Bathroom trends for 2022 - Grand Designs Magazine
bathroom trends: pink tiles and pink glass shower panel

15 inspiring bathroom trends

From tinted shower screens to Japanese baths, explore these fresh ideas

By Paula Woods |

Overhauling your bathroom is an exciting prospect but it can also make a significant dent in your wallet. So you’ll want to create a scheme that looks fresh and contemporary, and includes bathroom trends that are set to stand the test of time. The following ideas have a lasting appeal will look good long into the future.

1. Brass fittings

Natural or unlacquered brass fittings have an antique look that further develops a unique patina over time. They are an ideal complement for a rustic or industrial-style scheme. Try the Bespoke Landmark Pure bath filler in Urban Brass from samuel-heath.com, as shown below.

brass bath taps and shower head in an industrial chic decor scheme with navy painted bath

Photo: Samuel Heath

2. Reclaimed materials

Choose to reuse by restoring original features, such as floorboards, and including reclaimed materials or salvaged finds. If you can’t track down the kind of salvaged bathtub you want, try upcycling your own with aged brass panels from quirkyinteriors.co.uk, as shown below.

salvaged brass tiles on a bath

Aged brass panels from quirkyinteriors.co.uk. Photo: Debi Treloar

3. Pastel shades

Muted pastel shades are a dominant bathroom trend for walls, floors and fixtures in 2022. Look out for tiles and sanitaryware in shades of sage, rose, pale ochre and lilac. Using pink and green together – like this scheme featuring an Artis surface-mounted oval washbasin in Sage Green and Finion freestanding bath, both from villeroy-boch.co.uk – is proving a surprisingly enduring trend for both kitchens and bathrooms.

bathroom trends 2022: sage green painted walls with dusky pink tiles

Photo: Villeroy & Boch

4. Coloured glass panels

Every element of a new bathroom can be decorative, even a glass shower panel. This collection, which features a Nouveau shower box with pale pink 8mm glass (also available in pale green or clear) and Nouveau LivingTec basin, shelf and cabinet from ex-t.com, is inspired by early 20th-century Art Deco design.

bathroom trends 2022: coloured glass shower panels

Photo: Ex.t

5. Rustic finishes

Alongside the shift towards soft-sheen and matt surfaces, there’s a bathroom trends movement towards rustic tiles that are, or look, handmade. The texture and colour tones of these brick-shaped Riad Terracotta matt porcelain wall tiles from mandarinstone.com offer a handcrafted effect.

rustic effect shower room tiles in a dark terracotta colour

Photo: Mandarin Stone

6. Natural patterns

Stone-effect tiles with rich colours and bold veining, like the Onyx Nouveau gloss porcelain rectified tiles from mandarinstone.com, shown below, bring a sense of opulence to a scheme. They offer a luxurious look without the high cost of real stone. Precision-cut porcelain allows for finer grout lines so that there’s a minimal break in the overall design.

large marble-effect tiles in a wet room

Photo: Mandarin Stone

7. 1980s style

Bathroom tile patterns are getting bolder with graphics taking the lead. Look for versatile tile designs created to provide multiple options for geometric arrangements from symmetrical stripes and blocks to random forms. Try the Bert & May at Fired Earth porcelain tiles in Alalpardo Green, pictured below with the Versailles large sink console, both from firedearth.com.

80s-style bathroom with green and white diagonal striped tiles

Photo: Fired Earth

8. Japanese-style baths

Designed to be enjoyed sitting upright for a deep and relaxing soak, Japanese-style baths are compact and great for a small space. Traditionally made from timber, they can also be found in solid surface composites. Try the True Ofuro Mini freestanding Aquatex Japanese soaking bathtub in matt white from aquaticabath.co.uk.

Japanese-style baths are shorter and deeper - a great small bathroom idea

Photo: Aquatica

9. Matt finish

High shine surfaces are making way for a subtle sheen. Manufacturers continue to launch new brassware, whether contemporary or classic in style, with brushed, matt, or unlacquered finishes. The Milano Ashurst brushed nickel thermostatic shower and freestanding bath shower mixer shown below are both from bigbathroomshop.co.uk. The Ovali bath, available in two sizes, is from bcdesigns.co.uk.

loft conversion bathroom with matt finish stone-effect tiles

Photo: Darren Chung

10. Dual-purpose furniture

Designs offering more than one function are a versatile solution for multi-use rooms. There’s a wealth of new space-saving, dual-purpose furniture to choose from, such as this Cielo Narciso floorstanding vanity unit from cphart.co.uk that doubles as a dressing table .

bathroom vanity unit and dressing table

Photo: CP Hart

More 2022 bathroom trends below…

Overhauling your bathroom is an exciting prospect but it can also make a significant dent in your wallet. So you’ll want to create a scheme that looks fresh and contemporary, and includes bathroom trends that are set to stand the test of time. The following ideas have a lasting appeal will look good long into the future.

