You might be tempted to err on the side of caution when it comes to designing (or redesigning) your bathroom. And while white tiles, neutral paint and polished silver tapware will always have their place, you don’t have to sacrifice style and individuality in your dream bathroom.

“It’s a big misconception that you have to play it safe and not be polarising,” says interior designer Rachel Collard. “Interiors are meant to give you an emotion when you walk through. When you play it safe, it doesn’t evoke anything. You don’t walk into a blank canvas home, or bathroom, and think, ‘Wow, I’m amazed by this’. It’s character and materiality that make people want to live there or buy it.”

Collard, who runs an in-demand boutique interior design studio focused on mid-to-high-end homes, isn’t afraid to have fun when it comes to interiors. “I use a lot of colour; mine is definitely a punchier style.”

It’s a mood board she applies to the whole house, especially the bathrooms, often overlooked in a home redesign. This “holistic” approach gives homes a personality and overall vibe that sets them apart from the cookie-cutter rest.

“We often have a lot of fun in our bathrooms and I encourage clients to push boundaries there,” she says. “Bathrooms are the perfect place to do that, because it’s a confined space and you can really mix it up and create some joy in your life.” After all, why shouldn’t the environment where we go about the most mundane of our daily routines – like brushing our teeth and washing our hair – be enriching, interesting and happy?

Collard’s highest-end bathroom designs feature floor-to-ceiling colours and textures – think stone slab floors in opulent pink breccia stone and black-and-white textured wallpaper adorned with artwork and gold-trim mirrors. But she appreciates this tastefully over-the-top look isn’t to everybody’s liking – or budget.

“All you need to do is mix one or two things up, or introduce one unexpected colour, and that can make a big difference,” she says. But you don’t need to spend big bucks – the smallest details can go a long way.

For example, she suggests swapping your tapware or going with a coloured sink that anchors the space. The taps on your basin don’t need to be the same as the ones in your shower. “You might have brushed brass in one section and matte black in another.”

When it comes to tapwear, E&S’s new Caroma Liano II collection is a go-to for Collard. “They do some really beautiful sinks in trendy colours that would look amazing on a more classic benchtop,” she says. Picture this matte pink above-counter basin against pink mosaic tiles, or a sage green version.

A lick of paint that creates contrast, ripping out vinyl wrapping, changing light fixtures and adding fun accessories like robe hooks and towel rails are other small things you can do that make a strong (and relatively inexpensive) impact, according to Collard. Whatever your style, these seemingly minute changes can lift the overall look of the room – and you can do most of them yourself, meaning labour costs can be put towards the fun stuff: fluffy towels, mood-enhancing candles, a dressing gown, and pampering products to enjoy in your new at-home spa sanctuary.

“There is room to be on trend or do something that might feel polarising, but with classic elements,” says Collard. Modern touches, like a blush-pink sink and rose-gold tapware, will stand the test of time when paired with more typical materials and features. As long as it speaks to you – and to the rest of your home – it will work, she says. And no, not all the bathrooms in your home need to match perfectly. In fact, Collard would prefer they didn’t.

“You just want people to see that connectivity. To think, ‘Yep, that belongs to that house’. That’s the difference between things looking hodge-podge versus carefully curated.”

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with e&s. With an extensive bathroom range, E&S gives you plenty of options for your bathroom reno to suit your needs. Visit an e&s showroom – like the one in Chadstone, Melbourne with 3800 square metres of items and displays showcasing the best in technology and design across various price points – today.