10 Best Bathroom Remodeling Trends
Matt Muenster, a licensed contractor and host of DIY Network's Bath Crashers and Bathtastic!, shares his list of the 10 best bathroom remodeling trends.
Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these links.
May 18, 2015
1. Mediterranean-Inspired Design
Glitz meets Old-World style in these tiles inspired by ancient Mediterranean countries like Spain, Morocco and Portugal. The look elegantly combines the charm of hand-painted terra cotta with modern metallics.
1. Mediterranean-Inspired Design
Mosaic tile can add a rich look to your space. You don't need a lot to make a big statement. Try it as an accent in the shower or tub area, or as a backsplash in a half bath.
1. Mediterranean-Inspired Design
Old meets new in a fun way when classic arabesque patterns are mixed with retro 1970s colors.
2. Smart Storage
Practical storage will never go out of style. Whenever possible, take advantage of vertical space and take your cabinetry up the wall.
2. Smart Storage
If built-in cabinetry isn't an option, incorporate an interesting or antique piece of furniture.
2. Smart Storage
Open shelving is still a popular trend that can also be quite practical in the bathroom.
3. Classic Whites
Like denim jeans or a fisherman’s knit sweater, old-school white subway tile never goes out of style.
3. Classic Whites
White subway tile can be paired with most any look. Make it the base for casual industrial style or dress it up with traditional-style furniture and fixtures for timeless look.
3. Classic Whites
White subway is best used with a dark color grout like gray or black. Especially in the bathroom because it is less likely to get stained with mold and soap residue.
4. Ease of Use
No-threshold showers along with comfort-height toilets, vanities and side-mount faucets are gaining in popularity for very practical reasons. Curbless showers are easier to clean, they make your bathroom look bigger, and they help homeowners to age in place.
4. Ease of Use
Many homeowners are tearing out built-in bathtubs to create a combination bathtub/shower wet room. Ease of accessibility or being ADA-compliant can increase a home's resale value because you're offering potential buyers more options, plus the design aesthetic can look really cool.
From:
Company KD
4. Ease of Use
Floating vanities are a big part of the ease-of-use trend because their height can be easily be customized. Plus, floating vanities can look more like a stylish piece of art or custom furniture.
5. Three-Dimensional Tile
Monochromatic but inviting to touch, these Hollywood-regency-inspired tiles lend an air of high-style but with a little nod to 1970s funk. Find more design ideas from the hit show I Hate My Bath.
5. Three-Dimensional Tile
Make a statement with fun patterns. These intertwining circles are a groovy combination of 1960s pop art and elegant art deco.
5. Three-Dimensional Tile
Three-dimensional tiles come in organic waves as well as symmetrical patterns.
6. Media and Music
Whether it's for relaxation or for practical reasons, bringing electronics into the bathroom is becoming more commonplace. Wireless speakers, Bluetooth devices and docking stations are being incorporated into bathroom mirrors, showerheads and vanities. Kohler has taken multitasking to a new level with its all-in-one showerhead and speaker combo.
6. Media and Music
Double the relaxation by binge-watching your favorite show while soaking in a warm bath.
6. Media and Music
A strategically placed TV can get you caught up with the latest news and weather while getting ready for your day.
7. In-Floor Heat and Towel Warmers
Sometimes luxury can come in the form of a little extra-added warmth. Warm toes and a warm towel can make all the difference on a cold winter's morning. Radiant floor heat is energy efficient because the heat is touching your body, warming you from the bottom up.
7. In-Floor Heat and Towel Warmers
There are two types of radiant flooring, electric and hydronic (water). Electric mats are easier and less expensive to install because you don't need a separate system to run the heat, they can run off your home's electrical system. Hydronic systems need a separate power source, like a heat pump to run the water through the pipes. A hydronic system is more expensive to install, but in the long run, it is more affordable to operate.
Either way, radiant floor heat works best with natural stone and tile because their thermal properties hold the heat better.
7. In-Floor Heat and Towel Warmers
If you can't swing the price of a new heating system. A towel warmer can provide warmth and comfort starting at around $100.
8. Deluxe Showers
According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), showers are becoming far more popular than tubs. So accordingly, high-tech spa-like body sprays, water jets and showerheads are becoming more commonplace. Find more design ideas from the hit show I Hate My Bath.
8. Deluxe Showers
Fully enclosed steam showers with multiple showerheads are a luxury that is becoming more conventional in new homes and remodeled master bathrooms.
8. Deluxe Showers
It's nice to have a place to sit and enjoy your Zen-like walk-in shower, thus built-in and portable benches are an extra-added luxury that doesn't have to break the budget.
9. A Bold Mix of Lighting
A bathroom is the perfect place to get a little daring in your design choices. Try a set of unusual sconces, an ornate chandelier or a set of funky pendants.
9. A Bold Mix of Lighting
This bathroom uses up-light and low lights to illuminate the vanity. Table lamps aren’t often thought of for the bathroom, but why not give it a try. You can always move them back into the living room if they don't work.
9. A Bold Mix of Lighting
A variety of lighting offers practical and decorative advantages. This vanity unit is outfitted with overhead puck lights and a pair of sconces around the mirror to help you get ready in the morning. While the crystal ceiling fixture offers a touch of opulence and style.
10. Fire Features
If you've got the budget, you won’t regret implementing this trend into your bathroom remodel.
10. Fire Features
Ventless fire features make it easy and less expensive to add warmth to your new bathroom.
10. Fire Features
Not only will you add romance and luxury to your master suite, a fireplace will help increase your home's resale value.
11. Upcoming Trend: Pet-Friendly Bathrooms
The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) also reports that pet washing zones and built-in kitty litter boxes are on the increase in bathroom remodels.
An extra handheld, waist-high spray allows you to give Fido a quick scrubbing instead of going to the groomers or using the garden hose.
