Photography: Pablo Veiga
What makes a ‘good bathroom’? For some, it’s a sanctuary to soak in, while others prefer a purely practical space. Bathroom renovation ideas often focus on the latter but with a little touch of luxury, form and function can work together. Whichever side you fall on, this round-up of our favourite luxury bathroom trends has the inspiration and designer know-how you need to make your dream bathroom a reality.
New bathroom trends and design ideas are constantly emerging in homes – whether gathered from design competitions, commercial spaces or reality renovation shows, there’s always something on the boil to inspire new bathroom decorating ideas.
Always part of the brief, however, is to create a beautiful space that is at once relaxing and functional, with extra points awarded for clever design ideas that combine the two. From lighting to tiling though decorating and design details, we show you some serious bathroom inspiration with styles and designs you can add to your own bathroom wishlist.
In this article
Luxury bathroom trend #1: Double shower niches
Many ensuite bathrooms need to cater to two people and as such, double fixtures are a common feature. This is usually seen in double vanities but interior designer Becc Burgmann carried this concept through to another area in this bathroom. “We have two niches, not just the standard one,” she explains. Double niches are trending and it makes sense – if couples can avoid an argument over bench space while also introducing a touch more symmetry into the space, why wouldn’t they?
Other luxury bathroom trends that Becc has included, to gorgeous effect, include parquetry flooring and custom tapware in a brass finish. “Tapware that patinas is popular at the moment,” she adds.
This brass finish appears not just on the tapware, but also on the vanity hardware and as the frame on the two arched mirrors positioned above the dual basins. The result is elegance and satisfying symmetry. “Psychologically, people are increasingly wanting to ‘slow down, rest, take more time to sit’, without understanding that this classic style encourages just that, and without realising ‘why or how’ this style makes us feel this way,” Becc explains. “Literally, symmetry, depth, detail… that’s the secret.”
Luxury bathroom trend #2: Sage green and earthy tones
Green is trending as the “new neutral” throughout homes, and bathrooms are no exception.
“Current bathroom trends are moving towards warmer, more character-driven spaces that feel connected to the home rather than purely functional,” says Jessica Halvorsen of Halvorsen Interiors, the designer behind this country-style beauty. “Clients are also becoming far more open to exploring colour in bathrooms, moving away from all-white schemes in favour of softer greens, earthy tones and layered finishes that create warmth and personality.”
In this ensuite bathroom, the hero colour of green reflects the leafy, peaceful surrounds of the home. The louvred vanity is finished in Resene Gecko, reflecting the owners’ desire for warm, soothing colour. It echoes the sage green wall tiles, which bring another calming connection to the outdoors.
Luxury bathroom trend #3: Natural stone with bold veining
Natural stone will never go out of style, and for good reason. This material is quintessential luxury: high maintenance, high cost and yet oh-so worth it for the dramatic impact it makes to your space. Alexandra Mason of Studio Aem designed this ensuite in a new build, carrying the statement stone of Rosso Levanto marble from BC Stone across the space, thus creating a motif from the material. “Premium and strong veined stones and slabs are still featuring heavily” in bathroom trend lists, Alexandra explains.
Here, she repeated the rich burgundy marble across the vanity benchtop, wall niches (one in the shower, one positioned above the sculptural freestanding bath tub), open shelving and shower bench. This stone has a warmth to it that also fits in with current bathroom trends. “The trends are still leaning towards warmer palettes with warm undertones that have a feeling of enveloping – a sense of encapsulation in the spaces,” adds Alexandra.
Luxury bathroom trend #4: The “anti-trend”
Sometimes bucking the trend is totally aligned with current design movements. “What I’m seeing more broadly is that “trends” are almost starting to contradict themselves, people are moving away from highly trend-driven spaces and instead investing in designs that feel timeless and enduring,” says Jess Hunter of Jess Hunter Interior Design. “There’s a real focus on creating spaces with longevity through natural materials, strong architectural detailing and layered textures that won’t date quickly.”
And those ideas are exactly what underpin this ensuite, which Jess designed. She balanced privacy and openness, as well as contrasting textures, for a luxurious result. The bold steel door with custom Steela glazing contrasts against the handmade ‘Thin Bejmat’ tiles in Dust by Tiles of Ezra, creating depth within the clean and contemporary space.
Luxury bathroom trend #5: Colour drenching
Colour drenching has been sweeping through our homes for awhile now, so it was only a matter of time before this colourful style appeared in bathrooms. Kate Moss, creative co-director and founder of This Vacant Space, used Dulux Creativo Microcement in a custom hue across the floor and walls of this ensuite bathroom.
