10 Trends in New Bathroom Design Products Hot Off the USA Press
Find out what’s new in bathroom sinks, showers, tapware and more from the latest offerings timed to the KBIS trade show
Though the all-virtual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show and International Builders’ Show in the USA were shut down early due to technical problems, event exhibitors pushed onward with their new product announcements. Houzz looked at many of those new products and spoke to top exhibitors to find out what’s coming to bathroom design in 2021. Here are 10 bathroom design trends you can expect to see more of soon.
Hastings Tile & Bath launched this stylish 150-centimetre slipper tub called Chelsea.
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Find, network and connect with other designers and building professionals on Houzz
2. Colours
While white remains the most popular bathtub finish, we saw several new bold colours making a splash. Victoria + Albert debuted a collaboration with Wallpaper* magazine of curated palettes that let designers and homeowners create coordinated colour schemes between bathtub and sink selections.
Dune Retreat, shown here, pairs muted, sandy colours. The tub also comes in a new 150-centimetre version. Other curated palettes include Wavelengths, which contains mostly calm blues, and Light Industrielle, which has bold yellows and turquoises.
While white remains the most popular bathtub finish, we saw several new bold colours making a splash. Victoria + Albert debuted a collaboration with Wallpaper* magazine of curated palettes that let designers and homeowners create coordinated colour schemes between bathtub and sink selections.
Dune Retreat, shown here, pairs muted, sandy colours. The tub also comes in a new 150-centimetre version. Other curated palettes include Wavelengths, which contains mostly calm blues, and Light Industrielle, which has bold yellows and turquoises.
3. Feature jets
We saw many pampering bathroom features highlighted this year, which we discuss in more detail below, but Toto’s new Zero Dimension bathtub certainly stood out. Product designers from Toto studied the ergonomic position of astronauts in space to come up with a tub design that mimics the feeling of weightlessness. The design allows you to rest your head on a pillow, which cascades water onto your shoulders, and position your feet and legs slightly up. Jets massage the back and legs.
We saw many pampering bathroom features highlighted this year, which we discuss in more detail below, but Toto’s new Zero Dimension bathtub certainly stood out. Product designers from Toto studied the ergonomic position of astronauts in space to come up with a tub design that mimics the feeling of weightlessness. The design allows you to rest your head on a pillow, which cascades water onto your shoulders, and position your feet and legs slightly up. Jets massage the back and legs.
Tapware
4. Two-texture finishes
Like we saw with trends in kitchen tapware, many new bathroom taps feature the juxtaposition of smooth and rough or uneven finishes.
Riobel’s new Reflet collection, shown here, features a wavy finish that mimics water on the underside of the spout and on top of the lever handles, while the remaining areas of the tapware are smooth. The undulating surface catches light (‘reflet’ is French for ‘reflection’), creating a dynamic surface. The collection will contain tapware, tub fillers, shower components and bath accessories in four finishes: chrome, brushed nickel, brushed chrome and brushed gold, shown here. It will be available in the USA in autumn.
4. Two-texture finishes
Like we saw with trends in kitchen tapware, many new bathroom taps feature the juxtaposition of smooth and rough or uneven finishes.
Riobel’s new Reflet collection, shown here, features a wavy finish that mimics water on the underside of the spout and on top of the lever handles, while the remaining areas of the tapware are smooth. The undulating surface catches light (‘reflet’ is French for ‘reflection’), creating a dynamic surface. The collection will contain tapware, tub fillers, shower components and bath accessories in four finishes: chrome, brushed nickel, brushed chrome and brushed gold, shown here. It will be available in the USA in autumn.
The new Tenerife line by Rohl features textured crosshatching on the handles and faucet base. The collection will also contain faucets, tub fillers, shower components and bath accessories in five finishes: polished chrome, polished nickel, satin nickel, matt black and antique gold, shown here. Again, it will be available in the USA in autumn.
The new 1920s-inspired Central Park West collection from Kallista by Kohler features handles and nozzles with subtle fluting. An ‘H’ and ‘C’ are engraved on the handle bases to denote hot and cold.
Engineered Surfaces
6. Thin slabs
As we’ve mentioned in previous trends coverage, many engineered-surface manufacturers have created thin profiles that are easier to install and can be used for applications other than kitchen benchtops. One of the more popular areas of the home for these slab installations are bathroom walls.
Dekton launched its Optimma shower slab collection, shown here, which features lightweight 4-millimetre pre-cut slabs in various colours.
