give even, shadow-free light for shaving, makeup, and skincare.
• Accent lighting: Consider a subtle LED strip under the vanity, around a niche, or behind a mirror to give a soft glow at night.

Dimmer switches are your best friend here. They let you soften the yellow in the evening so the room feels like a candlelit bath instead of a midday office.

4. Choose Tiles That Support the Look (Not Compete with It)

The sunshine bath uses color, but it doesn’t overload you with pattern. The tiles are likely simple in shapesquares, rectangles, maybe a subtle stack or offset pattern. The interest comes from saturation and how the light plays on the surface, not from ten competing motifs.

For a similar effect:

• Stick to one tile shape: Use the same tile on multiple surfaces for a wrapped, cocoon-like effect.
• Pick a finish: Glossy tiles reflect more light; matte tiles feel more modern and calm. You can mix them (glossy in the shower, matte on the floor) for a sophisticated contrast.
• Keep grout tame: A slightly lighter or matching grout color avoids visual busyness and keeps the yellow reading as a unified block of color.

If you’re nervous about full-yellow walls, try a yellow-tiled shower with neutral walls elsewhereor a tiled wainscot with painted walls above.

5. Balance Bold Color with Minimal Fixtures

When your walls are basically sunshine, your fixtures don’t need to shout. The Remodelista bath leans on unfussy, contemporary fittings that feel clean and tailored rather than ornate.

• Pick a metal finish and commit: Brushed brass can warm up yellow even more, while chrome or stainless steel adds crisp contrast. Black works too, but use it sparingly so the room doesn’t feel chopped up.
• Choose streamlined forms: Wall-mounted faucets, simple cylinder handles, and slim showerheads keep the look modern and fresh.
• Use a minimalist vanity: Floating vanities or pedestal sinks reduce visual clutter and help small baths feel bigger.

Think of your fixtures as jewelry: simple, well-chosen pieces that highlight the outfit instead of competing with it.

6. Keep Storage Clever and Clutter-Free

A bright bathroom can quickly tip into chaos if every surface is covered in bottles and random hotel soaps. The sunshine bath aesthetic shines when the room feels intentionally edited.

• Recessed niches: Built-in shower niches keep shampoo and soap out of visual sightlines.
• Closed storage: Drawers, cabinets, or lidded baskets keep daily essentials handy but hidden.
• Single “hero” display: Limit open stylingmaybe a small vase, a candle, or a folded towel stackto one or two spots.

The goal: nothing that breaks up that continuous sweep of yellow and light. When the surfaces are clear, the color and architecture take center stage.

How to Adapt the Sunshine Bath Look to Your Own Home

If You Own Your Place

Homeowners have the most flexibility, especially if you’re already planning a renovation. Here’s a rough roadmap:

1. Decide your commitment level: Full tile wrap? Feature wall? Shower-only color? Start with one key area and build out from there.
2. Work with your layout: If you can, place the bath or shower near the room’s best natural lightwindow or skylightto get that glow-on-yellow effect.
3. Upgrade the lighting plan: Add sconces near the mirror and consider dimmable ceiling fixtures.
4. Invest in quality materials: Good tile, mold-resistant grout, and solid fixtures will keep the look fresh for years.

If You’re Renting

You can still channel this look without touching the plumbing or tile:

• Paint the walls: Most landlords are fine with paint as long as you return it to neutral later.
• Swap the shower curtain: Choose a bold yellow or yellow-and-white curtain to create a mini “sunshine wall.”
• Bring in yellow textiles: Towels, bath mats, and small decor accents can echo the color story.
• Change the bulbs: Install warm but bright LED bulbs that flatter yellow rather than washing it out.
• Add peel-and-stick details: Removable wallpaper, decals, or peel-and-stick tiles can give a hint of that Remodelista vibe without permanent changes.

You’re going for “joyful sunshine,” not “taxi cab.” Start with a couple of yellow anchors and build slowly.

Styling Ideas to Finish the Look

Once the big pieces are in placecolor, tile, lightyou can fine-tune your sunshine bath with thoughtful styling.

