19 Easy and Effortless Ideas How to Decorate a Tub Surround

Published: November 24, 2021

Updated: October 30, 2023

If you’re someone who loves to soak in hot bubbles at the end of a tiring day, a tub surround is just what you need for a relaxing moment. A tub surround is an area around your bathtub that’s usually lined with protective material. Ranging from tiles, ceramics, concrete, or even shiplap, a tub surround acts just like a backsplash, adding dimension and elevating your tub from boring to beautiful.

Your bathroom can benefit tremendously from décor upgrades around your bathtub. From simple organization solutions to cozy décor touches, you can make your surround into a visual statement. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to decorate your tub surround, check out these amazing ideas that’ll take your bathroom to new cozy heights.

01
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Subway Tiles and Festive Cheer

Photo: bridgewaydesigns

This cozy bathroom got a holiday-inspired makeover with flocked trees, scented candles, and Christmas hand towels. The bath surround of white subway tiles adds plenty of textures and matches the colors of the wooden shelf and the vanity. Relaxing bathroom goals!

02
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Play with Patterns

Photo: redbrickfauxfarmhouse

Stenciled tiles add unexpected drama to this stunning bathtub surround. Full of textures and patterns, these tiles are paired with lush greenery and cheeky wooden signs to create an attractive alcove. Scented candles, fresh florals, and luxurious bars of soap add to the relaxing vibes.

03
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Small yet Stylish

Photo: farmhouse2020

Small yet visually showstopping, this room shows how you can upgrade your tiny bathroom into a happy space. With space-saving additions like a floating vanity holding a vessel sink and wall faucets, this humble bathroom makes the most of its square footage. The small shelves around and across the bathtub hold bath time essentials, utilizing the space effectively without looking crowded.

04
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Lavender Twigs and Scented Candles

Photo: farmhouse_on_chestnut

Hexagonal tiles and shiplap walls endow this bathroom with a warm and cozy touch while a tiny wooden table holds hand towels and fresh blooms to contribute to the spa-like feel. The presence of lavender sprigs and scented candles around the claw-foot bathtub completes the look.

05
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Better with Blue

Photo: simple.joy.at.home

Cool colors like aqua blue instantly make you feel more relaxed, refreshed, and rested as they conjure up images of the sky and the sea. This frameless shower surround with cool blue tints looks calm, while hoop wreaths, planters, and scented candles add cozy touches, creating the dream bathtub to want to soak in after a long day.

06
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Pretty Runner

Photo: farmhousetofrills

Investing in a good runner for your bathroom is both pretty and functional. A runner adds colors and dimension while protecting your floor. In this charming bathroom, a wooden shelf perches across the freestanding bath holding bath essentials. The pop of colors from planters and hand towels add a burst of life in the neutral space.

07
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Floral Floors

Photo: forever.six.acres

Switching out your bathroom floor also changes the entire look of the room. Swap out plain tiles with floral ones to get a dramatic floor. This cozy bathroom gets beautiful textures from the floor that pop against the stark white tub, while a tiered vanity offers essential storage. The pop of green from the tiny planters adds a burst of life to this relaxing space.

08
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Dramatic Mood Lighting

Photo: greybirchdesigns

It’s hard not to notice the brilliant light fixture over the bathtub that adds a bit of color and contrast to the monochrome space. The glass shower surround complements the tiled wall and gives the room a clean look. The use of neutral colors and minimal accessories makes the room look brighter and bigger.

09
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Muted Colors and Fall Touches

Photo: heartofwendy

Decking up your vanity with seasonal touches and cozy bath essentials is a great way to elevate your standalone bathtub. In this fall-inspired bathroom, pumpkins in soft shades of blue, white candle holders, and a lush wreath pop out against light grey walls and flooring. Incoming natural light and muted tones in the room make this bathtub the perfect spot to relax.