6. Thin slabs
As we’ve mentioned in previous trends coverage, many engineered-surface manufacturers have created thin profiles that are easier to install and can be used for applications other than kitchen benchtops. One of the more popular areas of the home for these slab installations are bathroom walls.
Dekton launched its Optimma shower slab collection, shown here, which features lightweight 4-millimetre pre-cut slabs in various colours.
7. Integrated sinks
Some manufacturers are also leaning on engineered surfaces to create vanities with integrated sinks, such as Silestone’s new Evita washbasin, shown here.
Browse more beautifully designed bathroom set-ups
Some manufacturers are also leaning on engineered surfaces to create vanities with integrated sinks, such as Silestone’s new Evita washbasin, shown here.
Browse more beautifully designed bathroom set-ups
The new Urban Duplex vanity from Hastings Tile & Bath includes a benchtop with an integrated sink option, shown here in the Fenix colour.
Hastings’ Urban Morris solid-surface vessel basins include a removeable drain tray that coordinates with the benchtop material to give the appearance of integration.
Lighting
8. Hidden LEDs
While decorative light fixtures and chandeliers aren’t going anywhere, hidden LED strip lighting is showing up in a lot of new features. Robern by Kohler introduced the PL Portray medicine cabinet shown here in a version backlit by warm LED light that turns on when you open a door.
Another smart feature of this mirror is the digital lockbox seen on an upper shelf. You can use it to lock away prescription medicines, passports or expensive creams you don’t want your teenager using. Control the lock from a keypad on the box or from your smart phone, through which you can also receive alerts if the box is being tampered with.
8. Hidden LEDs
While decorative light fixtures and chandeliers aren’t going anywhere, hidden LED strip lighting is showing up in a lot of new features. Robern by Kohler introduced the PL Portray medicine cabinet shown here in a version backlit by warm LED light that turns on when you open a door.
Another smart feature of this mirror is the digital lockbox seen on an upper shelf. You can use it to lock away prescription medicines, passports or expensive creams you don’t want your teenager using. Control the lock from a keypad on the box or from your smart phone, through which you can also receive alerts if the box is being tampered with.
Häfele’s new Loox5 lighting system includes thin LED strips that can be used in a variety of applications, as seen in this bathroom inside the vanity, around the tub and in a ceiling cove above the tub.
The Vorleigh collection, also by Kohler Lighting, nods to Streamline Moderne style with adjustable metal disk-like shades that allow you to control the direction of the lighting.
Experience
10. Pamper-me features
Houzz research conducted in the USA shows that many homeowners are looking to their bathrooms for rest and relaxation. And when you consider some of the pampering features out there, it’s easy to see why.
Kohler previewed its Moxie shower head in 2020, which has a removeable waterproof speaker that magnetically docks in the showerhead. Moxie is now available locally and includes integration with Amazon Alexa for voice-activated assistance.
10. Pamper-me features
Houzz research conducted in the USA shows that many homeowners are looking to their bathrooms for rest and relaxation. And when you consider some of the pampering features out there, it’s easy to see why.
Kohler previewed its Moxie shower head in 2020, which has a removeable waterproof speaker that magnetically docks in the showerhead. Moxie is now available locally and includes integration with Amazon Alexa for voice-activated assistance.
Aquia by Toto is a new toilet with a bidet function. The unit includes a heated seat, oscillating and pulsating rinse wand, deodoriser and dryer and an electrolysed water feature that cleans the bowl and wand after every use.
Your turn
Which of these 10 design directions would you like to see here? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Need more information for design professionals? Read up on 6 Time-Saving Tips From UK Pros That Stop Admin Tasks Taking Over
Your turn
Which of these 10 design directions would you like to see here? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Need more information for design professionals? Read up on 6 Time-Saving Tips From UK Pros That Stop Admin Tasks Taking Over
1. Freestanding tubs
Anecdotally, the pandemic seems to have created a boom in bath users. Representatives at companies like Toto and House of Rohl report an increase in interest in bathtubs. Which makes sense: if you’ve been spending more time at home working side-by-side with a spouse and schoolchildren, there are few better places to unwind at the end of the day than in a hot tub behind a locked door.
Freestanding tubs still command a lot of the attention, partly because their silhouetted shape offers a fresh style element. Victoria + Albert added three new 150-centimetre tubs to its existing three styles, including the Toulouse style shown here. The US range also offers 194 colours in a gloss or matt finish.