While it’s a small bathroom, it makes a serious style statement thanks to this enveloping pink hue. The feminine tone suits the soft edges seem elsewhere in the bathroom, creating a feeling of warmth that fits right in with other luxury bathroom trends.
As Kate explains, “There’s also a shift towards making bathrooms feel less like cold utility spaces and more like an extension of the rest of the home. This was achieved here through finishes such as microcement walls, textures in the soft roman blinds and natural stone. More decorative elements, such as opting for a feature mirror rather than a standard off the shelf mirrored cabinet, help remove that ‘showroom’ look.”
Luxury bathroom trend #6: Skinny shaker joinery profiles
Colour drenching continues to reign supreme in this ensuite by Kate Cooper Interiors but it’s not the only luxury bathroom trend showcased in this space.
Skinny shaker profiles on joinery are a contemporary take on a classic look. Shaker-style joinery is truly timeless, thanks to its ability to suit many interior styles. This slim-lined, sleek version provides a more modern elegance, with the frame in this style generally ranging between 6mm-20mm wide.
While the joinery is finished in a warm neutral tone, the rest of the bathroom is a play on colour drenching. “People are exploring more colour in spaces in general,” explains Kate. “It’s a spin on colour drenching, which is also quite popular at the moment.”
Instead of finishing the walls, floor and ceiling in the exact shade, there are variations in tones, from the checkered floor tiles to the large wall tiles and the ceiling, finished in Dulux Turkish Bath.
Luxury bathroom trend #7: Hotel bathroom style
Have you ever stayed at a hotel and wished you could bring all the indulgent luxury home with you? Whether it’s swathes of marble, a generous bathtub, or high-end tapware, hotel bathrooms evoke that sanctuary feeling. As it turns out, we’re all looking for a piece of that accomodation escapism because creating a luxury hotel vibe at home is oh-so popular right now.
Louise Spicer of One Four Interiors created this showstopping ensuite when the owners requested a space with a sense of hotel luxe, that would pamper the senses. “Hotel design-inspired bathrooms are a client request we’re hearing more,” she revealed, adding that this one took influence from the flamboyant Kit Kempt hotels in the UK. The shower and WC are discreetly tucked behind fluted glass doors, while the double vanities create a perfect mirror image.
Luxury bathroom trend #8: Tonal schemes
Similar to colour drenching, a tonal scheme champions a single colour. However, where colour drenching often utilises this colour in one bold form, a tonal scheme will incorporate it in varying shades. This is another trend that Louise Spicer of One Four Interiors has noticed lately. “The room has an ethereal, floating feeling,” she says, which is all thanks to a mature use of pink.
“The material palette remained within similar tonal shades for subtle contrast,” Louise explained. “The overall colour saturation within the rooms aimed to provide spaces where you feel wrapped and nurtured within.” Pink Patagonia marble, sourced by the builder, is used on the vanity, on open shelves and also in the steam room seat. Microcement walls, finished in Porter’s Paints Nude, provide a softer approach to pink.
Bonus luxury bathroom trends
| Bonus bathroom trends | How to get the look |
|---|---|
| Penny rounds | Alexandra of Studio Aem used them here to mark a “subtle shift in materiality” while Louise of One Four Interiors says they add to the undulating patterns throughout her green ensuite. |
| Steam rooms | Bring the bath house and spa to your own home with the help of an interior designer. Louise of One Four Interiors and Alexandra of Studio Aem incorporated indulgent steam rooms in their projects. |
| Warm materiality | Warm palettes are all the rage, as people move away from spaces that feel stark. Shades of pink achieve this in bathrooms by This Vacant Space, Onefour Interiors and Kate Cooper Interiors, while Jess Hunter Interior Design, Studio Aem and Becc Burgmann opted for timber joinery and brass hardware. |
| A sense of character | Gone are the days when bathrooms felt impersonal and even clinical. Every bathroom in this round-up enjoys a sense of personalisation, character and bespoke detailing that suits the owners specifically. |
| Moroccan Bejmat tiles | Take inspiration from handmade Moroccan tiles. These glossy tiles have subtle variations that bring a sense of movement and texture. This style appears in bathrooms by Becc Burgmann, Studio Aem, Jess Hunter Interior Design, Halvorsen Interiors. |
| Bold colour | Many of the bathrooms in this round-up utilise a bold and enveloping use of colour. Pink and green are particularly popular, seen in bathrooms by Onefour Interiors, This Vacant Space, Halvorsen Interiors and Kate Cooper Interiors. |
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