Bathroom Design Trends

 Change can be as good as a holiday. And what better time to indulge in this thought than the year 2021, where change is pretty much the only holiday that is safe and possible. The pandemic has indeed taught us the importance and luxury of having a home for ourselves. Each space in a house feels all the more personal and special now. A little change can spruce up any space, and bring freshness to the area. A bathroom is one of those places that can be truly relaxing and calming if designed and decorated the right way. So if you have been thinking about transforming your bathroom into something new, then you have come to the right place! We have compiled some truly inspiring design ideas for your bathroom that you didn’t know you needed. 

The Dark and Mysterious Matte Black

There is no denying that a rich touch of black elevates every design, and more so of a bathroom. The dark hue adds a tone of luxury and class to the bathroom interior. If you are new to this bathroom decor trend, then you might worry about balancing the right amount of black in the interiors. Fortunately, there are many easy and minute ways in which you can add black to your bathroom. You can start with smaller details like mirror frames, faucets, curtains, or go bold with black flooring, bathtubs, and toilet seats. It is very easy to balance out black with neutral colors, whites, and metals since the dark shade goes with just about everything.

Bring the Outside, Inside

The uplifting effects of nature on our senses are exemplary, so why not incorporate it in your bathroom as well? Adding a bit of foliage itself can add a tone of life into your bathroom. A good amount of plants can also improve the air quality of the bathroom, which is surely an added benefit. Another way to connect with nature within your own bathroom is by adding views and landscaping elements. Yes, we are talking large windows that look into lush green foliage! If you are somewhat skeptical about using soft scaping elements like plants inside your bathroom, then you can try experimenting with hardscaping elements like gravel and stone. A light stone bed can add interest to the otherwise monotonous bathroom flooring.

Earthy Tones with Wooden Elements

It is one of the bathroom design trends for 2021 that can be expected to stay forever! What is great is that with so many bathroom decor options available in wood, you can easily find the right fit for your bathroom. If you want to make slight changes to your bathroom, then you can easily incorporate elements like wooden framed mirrors, wooden shelves, trays, etc.

For a bolder intervention, one can even go for wood-clad walls, wooden vanities, etc. Wooden finishes add an earthy vibe to the bathroom interior and are naturally calming. This style can be coupled effectively with landscaping to have a fuller bathroom interior. Some creative ways to add wood into a bathroom interior can be by using blinds, shower mats, and bath accessories in timber.

Statement Bathtubs

Statement Bathtubs could be by far the easiest of the bathroom design trends 2021. A bathtub in itself can instantly elevate the look and feel of any bathroom. Standalone bathtubs are bold, beautiful, and everything that your bathroom needs. You can install a bathtub in a variety of materials to suit your taste or the rest of the bathroom decor. For example, ceramic, fiberglass, and acrylic are some common, luxurious finishes available for a bathtub. It is the bathroom essential where you need not necessarily shy away from traditional designs. A classic bathtub can add a touch of vintage to your decor and will be something that you enjoy for a long time, even as the trends come and go as they do.

Double vanities

Getting a double vanity might be the most functional trend to adapt from the sea of bathroom decor trends that are now available. Double vanities are a great timesaver, especially in the morning, as they allow both partners to get ready simultaneously. However, before you decide on getting a double vanity for your bathroom, do consider the amount of space that it will take up. For a small bathroom, a double vanity might not be the best idea. In a situation of lack of space, it will only add to the inconvenience. But if you can afford the space, then double vanity adds a lot of oomph to any bathroom decor.

Frameless Shower Frames

It is not just a trend; this is going to be the norm. Shower frames can add unnecessary congestion in bathroom decor, especially if they are small. A frameless shower partition will not only add class to your bathroom design but will also make it light, and look much more spacious. Its classy design makes any bathroom look instantly neater as well. If you are someone with a minimal taste, this little detail is definitely for you.

All of these trends to die for? These gorgeous bathroom design trends  have inspired you to renovate or design your new bathrooms.

Bathroom Ideas That Work

Bathroom layouts can be challenging, but a small bathroom can be particularly challenging. If your bathroom is short on space and you need some small bathroom ideas to make it work, then you have come to the right place.

