What’s Next: 11 New Trends for the Bathroom

updated Oct 12, 2022

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In my line of work I look at a lot of bathrooms, and I love seeing what’s new, subtle (and not so subtle) shifts in the way designers approach this utilitarian space. If you’re thinking about remodeling, or just like to dream, here are eleven new ideas to consider for your bathroom.

(Image credit: Black Lacquer Design)

1. Hex tile.
These little bitty tiles with an old-school feel are gaining in popularity. (Larger hexagonal tiles are making a big splash too, as you’ll see in some of the other photos in this post.)

(Image credit: Desire to Inspire)

2. Open showers.
Showers that are open to the rest of the bathroom (or only separated by a single pane of glass) make for a minimal look and lots of design possibilities.

→ Set Your Shower Free! Open Shower Renovation Inspiration

(Image credit: My Paradissi)

3. Simple glass shower enclosures.
You can get the look even if you don’t have a separate shower: here, a single pane of glass protects the bathroom from splashes, without any of the visual clutter of a shower curtain or one of those sliding glass doors of old.

(Image credit: Lonny)

4. A tub in the shower.
Here’s an idea that originated in Japan but that we’re starting to see more and more of stateside: a single, glass-enclosed space for both bathing and showering.

→ Bathroom Trend: A Tub Inside The Shower

(Image credit: The Style Files)

5. Cement tile.
Patterned tiles (like the encaustic tile shown here) add a bit of color and an old-world feel to the bathroom.

(Image credit: Per Jansson)

6. Gold fixtures.
Gold fixtures (or brass or even rose gold) add a touch of glamour to a humble space.

→ Look We Love: Gold Fixtures in the Bathroom

(Image credit: No Glitter No Glory)

7. Black fixtures.
If gold is too showy (or too 80s) for your taste, try simple matte black.

→ Fresh Bathroom Decorating Ideas: Beautiful Black Fixtures

(Image credit: Blacksheep)

8. Dark grout.
Dark grout doesn’t show dirt as easily and makes tile (like the hex tiles pictured above) really stand out.

(Image credit: Nordic Design)

9. Black and white and gold.
This dramatic color combination is especially impactful in a small space, like the bathroom.

→ Black and White and Gold in the Bathroom

(Image credit: Royal Roulotte)

10. The evolution of the vanity.
Sink cabinets that look like furniture, rather than just cabinets, add style to the bathroom.

(Image credit: Canadian House & Home)

11. New bathrooms that look old.
Everything old is new again, especially classic styles like subway tile and clawfoot tubs.

→ The Classic Traditional Bathroom: 7 Ways to Get the Look

Re-edited from a post originally published 9.8.15-NT