1. Brass fittings

Natural or unlacquered brass fittings have an antique look that further develops a unique patina over time. They are an ideal complement for a rustic or industrial-style scheme. Try the Bespoke Landmark Pure bath filler in Urban Brass from samuel-heath.com, as shown below.

brass bath taps and shower head in an industrial chic decor scheme with navy painted bath

Photo: Samuel Heath

2. Reclaimed materials

Choose to reuse by restoring original features, such as floorboards, and including reclaimed materials or salvaged finds. If you can’t track down the kind of salvaged bathtub you want, try upcycling your own with aged brass panels from quirkyinteriors.co.uk, as shown below.

salvaged brass tiles on a bath

Aged brass panels from quirkyinteriors.co.uk. Photo: Debi Treloar

3. Pastel shades

Muted pastel shades are a dominant bathroom trend for walls, floors and fixtures in 2022. Look out for tiles and sanitaryware in shades of sage, rose, pale ochre and lilac. Using pink and green together – like this scheme featuring an Artis surface-mounted oval washbasin in Sage Green and Finion freestanding bath, both from villeroy-boch.co.uk – is proving a surprisingly enduring trend for both kitchens and bathrooms.

bathroom trends 2022: sage green painted walls with dusky pink tiles

Photo: Villeroy & Boch

4. Coloured glass panels

Every element of a new bathroom can be decorative, even a glass shower panel. This collection, which features a Nouveau shower box with pale pink 8mm glass (also available in pale green or clear) and Nouveau LivingTec basin, shelf and cabinet from ex-t.com, is inspired by early 20th-century Art Deco design.

bathroom trends 2022: coloured glass shower panels

Photo: Ex.t

5. Rustic finishes

Alongside the shift towards soft-sheen and matt surfaces, there’s a bathroom trends movement towards rustic tiles that are, or look, handmade. The texture and colour tones of these brick-shaped Riad Terracotta matt porcelain wall tiles from mandarinstone.com offer a handcrafted effect.

rustic effect shower room tiles in a dark terracotta colour

Photo: Mandarin Stone

6. Natural patterns

Stone-effect tiles with rich colours and bold veining, like the Onyx Nouveau gloss porcelain rectified tiles from mandarinstone.com, shown below, bring a sense of opulence to a scheme. They offer a luxurious look without the high cost of real stone. Precision-cut porcelain allows for finer grout lines so that there’s a minimal break in the overall design.

large marble-effect tiles in a wet room

Photo: Mandarin Stone

7. 1980s style

Bathroom tile patterns are getting bolder with graphics taking the lead. Look for versatile tile designs created to provide multiple options for geometric arrangements from symmetrical stripes and blocks to random forms. Try the Bert & May at Fired Earth porcelain tiles in Alalpardo Green, pictured below with the Versailles large sink console, both from firedearth.com.

80s-style bathroom with green and white diagonal striped tiles

Photo: Fired Earth

8. Japanese-style baths

Designed to be enjoyed sitting upright for a deep and relaxing soak, Japanese-style baths are compact and great for a small space. Traditionally made from timber, they can also be found in solid surface composites. Try the True Ofuro Mini freestanding Aquatex Japanese soaking bathtub in matt white from aquaticabath.co.uk.

Japanese-style baths are shorter and deeper - a great small bathroom idea

Photo: Aquatica

9. Matt finish

High shine surfaces are making way for a subtle sheen. Manufacturers continue to launch new brassware, whether contemporary or classic in style, with brushed, matt, or unlacquered finishes. The Milano Ashurst brushed nickel thermostatic shower and freestanding bath shower mixer shown below are both from bigbathroomshop.co.uk. The Ovali bath, available in two sizes, is from bcdesigns.co.uk.

loft conversion bathroom with matt finish stone-effect tiles

Photo: Darren Chung

10. Dual-purpose furniture

Designs offering more than one function are a versatile solution for multi-use rooms. There’s a wealth of new space-saving, dual-purpose furniture to choose from, such as this Cielo Narciso floorstanding vanity unit from cphart.co.uk that doubles as a dressing table .

bathroom vanity unit and dressing table

Photo: CP Hart

More 2022 bathroom trends below…

11. High tech

Energy efficiency is high on everyone’s agenda, including those retrofitting their home or building a new one. Heating designers are bringing out new products such as radiators that prioritise energy-saving features and work with low-temperature systems. The Oni O-P 500mm flat radiator, shown below in Pigeon Blue, is available in three heights and more than 50 colours, from vasco.eu.

energy-saving bathroom radiator in pale blue

Photo: Vasco

12. Sustainable sourcing

An increasing number of bathroom suppliers offer eco-friendly options across their product lines. Look for product descriptions detailing responsibly-sourced natural materials or recycled content, like the Yuri matt porcelain wall tiles from wallsandfloors.co.uk, shown below. They’re made from 90% recycled raw materials.

recyled porcelain bathroom tiles in natural stone finish

Photo: Walls and Floors

13. Bathroom wallpaper

Advances in waterproofing mean you can use specialist wallpaper on bathroom walls, even in a shower or steam room. It’s an innovative way to turn your space into a unique pamper zone. For a bold design, try Wall&Decò The Mountains of our Childhood Wet System wallpaper from westonebathrooms.com.

bathroom wallpaper in colourful cloud design

Photo: West One Bathrooms

14. Dark décor

One of the biggest bathroom trends for 2022 is richly coloured walls. Deep blues or greens create an inviting, cocooning effect. Team with burnished metals and timber panelling for maximum impact. Recreate the forest green bathroom below with a Boty Stone wall-mounted basin from theluxurybathcompany.co.uk and Puck Intelligent Eggshell paint from littlegreen.com.

dark green bathroom with burnished brass mirror and fixtures

Photo: Luxury Bath Company

15. Heritage style

Inspired by the Victorian and Edwardian eras, period-style ceramics and rolltop baths teamed with pieces of furniture and artwork, bring a relaxed, country-house charm. Visit salvage yards and specialist dealers for restored originals. Recreate the bathroom design below with Carnaby Yellow wall paint, Olive paint for the bath and floorboards in French Linen chalk paint from anniesloan.com.

heritage bathroom ideal for a period property

Photo: Annie Sloan

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