1. Add Mirror Walls

As the small bathroom below shows, adding a mirror across a whole wall can double the look and feel of the room. This is particularly effective above a vanity or along one side of a narrow bathroom. Mirrors are also great for reflecting light, so you can get more lighting from your light fixtures or windows.

2. Wall Mounted Toilets

If you have space in the walls of your small bathroom to build-in a toilet tank, you can save both floor space and legroom with a wall mounted toilet. If you can’t wall mount the toilet, consider adding shelving above the tank for additional storage or extending your vanity top to create a narrow ledge.

3. Lose the Tub

Tubs take up twice the amount of floor space than showers. If you have the option to lose the tub, you’ll open up the space significantly. Showers are great for adults and guests, especially older ones. If you add a hand shower, showers are also excellent for getting pets clean too. However, if you have children and you need to keep the tub for bathing them, then consider a lower profile tub. The lower height makes getting in and out easier and it will make your room feel more open as well.

4. Frameless Glass Tub and Shower Panels

Let’s be honest, no one likes shower curtains. They stick to you when you’re showering and they are a pain to clean. Shower curtains also close off one-third of your room visually. To prevent this, swap out your shower curtain with a frameless glass panel instead. This will open up your bathroom significantly and allow more light into your shower or tub.

Glass panels are easy to install, maintain and are perfect for small bathrooms. They can be either fixed in place or hinged to swing. You can fold hinged glass panels inward when the shower is not in use as well. Avoid sliding glass panels, which require top and bottom tracks and are more difficult to clean.

5. Continual Flooring and Curbless Showers

Here is one of our favorite small bathroom design ideas – curbless showers. By eliminating the curb around your shower, your flooring can continue right into the shower. This works great with concrete, stone slab and tile floors. You can even incorporate a concealed or infinity-edge drain for a really seamless look. Plus curbless showers are easier to clean.

6. Small Sinks and Floating Vanities

As with wall mounted toilets, wall mounted sinks are an excellent way to save floor space and to make your small bathroom appear more open. If storage is key, try a wall-mounted floating vanity. Look for narrow washbasin designs and for the newer thin-edge sinks. The ceramic is just as strong as it is with a traditional sink and you’ll get a larger washbasin in less space.

7. Think Vertical – Add Cabinets and Open Shelving on The Walls

In small bathrooms, storage is often sacrificed. While there may not be available real estate on the floor, there is on the walls. Opt for recessed medicine cabinets with mirrored fronts above your sink.

Add shelving on the wall above the toilet, at the end of a tub or above the entry door or vanity mirror. Use narrow open shelves to keep the look light. Metal towel racks also work well. For cabinets, look for ones with glass fronts. Don’t forget the back of the door, it is a great place to add towel bars or robe hooks.

8. Pocket Doors

Beyond eliminating the tub, one of the biggest space-saving small bathrooms ideas you can consider is to switch from an in-swinging entry door to a pocket door. To install a pocket door you will have to open your wall to create the pocket. However, you can gain up to 9 square feet of usable space that you did not have before. You will have more flexibility when placing your fixtures as well. You can also look for surface-mounted sliding door hardware to create a modern sliding door or barn door look.

9. Combine Dark Floors with Lighter Walls

With small bathrooms, you want to be strategic with color. Dark walls will make an already tiny bathroom feel smaller. Bright colored walls will reflect more light and make your small bathroom feel larger. Reserve dark colors for the floor or keep the overall scheme light. If you have wood floors, look for shower tiles that match the wood in color and tone. This will create the illusion of a continuous floor and won’t draw your eye to the smallest part of the room.

10. Add an Accent Wall

We saved the best idea for last. Adding an accent wall is one of our favorite small bathroom ideas and it’s a great way to add some color. In a small bathroom, you will want to place the accent wall on the back wall. You can add color to the whole wall or just a band of color. This technique will give your room depth and interest without overwhelming it.

You can create an accent wall with paint or a fun colorful tile. If you want to add some pattern, then use it in the same way – either on the floor or to create an accent wall. Keep the rest of your walls simple and light in color to not dilute the effect.