10
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Dreamy and Dashing

Photo: bloom_jennybrooks

If you own a freestanding bathtub, elevate its dreamy appeal with bunches of fresh blooms and lovely hand towels. Hang some botanical prints on the surrounding wall and top it all off with a stunning chandelier. Adding dreamy touches like these will boost the relaxing ambiance of your spa-like bathroom.

11
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Add a Coastal Touch

Photo: gallagherboyfarm

This freestanding bathtub looks serene and pristine against the herringbone wooden floor. With beachy touches like cool blue towels, a sand-colored rug, and tropical leaves in a vase, this cozy bathroom flaunts coastal vibes. The built-in shelves offer excellent storage space while the beady chandelier adds a luxe touch to this Zen-like space.

12
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Farmhouse Fresh

Photo: galvanized_chic_boutique

A bath surround of shiplap on both the walls and ceiling is the perfect way to add farmhouse flair to your bathroom. A sprinkle of greenery and fresh florals around the bathtub add some life while wooden touches from shelves or flooring warm up the space.

13
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Olive Tree and Tile Surround

Photo: greeneacresfarmhouse

If you own a freestanding tub, you can put it in an unused corner of the bathroom. It’s a good idea to use your tiled walls as a tub surround as their textures lend beauty to the space. Put a big olive tree or another mid-sized plant on the corner to add a pop of greenery and decorate the wall shelves with signs and other bath essentials to enhance the cozy factor.

14
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Pristine and Perfect

Photo: hamptonstyle_countryhome

With black accents and a generous dose of florals, this bathroom looks pristine and sophisticated. The black stools hold a bouquet of blooms, candles, and bath salts while a metal shelf stretching across the tub ensures your bath necessities are close by when you need them. The addition of an antique mirror on the wall makes the room look bigger and brighter.

15
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Use a Ladder as Shelves

Photo: homehydrangea

This gorgeous tub atop stylish hexagonal flooring finds the perfect rustic element in the leaning ladder. With its chippy texture and wide shelves, the ladder works perfectly with the rest of the bathroom. The elegant chandelier and the white vanity complement the beauty and relaxing aura of this bath space.

16
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Stylish Tile Backsplash Surround

Photo: lavenderbrookfarm

This soaker bathtub features a surround of elegant, high-end tiles that are also echoed in the rest of the room. The gorgeous chandelier and built-in shelves also add luxe touches. Flaunting a sophisticated, luxurious look, this bathtub has a stylish color scheme.

17
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Vintage Rug and Peachy Curtains

Photo: mybeautyrevival

Don’t shy away from adding feminine touches to your bathroom. In this charming bathroom, soft peach curtains and a red vintage rug steal the show with their warm and endearing presence. The claw-foot tub is gorgeous on its own, but it gets a burst of life from the little planter sitting on the chair. The floor faucet adds a unique and elegant touch.

18
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Cozy and Dreamy Bathroom

Photo: rainbootsandrenovations

Dreamy shiplap walls and a beady chandelier add to the coziness of this charming bathtub. The dual-styled floor with different geometric shapes and colors catches the eye and makes the space look bigger. The tiny stool holds an assortment of candles, hand towels, and succulents nearby.

19
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Neat with Neutrals

Photo: velveteenandgrace

This neutral bathroom strikes the perfect balance of perfect styling and a gorgeous color scheme. The tub surround décor of signs and a basket with flowers add a relaxing touch. The wooden cupboard and the stool offer adequate space to hold bath linens and essential goodies. This bathroom is the perfect blend of style and functionality.

Zakhar Ivanisov

Meet Zakhar Ivanisov, a Seattle-based entrepreneur and design enthusiast at the helm of Soul & Lane. With a heart full of passion, Zakhar blends his business acumen and a keen eye for aesthetics to create spaces that are as inviting as they are stylish. His venture into the world of home decor and organization reflects a unique fusion of entrepreneurial spirit and a genuine love for transforming living spaces.

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