• Natural elements: Add a small stool or bath tray in oak, teak, or ash to soften all that tile.
• Art and prints: Choose one moisture-safe print or photograph with a simple compositionthink abstract shapes or a quiet landscapeto contrast the bold color.
• Textural towels: Waffle-knit, Turkish, or ribbed towels in white, buttercream, or pale gray add dimension without visual overload.
• Greenery: A low-light, humidity-loving plant (like a pothos or ZZ plant in a protected spot) brings life and breaks up the hard surfaces.

The trick is restraint. When your walls are doing the heavy lifting, you don’t need many accessories. A few really good ones will do.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Bold bathrooms are fun, but they can go wrong fast. Steer clear of these pitfalls:

• Too many patterns: Yellow tiles plus patterned floors plus busy towels will overwhelm the eye. Choose one star and let everything else be a supporting player.
• Harsh, cold lighting: Cool white bulbs can make yellow look sickly. Aim for warm or neutral white LEDs with good color rendering.
• Cluttered countertops: Excess bottles, tools, and random decor make the room feel smaller and messiereven if the tiles are gorgeous.
• Random metal finishes: Mixing chrome, brass, black, and nickel in one small bath can feel chaotic. Try to limit yourself to one main metal and one accent at most.

Think of the sunshine bath as a minimalist color statement: it’s bold but disciplined.

of Real-Life Experience: Living with a Sunshine Bath

So what is it actually like to live with a sunshine bath, day in and day out? Let’s talk about the practical sideand some lessons you’ll only discover after a few months of brushing your teeth in what feels like a sunbeam.

First surprise: mornings get easier. There’s something about stepping into a bright, yellow space that feels like a built-in wake-up light. Even if the weather outside is gloomy, the room still reads “daytime.” People who’ve experimented with yellow bathrooms often say they feel more alert while getting ready, but less stressedlike the room is giving them a gentle nudge instead of an aggressive alarm clock vibe.

The second discovery is how much lighting matters at night. A sunshine bath with only one overhead light can feel a bit like a gas station restroom after dark (not the look we’re going for). Once you add dimmable layered lightingsoft sconces by the mirror, a ceiling fixture on a dimmer, maybe a subtle glow under the vanitythe whole room shifts from “sunny” to “golden.” A hot bath under low, warm light bouncing off yellow walls feels unexpectedly luxurious, almost like soaking in candlelight.

You’ll also notice how the color changes with the seasons. In summer, yellow walls can feel energetic and fresh, especially if sunlight hits them for hours a day. In winter, they become more important than ever: on short, dark days, that warm color keeps the room from feeling cold and gray. If you live in a cloudy climate or have long winters, a sunshine bath can be an emotional boost as much as a design choice.

Maintenance-wise, yellow is pretty forgiving. It doesn’t show water spots as dramatically as black or navy, and it doesn’t reveal every speck of dust the way high-gloss white can. However, you’ll want to be thoughtful about your exact shade. Very pale yellows can read “old” or dingy if your grout discolors, while neon yellows may feel harsh over time. A mid-range, slightly warm tone tends to age the best and looks good under both daylight and artificial light.

Another everyday reality: guests will comment. A lot. A sunshine bath is not a “background” room; it’s a conversation starter. Friends will either want to copy it, tone it down, or at least take a selfie in it. If you enjoy a bit of design drama and like your home to have memorable moments, this is a huge plus. If you prefer spaces that stay quietly in the background, consider doing a sunshine powder room or guest bath instead of your primary bathroom.

There’s also a psychological effect of walking into a space that clearly has a strong design point of view. When a room looks intentionalcolor, fixtures, storage, and styling all working togetherit tends to feel more calming, not less. Your brain doesn’t spend as much time trying to make sense of random choices. Even though the sunshine bath is bold, it’s also orderly: clear surfaces, repeated materials, and a simple palette.

Finally, living with a sunshine bath teaches you something about risk in design. It’s a reminder that “safe” isn’t always the most livable choice. A plain white bathroom is fine, but a space that makes you smile every single morning earns its keep in a different way. If the idea of wrapping your walls in yellow feels too scary, borrow the spirit instead: pick one joyful color and give it more room to shineon tile, on paint, or through lightingthan you normally would.

That’s the real lesson of the London townhouse sunshine bath. It’s not just about copying a specific shade of tile; it’s about giving yourself permission to design a room that feels like a mood booster every time you walk in. And if that mood booster happens to be bright yellow? Even better.