Forget shiplap and all-white everything: The latest unforgettable baths are pushing the envelope on color, pattern, materials, and finishes. Here’s what design pros predict will be hot in 2022 bathroom trends—be it primary suite or powder room.
Faux cabinetry is out; instead, showcasing the stone or other countertop material in a more prominent “chunky” way is a fresher idea we’ll soon see more often, predicts designer Linda Hayslett.
Linda Hayslett, LH.Designs
The Trend: Chunky countertops
People like seeing more of the slab, instead of having a fake drawer that hides the plumbing roughs for the sink. And, though marble is always a classic, I’m starting to see the use of it all over the bathroom taper off.
Related Post: 2023 Bathroom Trends Designers Have On Their Radar
PHOTO BY LAUREN PRESSLEY
All-white or pastel palette bathrooms are on their way out, believes designer Sara Barney of BANDD DESIGN.
Sara Malek Barney, BANDD DESIGN
The Trend: IG-worthy palettes
The all-white bathroom is going away. Interesting, unique and quirky design elements are taking over for bathrooms, and the hype from this is coming from everyone’s love of “Instagrammable” spaces. Expect to see a lot of eye-catching wallpapers, paint, tile and light fixtures in 2022.
PHOTO BY MOLLY CULVER
Dark blue tile and wallpaper create a jewel box-like space in this bathroom by Redmond Aldrich Design.
Chloe Warner, Redmond Aldrich Design
The Trend: Atmospheric environments
Statement bathrooms feel different from the spaces around them, and I love to create environments that feel very enveloping. In this bathroom, inky tile is paired with dark blue wallpaper. The effect is cocooning and transportive.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW MILLMAN
A move toward incorporating towels and other bathroom necessities into display cabinets, versus stashed away completely, is a look designer Caitlin Wilson is observing regularly.
Caitlin Wilson, Caitlin Wilson Design
The Trend: Stylish visible storage solutions
I’m noticing more towers and visible storage, which can be great for displaying towels and good-looking necessities like makeup brushes, nice-looking bottles and perfumes.
PHOTO BY KATIE NIXON PHOTOGRAPHY
Natural stone plays a prominent role in this bathroom design by Brittany Farinas.
Brittany Farinas, House of One Interiors
The Trend: Natural stone, everywhere
I’m seeing natural stone being celebrated more in bathroom designs, especially in a scenario where one stone is selected for multiple applications in the same area, like on both the floor and walls.
PHOTO BY MIKE RUIZ
Move over, standard white fiberglass, acrylic and porcelain bath tubs. Natural stone tubs are having a major moment, as shown in this space by Thomas Guy Interiors.
Lance Thomas, Thomas Guy Interiors
The Trend: Anything-but-white bath tubs
Tubs made from organic materials are on the horizon. Stone, concrete and even teak are the epitome of luxury.
PHOTO BY JEN BURNER
A framed chevron tile pattern evokes natural stone artwork in this shower’s striking feature wall.
Marlaina Teich of Marlaina Teich Designs
The Trend: Shower feature walls
All-white bathrooms are not as popular now, as color and texture are making for exciting design possibilities. One thing I’m seeing is a feature wall in the shower, say, with large-format porcelain tiles that mimic sliced jewels.
PHOTO BY PATRICK CLINE
Design-savvy homeowners are embracing white, black or even colorful faucets and fixtures.
Killy Scheer, Scheer & Co
The Trend: Colorful, whimsical faucets, fixtures and hardware
I think fixtures are having a little renaissance, and going less serious and a more whimsical—with brighter, unexpected colors. I’m also seeing more hardware like knobs and pulls as jewelry, not just as functional finger pulls.
PHOTO BY RYANN FORD
A curvaceous mirror adds a “collected look” to this bathroom designed by Elizabeth Gill Interiors.
Elizabeth Gill, Elizabeth Gill Interiors
The Trend: The “collected” look
The collected look is on trend even for bathrooms. Think organic-shaped mirrors, think Gio Ponti or something vintage in a colored glass frame. Bathrooms were once understated and functional; now, the focus is just as much on aesthetics as function, to create an all-encompassing serenity zone filled with beauty.
PHOTO BY MARCO RICCA
A gold metallic wall treatment extending onto the ceiling gives this bathroom by designer Mikel Welch plenty of eye-catching sheen.
Mikel Welch, Mikel Welch Designs
The Trend: Ultra-bold metallics
I foresee the next trend being the use of strong metals and metallics. Just like mixing metals, people are beginning to pair fun and unexpected wall coverings with contrasting faucets and knob finishes. Brass and chrome finally have permission to play together!
