Bath Trends Big and Small

There is no such thing as one-style-fits-all in bathroom design, but there are ever-emerging trends you can adapt and adopt to create your one-of-a-kind bathing sanctuary/spa.

A New Counter Culture
Marble and granite still reign as materials of choice for bathroom countertop, but quartz continues to make its mark.

Key points:
Quartz will be somewhat more expensive than other counter materials, but it’s very durable and stands up nicely to heavy use.

Color choices are bright and bold. If you are a bit bored with more traditional counter colors, you can liven things up with a countertop that’s bright red or vibrant green.

The Color of Clean
Shades of green from mint to sage to olive are appearing in more bathroom remodels. About 25% of designers in a recent survey identified green as the coming color trend for the bath.

Key points:
Green changes depending on its environment. The green hue you select will be enhanced and influenced by your choice of accompanying color - blue, dark gray or sand/beige.

You can play up the outdoor/nature mood by using natural materials and accents. Try a bamboo shower rod, window blinds or towel/laundry baskets.  Add live plants and flowers in window boxes or plant stands.

Taking a Shine to Nickel
Brushed nickel faucets still lead the pack, but more designers are selecting polished nickel, satin nickel or polished chrome finishes.

Key point:
Nickel is a great faucet choice because it’s a durable corrosion-resistant metal that can be used in virtually any kitchen style.

Vessels Find a Niche
The stylish vessel sink is a strong second choice for bathroom remodels, but their main use is as sink-of-choice in powder rooms. Under-mount styles dominate in master and second bathrooms.

Key points:
Vessel sinks make a dramatic addition to a powder room

The style is less popular in a regularly used bathroom since vessel sinks require constant cleaning around the bowl.

A Bathing Solution That’s All Wet

Walk-in showers are not only growing in popularity, they’re growing in dimension. Yes, the walk-in offers space-saving flexibility for smaller baths or second bathrooms. But, the concept of the “wet room” or barrier-free walk-in shower room is steadily moving from its European beginnings into American homes. This new wrinkle in high-end modern design often features glass screens to keep sink and commode areas dry.

Key points:

Stylish and spacious; a wet room opens up the space.

Accessible and potentially safer for people of all ages and mobility levels.

Can incorporate such “spa” features as massaging water jets.

May not be ideal if more privacy is required or in households where bathroom time is scheduled.

As with other areas of home design, new trends and choices are making bathroom remodeling more relevant to individual household needs and preferences.