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Bathroom Trends

From simple updates such as wall color and high-tech fixtures to large renovations to accommodate a luxurious soaking tub, area interior designers and builders take us through the bathroom trends that are all the rage right now and that will continue into the future.

By Editorial September 18, 2015 at 10:30 am

This private retreat is the place you start and end your day. Make it a space you want to be in by updating the bathroom with one, or all, of the nine trends that are big this year. From simple updates such as wall color and high-tech fixtures to large renovations to accommodate a luxurious soaking tub, area interior designers and builders take us through the bathroom trends that are all the rage right now and that will continue into the future.

By Emily Cook and Lynn Norusis

Stand-Alone Tubs
A few years ago homeowners were ripping out the tub/shower duo and installing large showers, nixing the tub altogether. While large showers are still a trend, especially steam showers, according to Suzan Meredith and Jennifer Mangum of Redecorate Today, now people want to soak again. The option of a freestanding tub is not only popular for its use but also as a piece of art in the bathroom. However, not all bathroom spaces are created equal, and the key is to make sure there is enough space: Meredith suggests a minimum of 4 feet by 3 feet to have the tub stand alone. –LN

1. Sunrise Specialty Piedmont Skirted Bath 68” length / $6,720; sunrisespecialty.com

2. Kohler Abrazo® 66” x 32” cast acrylic freestanding bath with center toe-tap drain / $8,660.70; us.kohler.com

3. Hydro Systems Lafayette 5.4 ft. Reversible Drain Solid Surface Claw Foot Slipper Tub / $3,846; homedepot.com

4. MTI Elise 2 Free Standing Tub, 63” x 32” x 20.625” / $5,521; qualitybath.com

Tiles
Mosaic tiles made with glass, metal and recycled material and tiles made from natural stone have gained traction this year in residential NoVA bathrooms. “I’m finding some really beautiful dimensional tiles on the market, things that actually have physical texture to them, which are really terrific as accents on backsplashes and walls behind vanities,“ says Shanon Munn, owner of Ambi Design Studio in McLean. Munn further advocates for tiles made to resemble natural materials such as wood, onyx and stone. “They’re getting better at being realistic because of the digital process that they’re using,” Munn says. “It used to be really obvious that something was very fake, and now they’re doing a much better job. That’s where I see tiles going—interesting textures, either physical or visual, in larger formats.” –EC

1. Golden Honey Ledger Panel 6”x24” Natural Quartzite Wall Tile; $5.99/ sq.ft.; homedepot.com

2. Graystone 2”x2” eco-friendly handmade recycled tile; $38/sq.ft.; fireclaytile.com

3. Sweet Georgia Brown 12”x36” porcelain “wood” tile; $7.44/sq.ft.; mosaictileco.com

Lighting
Lighting in bathrooms should blend into design, but that doesn’t mean they can’t stand out on their own. Look for fixtures that look modern but with a classic base, and layer lighting with both wall and ceiling options for the different tasks that happen in the space, says Warren Graves of Graves Design and Remodeling in Springfield. Redecorate Today’s Mangum and Meredith note that when looking at colors for lighting fixtures: Gold is coming back, “but that is a really forward-looking trend—about three or four years,” the duo says. And don’t worry if you don’t want to go full-in with the color; they also note that mixed metals are on-trend. –LN

1. Restoration Hardware Powell Sconce; $189; restorationhardware.com

2. West Elm Contour Single Sconce; $49; westelm.com

3. Hampton Bay Menlo Park 5-Light Brushed Nickel Chandelier; $157; homedepot.com

4. CB2 Concrete Wall Sconce; $79.95; cb2.com

Pocket Doors
Space is the biggest concern when planning any remodel. For the bathroom, according to Meredith and Mangum, clients are starting to move toward the use of pocket doors instead of the standard door, allowing for more wall space in the bathroom. “The layout is so important,” says Mangum, and the duo has seen that some people will start renovations without thinking about the layout properly. Pocket doors or sliding doors are a great way to find more space, not only for added wall space but also to eliminate the area taken up by the swing of the door. The one facet to think about when planning for this is that a pocket door will need 30-40 inches to account for it going into the wall. –LN

Grout
Grout isn’t something many focus on when designing the visual for their bathroom remodel, but this substance that holds together the beautiful tile chosen shouldn’t be overlooked. While most people go with the standard white or off-white, the trend now is to have the grout stand out and become a design element of its own. “The grout lines are personal preference, but for the subway tile style or [tile designs with] glass and rock, the grout really makes it stick out,” says Meredith. “Another way to really accentuate your grout line is to use the schluter strip instead of bullnose tile. It gives you a clean metal line.” –LN

Gray Tones
Be it on the walls or on your cabinets, go for gray. “I love a color called Pewter gray from Benjamin Moore, and there’s one called Nimbus [Gray], which is beautiful. There are some really good grays out on the market,” says Munn. “Gray can be cold, so you want a gray that has some warmth to it.” Julie Hendrickson with Kleppinger Design Group Inc. in Fairfax further suggests gray for bathroom vanities. “A more urban chic kind of contemporary frameless cabinet that might have a textured melamine is man-made, but it looks a lot like a piece of textured driftwood,” Hendrickson says. –EC

Custom Vanities
While custom vanities are still popular, the trend of a contemporary spa feel is leading the design trend for bathrooms this year, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Clean lines and open space are the focus, and the floating vanity is one way to achieve this look by replacing a bulky piece with a streamlined vanity that floats on the wall. Graves of Graves Design has been installing more floating vanities for local homeowners. “It’s not for everybody, but it is more popular than in the past,” he says. However, Meredith and Mangum caution those who desire a lot of storage space in the bathroom. “We’re still seeing a lot of them, but I think that trend is on its way out. There’s not enough storage, so it’s not very practical,” says Meredith. To get the contemporary look, Meredith and Mangum say there are options that have the block look with some storage underneath that is more practical. For a traditional look, the trend of converting old furniture into a vanity is still on point for many of the transitional designed homes in Northern Virginia. –LN

Eco-Friendly Materials
The eco-friendly consumer craze applies to bathrooms, too. Quick fixes include switching incandescent for LED light bulbs. “The range of LED lighting available today is so much more than it was a year ago. LEDs around 2700 come really close to replicating your incandescent bulb, but you’ll never have to change it,” says Hawthorn. Low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets and pedal-valve sinks not only contribute to a healthier home, but they also cut costs by reducing water and energy usage. Pedal-valve sinks use a step-pedal to activate water flow in lieu of a handle, eliminating the need to ever leave the water running. “My husband said when we redo the house, that’s the one thing [he wants] because when he shaves, he used to just leave the water on all the time … Now he can step on it and get water when he needs it,” Munn says. –EC

Fixtures
High-tech is making its way into the most private places of the home, and homeowners are on the lookout for products that will improve their lives for entertainment, pleasure and the environment. –LN