While I love a fresh, bright bathroom design, I always try to add wooden elements to bring warmth and texture in a sustainable way. Wooden bathroom accessories can work with any bathroom design scheme, and there is an abundance of wooden accessories out there to choose from.
Made from a renewable resource, natural wooden bathroom accessories are a sustainable choice for bathroom decor. Natural wood is very long-lasting, and is biodegradable at the end of its life. Towel rails, mirrors, shelves, soap dishes, bath-bridges and laundry baskets are all widely available in wooden finishes.
Wooden bathroom accessories are not only a great environmental choice for the conscious-consumer, but they also have a positive effect on our well-being by connecting us with nature.
Research studies have proven that human well-being profoundly benefits from the application of natural materials, especially wood, in interior environments. Bringing real wooden elements into your bathroom is a simple and effective way of enhancing well-being while being eco-friendly.
Natural Wood Bathroom Accessories
I have scoured my favourite online stores and have found a massive array of beautiful, sustainable wooden bathroom accessories. I have shown how these items can all work together in the Inspiration Board (above) and share the details below. Enjoy!
Natural Wood Bathroom Essentials
Bring a hint of nature into your bathroom with some wooden accessories from towel rails to slatted bath mats.
Not to forget toilet roll holders and toilet brushes – Not the most glamorous accessories, but very much essential for any functional bathroom!
Natural Wood Bath-Bridge
If you are anything like me, you will love the idea of a wooden ‘bath-bridge’ to hold a book or a tablet while you have a relaxing soak. The ideal place to securely perch that glass of red, or whatever your beverage of choice may be! 😋
Unfortunately, my current home does not have a bath, but this adjustable bamboo bath-bridge is on the top of my shopping list for my future bathroom – wherever and whenever that may be!
Natural Wood Soap Dishes & Dispensers
Wooden soap dishes and soap dispensers are doubly eco-friendly! Not only are they made from wood – a natural, renewable material – but they also encourage the use of natural, re-fillable soaps, rather than soaps in single-use plastic containers.
Soap dishes can be used to hold natural soap bars such as:
Wooden soap dishes with drainage holes are available, but you could end up constantly mopping up the residue from underneath. They do look pretty though – like this soap dish hand-carved from olive wood – but I would question their practicality.
A wood-slat soap dish with a ceramic base might serve you better by neatly containing the soapy residue, while still giving you a hint of the warm wood look.
Or if liquid soap is your thing, buy refills in bulk online or in your local re-fill store to keep your wooden dispensers topped up. Soap, shampoo and conditioner dispensers look very stylish sitting within recessed shelves in showers or wet-rooms – Much better than a heap of plastic bottles!
You can buy refills from your local re-fill store – This is the most sustainable option as it means you can simply bring your own container or bottle and refill it any time you are running low. I usually get my refills from Small Changes in Dublin.
If you do not have access to a refill shop locally, there are many bulk options online which can still hugely save on buying multiple plastic soap dispensers:
Natural Wood Bathroom Mirrors
There are endless choices for wood-framed bathroom mirrors. You could spend countless hours poring over mirror options for over the wash-hand basin or vanity unit. Well, I know I have! So many sizes and shapes to choose from!
Be sure to pick one that is large enough for small and tall people alike to comfortably see themselves in when standing at the wash-basin. And choose a shape and finish that is true to your unique style, while being sustainable, of course. 🙂
I personally love how large, round mirrors add an element of softness to an otherwise typically clean-cut room, especially when framed in wood. I installed an 80cm diameter wood frame mirror over the sink in my own apartment refurbishment, plus some practical wooden shelves within a recess.
I recently came across this large round mirror with a very cool frame made from solid teak pieces – The slatted design of the frame adds so much texture, rhythm and depth. Keeping my eye on it for the next suitable project!
Mirrored cabinets are a great opportunity to maximise storage and hide away bathroom clutter. This adjustable magnifying mirror with its solid oak frame is another practical and eco-friendly accessory.
