Bathroom trends for 2024 reflect a growing focus on wellness at home. Homeowners want tranquil, personal spaces with hotel-inspired design and spa-like features where they can retreat and recharge.
Minimalism
Clutter is known to create chaos, visually and mentally, so a minimalist aesthetic is appropriate for a soothing space, such as a primary bathroom.
Popular with homeowners are “double vanities with ample counter space and extra storage,” so that clutter is concealed, says Robert Turner, vice president and director of residential properties of Allen & Rocks, Inc.
Leaning towards subtle décor that adds nuance rather than overwhelms the eye, homeowners are making mindful choices that create impact without occupying space.
Popular are Scandi and Japandi styles, both of which center on simplicity and embrace neutrals, warm woods and clean lines, and are commonly what you’ll see at a day spa.
Bigger is better
Homeowners are forgoing a compact footprint in the primary bathroom, and are willing to take space from adjacent areas to accomplish this, including the primary bedroom, closet space, hallways or spare bedrooms.
This makes way for a larger bathroom, with dedicated zones for dressing, bathing and luxuriating in style.
Ideally, having both a shower and a tub is desirable. An oversize, stand-alone shower with a freestanding soaker tub that serves as a stylish focal point is the most sought-after design.
Soothing color and materials
The biophilic trend where design elements are chosen to replicate the calming experience of being immersed in nature continues to be popular, especially in bathrooms, where serenity is the goal.
“Colors, especially in the primary suite, are now more spa-like with people gravitating toward calm colors like greens, blues, and warm neutrals to evoke an elevated experience. Botanicals are also trending in bathroom spaces,” says Karen Baugher, marketing manager with Brookfield Residential.
Natural materials are also prominent with décor and accents, with wood, stone, pebbles, rattan and bamboo.
Upgraded shower experiences
Homeowners are choosing “larger showers (more than the typical footprint of a tub) with a built-in bench,” says Turner.
Showers are often frameless, doorless or curbless to enhance sightlines.
Walk-in steam showers are popular, as they mimic a sauna experience, offering similar health and wellness benefits.
Homeowners are also upgrading shower fixtures, choosing rainfall showerheads, body jets and dual showerheads.
Hotel-style design
If the bathroom serves as a daily gateway to get away, it only makes sense that homeowners are being inspired by fine hotels.
Hotel bathrooms, even those with a tighter footprint, play on perception through design. Flow is intentional and balanced with a proportional design between toilet, vanity, bath and/or shower, contrived to create calm through a heightened sense of space.
For a hotel feel, homeowners opt for higher-end materials, such as marble and natural stone and upgraded, classic fixtures.
Fully-tiled walls, a selection of luxurious bath amenities on display and crisply folded linens also add a hotel vibe.
Seeking sustainability
Homeowners prioritize sustainability, but the bathroom presents a bit of a dilemma. Many wish list features require a substantial amount of water or extra power to run.
In order to balance dual priorities, homeowners are looking for sustainable options to offset indulgent choices, such as filling a deep soaker tub, or running a steam shower (steam showers don’t use a lot of water, but they do draw a lot of electricity).
“The overall theme is to create a space that is spa-like and aesthetically pleasing, while also being environmentally responsible and reducing water consumption,” says Baugher.
“In terms of sustainability, the bathroom features we include in our homes are water-saving faucets and showerheads, along with LED lighting,” she says.
Other trending, sustainable choices include low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, recycled materials, such as tile and reclaimed wood, smart tech that precisely heats water to reduce waste and low-water use toilets.
Mood lighting
Light has a unique, important role in a bathroom and homeowners are strategizing with lighting solutions that create calm, while adding to the décor.
Where possible, large windows that frame outdoor views and fuse an indoor/outdoor connection, while ushering in natural light are desirable.
When adding artificial light, a dimmer capability lets you switch functions easily, creating softer light for bathing, or stronger direct light for makeup, dressing or shaving.
Mirrors play a role in lighting, in that they attract and disperse the light to create a sense of space, and are a sought-after accent, particularly custom mirrors over a vanity or makeup station, or rounded mirrors with metallic accents.
Luxury textiles
A bathroom tends to be filled with hard surfaces, so introducing softer, tactile elements adds to the spa-like experience.
Homeowners are splurging on high-quality, fluffy towels, waffle-weave robes and cozy mats underfoot for maximum comfort.
Scents in the shower
A spa experience should be multi-sensory, with soothing, but subtle scents playing a major role.
While scented candles do the trick, they are messy and sometimes overwhelming.
Aromatherapy showers diffuse essential oils while bathing, including lavender, eucalyptus, pine, citrus, sandalwood and various blends, curated to create a sensory experience that is residue free.
Scent level can be customized by adjusting the flow rate of the diffuser.
The water closet
Although prioritized as a personal space, a bathroom is most functional if multiple people can use it at the same time, especially when getting ready in the morning. Having a bigger bathroom allows for the room, but doesn’t necessarily support the functionality.
Placing the toilet in a separate water closet affords privacy. It also is a design trick that supports the overall spa aesthetic, where the focal point is on the luxurious items, such as the shower, tub or vanity.
Heated everything
Radiant-heat floors have been an indulgent and energy-efficient bathroom feature for some time, but homeowners are spreading the warmth.
From heated shower walls, to heated in-shower benches, to heated towel racks and towel warmers, it’s all about comfort.
