How do you make a small, windowless, dark bathroom feel as chic and stylized as the rest of your home? For most of us, it's a space we'd rather close the door on and forget about entirely.
But Drew Michael Scott, A.K.A. Lone Fox, has just proved that the boldest design decisions will bring a windowless bathroom to life, and make it the chicest room in your home. And honestly? There's a lot about his design that you'll want to recreate.
We've talked a lot about how a bold powder room is the most coveted feature, and Drew has only further confirmed it with his newly revamped space. And there's so much to love about the design, from the not-quite color-drenched scheme to the unexpected ceiling and the DIY rope design. Here's a closer look at the space.
If there's anything we can all learn from color trends this year, it's that the idea of trying to make the tiniest spaces in our homes feel bigger is a wasted opportunity to create something truly special.
It's the jewel box theory – rather than trying to escape small proportions, you should embrace them and lean into the natural darkness and compact layout. And that's exactly what Drew, better known as Lone Fox, has achieved with his latest project, where color has become the true star of the show.
The Color
'I decided to dive in the other day and paint my bathroom this stunning, bold color here. This is called Rumors by Behr Paints, and I think it looks so good on the walls,' he explains in the video.
This deep red hue, which was actually Behr's Color of the Year last year, wraps the small space in warmth and drama. It exaggerates the coziness of the room, creating a real design moment that just cannot be achieved with lighter colors. And while the obvious choice would be to color drench the bathroom, he's gone for something a little bit different.
'I decided to paint the ceiling [with] Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball. It made it feel like there was a window in the room, and the walls were bouncing off onto the ceiling, kind of giving it this pinkish tone, because sadly, this is a windowless bathroom,' he notes.
And it's such an impactful choice. Using this lighter color (but not white, and still warm) on the ceiling gives this illusion of a skylight above, creating a sense of brightness that instantly tricks the eye. It's also worth noting that he has avoided ultra-matte paint finishes, which is key to this light-bouncing look.
To add interest to the room, he decided to keep the black and white mosaic tiles on the bathroom floor, which adds a vintage nod and a touch of texture to the space. It's a subtle feature, but anything more could easily overwhelm the small space.
The DIY
It's not just the bathroom flooring that has been used to bring in texture – he also included one of his playful DIY moments here, too.
Instead of leaving the two pipe poles white, which would have really stood out like a sore thumb against the moody red walls, he decided to wrap them in rope to create a warmer, more textural look.
'I just added a little hot glue to the bottom and started wrapping it with rope. There really is no rhyme or reason to this; you're just going to keep going and going and going until it is fully wrapped with rope,' he explains.
The Decorative Details
And he's added some charming vintage details that really tie everything together. 'I also hung up this little cabinet that I've had for years and just have never put it anywhere, and a couple of pieces of art,' he adds, explaining how he got smart with toilet paper storage and added a touch of personality.
He's brilliantly blurred the lines between traditional style and playful design in this project. The wooden bathroom vanity topped with a marble countertop, paired with the silver mirror and brass lighting, adds a classic touch, while the oversized plant, rope detail, and bold color choices feel more playful.
'Super quickly and easily, I transformed my simple little bathroom into this, which I think looks so bold. Honestly, the color choice was so, so good. I love the rope accents and all the little details.'
Shop the Look
The brass details in Drew's bathroom pair beautifully with the rich red hue on the walls. Take inspiration from his chosen wall lights with this classic sconce. The brass feels utterly timeless, while the white shade adds a softer finish.
You can't go wrong with a wooden bathroom vanity – it's a material that's always in style and pairs with practically any color scheme. This design feels very similar to the one Drew chose, and adds a touch of luxury with the marble top.
If this bathroom proved anything, it's that mixing metals is more than okay. This beveled-edge silver mirror comes in three sizes, and when paired with brass finishes, creates a wonderful contrast. Drew's design is all the proof you need!
This toilet paper holder might be slightly more vintage-inspired than the simplistic design in Drew's bathroom, but it adds the same effect. The aged finish paired with the cover detail adds a really traditional feel, as well as being totally practical.
Even the smallest details matter, especially when you're decorating a compact bathroom like Drew's. He opted for a bronze soap dispenser on his vanity, and you can recreate the look with this understated design from Home Depot.
The vintage wall cupboard is a charming detail in Drew's design, bringing in practical storage in a stylish way. For a similar look, Etsy has some characterful options, including this Primitive Wood Cabinet with a rotating latch detail.
Fancy recreating his DIY rope feature? Drew has proved just how easy yet effective rope can be, even in the most unexpected places. This sisal rope is a great option for that warm, natural texture – plus, there are 50ft of rope here to play with!
Bathroom art is the perfect finishing touch here, and Drew has gone for some striking pieces. The portrait really stands out, adding an antique feel – this is a super similar design, which comes in 12" x 16" and is currently in the Black Friday sale.
If you're currently considering a slightly larger bathroom refresh, mosaic tiles are a great choice for your bathroom flooring. This black and white hexagonal design is a chic option – it's so timeless, pairing well in bathrooms of every style.
From the bathroom colors to the charming decorative details, this design proves that a windowless bathroom needn't hold back your scheme. You can go bold with your wall paint in a small space – Drew's choice to lift the room with the subtle pink ceiling paint proves that the right combinations can instantly elevate even the most compact room.
