With 2016 on the horizon, Ideal Standard International designer, Robin Levien, gives his bathroom trends predictions for next year:
The bathroom continues to be a key element of our homes, playing a much greater role beyond that of its traditional function as merely just another part of the daily routine.
It has become both multi-purpose and multi-functional, as oasis of escapism and relaxation; a place for reinvigoration; transformation and even somewhere to pose, ponder and to play.
As such, bathroom design has evolved and is now dictated by social, economic and cultural trends, integrating both form and function, picking up influences from wider style and catwalk trends, all combined to meet the demands of modern day living.
Dramatic darker colours
Bathrooms in the UK are small and getting smaller on average – so perhaps counter intuitively there is a trend coming for using dark colours on the walls and floor, which with good lighting this can actually make a small space seem bigger, as well as delivering that boutique hotel feel.
Think different shades of greys, particularly darker shades and hues, which are very on trend for creating a tranquil feel of luxury and relaxation. Dark purple, rouge and even duller matte greens are all also on the rise as part of the bathroom colour scheme.
Smacious
The transformation of small spaces, to make them feel spacious.
This is especially pertinent as there doesn’t seem to be a week that goes by without reports of yet another home in Central London that's smaller than a caravan, but sells on the market for half a million pounds.
The rise of so-called ‘space saving gurus’ at professional design and architect practices to transform even the smallest of spaces for luxury living is impacting on bathroom design, with ingenious smaller ‘space saving’ bathroom products and furniture continuing to make a meteoric rise.
Ideal Standard has created a bathroom range designed to fit in small spaces - because of the increasingly small size of British bathrooms. However, London and the UK is playing catch up to an extent and the ever growing small spaces challenge of creating an amazing apartment with so much incorporated into the a limited square footage has long been tackled in many other major cities around the world.
Modern, minimal, but not clinical
Less continues to be more and minimalism – the clutter free, bare bathroom – will continue to be ‘en vogue’.
This means no fluffy towels, nic-nacs or toiletries on show at all, not even a stylish toothbrush holder or sassy soap dispenser carefully placed on the basin or counter top.
This rising trend for completely clean surfaces is counterbalanced by amazing storage solutions and plays to the escapism role of the bathroom – creating a sanctuary within the home, that’s not full of the stressful hustle and bustle, instead just plain, clear and simple.
LED-ing the way
Lighting in the bathroom is always tricky and unfortunately not helped by the safety requirements around electricity and water. Salvation has however arrived in the form of low voltage LED Lighting.
There are many exciting possibilities for using strips of LED in the bathroom, behind a mirror or in a niche for example.
This trend has come from the use of LED lighting in public spaces, internal and external; and from kitchens in the home – they are perfect for the bathroom.
Vanity basins
The invasion from the continent of the vanity basin with storage cabinet beneath continues.
Sleek, stylish and providing cavernous amounts of storage, the rise of the vanity basin means the floor standing pedestal under a sink will soon be considered retro.
Mirror, mirror on the wall
On reflection, the importance of the bathroom mirror should not be underestimated and it’s true that in our ‘selfie-obsessed’ modern day lives, big bathroom mirrors are now a ‘thing’.
While it may be the younger generation who take selfies of themselves in the mirror, the mirror is a reference point for us all and such a simple way to help make small spaces feel brighter.
Anti-steam mirrors also mean you can step out of the shower and see what you look like and often determine how you feel before you glamour up or down for work or a night out.
Going underfloor
Underfloor heating in the bathroom is a real luxury and now with the growing trend for ceramic tile and marble it is spreading to the walls.
A ‘warm wall’ with your towel robe hanging against it is the ultimate indulgence after a bath or shower. Move over heated towel rails!
Switched on
Bathroom tech is still big and we as with modern life generally, we are seeing more and more appliances exploring compatibility with devices such as smart phones.
While Bluetooth enabled musical mirrors or even self-switching lighting aren’t relatively new phenomena’s, they continue to increase in popularity, as do showers taps and baths that can be controlled with phones and tablets.
In essence, these ‘nice to have’ finishing touches actually provide convenience and I expect will continue to see a growth in demand as people seek to make bathrooms a luxury sanctuary on a par with other key rooms that are becoming increasing tech-heavy or even tech-reliant within the home.
Quick win indulgence features
Continuing on the convenience trend and combined with the fact that we now spend more time enjoying the bathroom than ever before, non-technology led features that enable indulgence are on the rise.
Ultimately these trends have evolved from luxury and boutique hotels, with people replicating havens of spa-like relaxation within their own homes.
Simple features such as extra wide bath ledges that are capable of balancing a wine glass (or bottle!) on is a great example of how ‘DIY’ versions of mainstream opulence and relaxation that correlate with our modern lifestyles.
Death of the toilet brush
Could this horrific and offensively unstylish, yet unfortunately often necessary bathroom accessory be about to become ‘extinct’?
Let’s hope so, as new toilets with superior flushing technology – including the revo-loo-tionary AquaBlade by Ideal Standard – that make them effectively ‘self-cleaning’ may well be the beginning of the end for the bog brush and the shudders these often cheap and nasty pieces of plastic send down the spines of bathroom designers when they appear in beautiful bathrooms.
Metals
Big taps and different metals are coming back with full strength. Along with brass, you'll also find gold, silver, platinum, stainless and brushed steel as popular finishes for your bathroom in 2016.
Especially when it comes to a mini-makeover of any bathroom, replacing taps and brassware is an easy way to give a fresh and stylish upgrade to your existing suite.
You could even Get a little bold with new faucets or change the cabinet knobs to a metal finish.
That 70s show
While we probably won’t see the full return of the infamous Avocado Green bathroom suite in the mainstream anytime soon, the fashion world’s 70s-inspiration love affair is far from over and we in terms of bathroom décor, expect floral patterns and retro tones to be an influence, but with a modern twist, especially at the very sophisticated end of the interior design world.