Natural Wood / Rattan Laundry Baskets
While technically not a wood, rattan – from rattan vines – is a fast-growing, renewable material which makes it a great environmental choice for furniture and interior accessories. Woven wood or rattan laundry baskets are a natural, beautifully-textural addition to any bathroom, and they are becoming increasingly popular.
I spotted this laundry basket recently – It is woven from sustainable bamboo and oozes natural style. Love it!
Natural Wood Shelving & Storage
Bathroom storage can be in the form of:
With bathroom walls most commonly finished in tile, natural wood shelving and storage units are the perfect way to add nature, texture and warmth. These natural and sustainable wooden pieces are a lovely contrast to hard tiled surfaces.
Use these shelves and storage units to display your favourite toiletries, natural candles, plants and rolled-up washcloths for a homely yet hotel-like feel. For items that are less pleasing to the eye, store them within boxes or cabinets with doors, and keep the open displays simple and clutter-free.
Natural Wood Planters & Decorative Accessories
Every room in the house benefits from greenery, and the bathroom is no exception. Plants add the supreme finishing touch, and can completely transform the look and feel of a room. There are numerous natural wood planter options for adding plants to your bathroom design, for example:
How to Know if a Product is Made from Real Natural Wood
If you do opt for wooden bathroom accessories, it is critical to check that they are made from genuine wood. This will mean that the product is wood through and through, rather than a non-sustainable imitation wood product.
You will need to carefully read the product description to determine if the accessories are made from genuine wood or an imitation wood finish. Bathroom accessories made from real, solid wood will often be stated as such. Imitation wood products are usually described as ‘wood-effect’.
To be extra sure that the product is sustainable, it is always good to look out for the FSC mark (Forest Stewardship Council). This certifies that the product is from sustainably forested wood.
Many bathroom accessories may appear to be wooden, but are actually ‘wood-effect‘. This means that the product structure is made from a non-environmentally friendly material (MDF or similar), and it is simply wrapped in a thin layer of material that looks like wood.
Sometimes this thin finishing layer is a real wood ‘veneer’, but the substrate that it is applied to, is generally a non-eco-friendly material such as MDF.
If you are shopping in-store, you can visually inspect the item to see if there are any obvious joints at the corners – This could indicate that the item has finishing layers, rather than being solid wood.
Other Bathroom Accessory Finish Options – Are They Sustainable?
While natural wood bathroom accessories are arguably the most eco-friendly option, steel accessories are also a reasonably sustainable choice. High-quality steel is incredibly durable, giving products an extremely long life span, and it is also highly recyclable.
The main principle here is to avoid plastic accessories at all costs, as plastic production is detrimental to the environment.
Second-Hand or DIY Wooden Bathroom Accessories
As always, I urge you to work with items you already have – This is, by far, the most sustainable choice you can make in the design process. Buying ‘pre-loved’ pieces is a close second.
Now, an online second-hand marketplace is not the place for buying a toilet-brush, that goes without saying. You can treat yourself to a new one of those when the need arises. 😁
But for items like shelving, storage units, or mirrors and the like, salvaged or vintage finds can really transform a bathroom and make it unique.
For the ultimate sustainable wooden bathroom accessories, source second-hand items from vintage shops or salvage yards – Or make your own!
JADE HAVEN INTERIORS
If you have any interest in DIY, these could also be created from some simple materials. DIY is not my forté, but I do highly recommend it as a very eco-friendly option! Creating wooden accessories yourself also allows you to finish the wood in eco-friendly, natural, and non-toxic waxes and oils (Try Biofa or AURO), a definite bonus.
Sometimes pre-loved or DIY is not an option, and a little ‘newness’ is needed. Hopefully, the information in this post will help guide you in making eco-conscious decisions in choosing stylish, natural, wooden accessories for your bathroom decor. 😊
For more ideas on how to decorate your home in an environmentally-friendly way, this article should help: 9 Eco-Friendly (and Stylish) Interior Design Tips for Your Home.
Or have a look at my Brand Directory for more recommendations on where and how to shop sustainably for your home!
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