To inspire your spring bathroom revamps, here, interior designer Jamie Banfield shares the top trends in bathroom design and technology for 2018.
1. Spa Style. “Everything coming into town is spa-inspired (right now),” Jamie explains. That includes, rainheads, body jets and bench seats in the shower which are perfect for those wanting to sit down to shave their legs, for instance. Kohler’s Real Rain showerhead emulates the varying size of raindrops and the angles at which they fall, so you’ll feel like you’re in a warm summer storm every time you step foot in the shower. The idea of a “wet room” where the entire bathroom is a waterproofed space is also big right now. (Pictured below: Dornbracht horizontal shower)
2. Function First. From heated floors to self-deodorizing toilets to programmable showers that let users personalize water temperature, function is as important as form when it comes to bathroom design in 2018. Case in point: Toto’s toilet built-in with UV lights that kill bacteria.
3. Oversize Tiles. “Large format tiles in a four-by-eight foot format instead of one by two, are very popular,” explains Jamie. This size of tile, in a porcelain that looks like natural stone, is easier to clean and maintain. In terms of colour, blush and grey are big trends Jamie is seeing come out of Australia, which he sees as a pioneer on the décor scene. (Pictured: Eve Tiles from the Ceramica Bardelli collection at Hastings Tile & Bath.)
4. Living Metals, such an unlacquered brass, which will weather over time and take on a beautiful patina hue, are a finish we’re seeing a lot in faucetry these days, says Jamie. Mixing hardware metals is also something designers are embracing in the bathroom. (Pictured: Victoria and Albert ionian tub with unlacquered brass Staffordshire 26 faucets at Cantu Bathrooms).
5. Tactile Cabinetry. From metallic to brass cabinet faces, these days bathroom cabinets are all about texture. “We’re creating a couple of new doors that are tactile for The Banfield line,” says Jamie. (Pictured: AyA Kitchens Textured Cabinets).
