Most bathrooms are private spaces, but even these bathrooms have outdated trends that need to be updated from time to time. Knowing outdated bathroom trends is more than just a matter of style.
Understanding modern versus outdated trends can help you avoid costly mistakes when planning your next bathroom renovation. Some trends, like subway tile, are overdone but timeless looks that are constantly reinvented, whereas others, like using multiple shower heads, will fade and never come back.
In this exploration, we will look at bathroom trends that you should avoid in order to create a fresh and vibrant bathroom design. There are a variety of new design ideas that demonstrate that beauty can be found even in small and private spaces.
Outdated Bathroom Trends
Bathroom style, like all other areas of interior design, is subject to the cyclical nature of design. One design rule that is particularly important in today’s design environment is to create a space that reflects your personality and lifestyle.
Large-Scale Wall and Floor Tiles
Nothing says builder’s grade tile quite as much as large-scale square and rectangular bathroom tiles. This look was a common tile in homes from the 1990s to today. They are still popular with mass construction because they are inexpensive as well as easy to install. While these tiles are certainly functional, they are not particularly interesting. They frequently come in drab colors, and their standard size creates a monotonous and uninteresting visual effect.
Today’s bathroom designers are opting for bolder and more unique bathroom tile options. Handmade, organic tiles like zellige tiles are an excellent option for modern bathrooms, as are printed ceramic tiles. For a unique bathroom tile look, think outside the box in terms of tile color and shape.
All-White Bathrooms
It is hard not to love fresh, white bathrooms that look bright, cheerful, and clean, but maintaining these spaces is another story. One reason the popularity of white bathrooms has faded is because everyone has one. People today want to differentiate their space and make it something that reflects their personality and style.
The trending colors in bathroom design tend to be more earthy and organic. Designers and homeowners want bolder, more colorful bathrooms. Natural colors like green, blue, and warm neutrals are all going to be popular options for bathrooms. You can still use white if you prefer a light and bright bathroom look. Choose a warm white and mix in other warm neutrals like beige and ecru. These coordinating colors will add depth to the design while also making it easier to maintain over time.
Standard Subway Tile
To be clear, subway tile is a timeless classic that will never go out of style, but the look of standard brick-boned subway tile is becoming dated due to overuse. Subway tiles have also served as a stylish but safe option for bathroom design for those who are overwhelmed with choices. Current trends show that people are more willing to take risks with their tile choices.
If you still like the look of subway tiles, you can use them to design a stylish bathroom. Look for subway tiles in vibrant colors like pale blue and bright green, or mix up the look with modern patterns such as vertical end-to-end layouts.
Frameless or Bulb-Surrounded Mirrors
Large and frameless builder’s grade mirrors might provide maximum visibility but almost no personality in a bathroom space. These mirror options, which are common in standard home builds, do not produce the custom or unique look that people desire today. These were similar to mirrors with exposed light bulbs. This style was popular in the 1980s but is no longer appropriate for anything other than mirrors for theatrical productions.
Instead, consider a round, rectangular mirror or set of mirrors with an interesting, decorative frame. Add lights to your mirror in the form of side sconces to bring illumination to the space. Add specialized task lighting, such as a magnified vanity light that you can pull out as needed.
Shower Curtains
Shower curtains have long been a staple of bathroom design, but they are often too fussy and problematic for modern bathroom style. They are a good way to add texture and color to a bathroom, but they and the liners are prone to mold and mildew growth and have a limited lifespan. They also visually close off the space, which can cause a bathroom to look and feel smaller.
Many bathroom designers today are using glass doors to enclose a shower or bathtub. This gives the bathroom a more open feel, and the glass doors are more durable and easier to clean than shower curtains.
Oversized Bathtubs
Freestanding soak bathtubs have overtaken the jacuzzi-style bathtubs of the 1990s. While the styles of these bathtubs vary widely, they are equally impractical in modern bathrooms. Soaking tubs are beautiful, but they are difficult to clean and take up a large amount of space. They also require greater water usage, which is at odds with the growing trend toward energy efficiency and sustainability.
Many bathroom designers are recommending a return to standard-size bathtubs. They are easier to maintain, and they can still be a focal point when surrounded by unique tile or wall paneling. These tubs are also easier for everyone to use, especially if you take frequent baths or have young children that you need to bathe.
Ultra Modern or Minimalist Design
Ultra modern and minimalist bathrooms are specific design styles that were popular due to their clean lines and unaffected style. However, many of the elements of these types of bathrooms, such as glossy tiles, monochromatic color schemes, and the use of industrial materials like glass and cool-toned metal, can be perceived as sterile and lacking personality. Modern and minimalist designs are also thought to lack distinct personalities.
The design trends today are aimed at giving bathrooms as much personality as the other rooms of the house. Bathroom designers today are incorporating more maximalist design principles, such as patterned wallpaper, bold colors, and warm metals, to enhance their bathroom designs. They are also incorporating earthy elements, such as natural textures and materials, to give modern bathrooms depth and layers.
Vessel Sinks
Vessel sinks—sinks that sit above the counter rather than recessed into it—were once a popular bathroom sink trend. The look, like many other trends, has suffered because of overuse. Despite their high usage, they are surprisingly impractical; they often splash because of misaligned faucets, and the high rim impedes easy usability.
More on-trend sink options include sinks made with luxurious materials like marble or another natural stone. Other options include mounted pedestal basins or carved sinks that add a custom and curated look to the bathroom.
Multiple Shower Heads
Multiple shower heads, once thought to be the sign of a luxurious bathroom design, now just appear impractical and wasteful. After all, how frequently did dual shower heads prove useful? They also represent increased water consumption, which contradicts the modern trend toward sustainability. Homeowners can still create a spa-like bathroom with just one shower head. Look for an option that includes multiple settings and features in a single design. Look for shower heads with rain-fall, massage, and steaming settings to create a relaxing shower experience.
Granite Countertops
Granite countertops were widely adopted throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Granite is still an excellent countertop material, but its appearance has become dated and lacks a distinctive personality.
Designers are exploring a range of countertop options to create the unique and organic bathroom styles that are popular today. Marble is still a popular countertop material, but designers are moving away from all-white Carrara surfaces and toward more colorful marble varieties. Other popular countertop choices include quartz, quartzite, soapstone, concrete, and even wood in select areas.
The post 10 Outdated Bathroom Trends That Everyone is Ready to See Go appeared first on Homedit.