New Trends In The Bathroom

From pretty powder rooms to luxurious, massive, spa-like ensuites, today's bathrooms are sophisticated showcases where great design meets technological innovation. Here's the best of the best in bathroom trends.

Bigger is better
When will the bathroom stop growing? Not in the foreseeable future, say design experts. Architects and home builders are allocating more space than ever before to master ensuites, and bathroom manufacturers keep figuring out tantalizing ways to fill it. Freestanding tubs – if you have the space – and luxurious walk-in showers (sometimes more than one) are just two of the space-hungry features making these massive, spalike rooms a destination in the home.

We're floored
Porcelain tiles (for walls or floors) that look like wood offer a great way to capture both the warmth of the original and the trendy look of “green design” in a water-resistant material appropriate for a wet environment. Some tiles can also be used outdoors: imagine a walk-out from a master-ensuite retreat to a private walled courtyard garden – without changing the flooring material.

Flushed with pride
It's easier than ever to switch to a low-litres-per-flush toilet that, over the course of a year, can save thousands of litres of water in your household. Consider a dual-flush toilet for added choice.

Patterned after perfection
The return of wallpaper to home decor has meant an explosion of bold, colourful, graphically strong patterns (not Laura Ashley mini-florals à la 1980 but rather oversized, stylized graphic designs). The look is especially appropriate in the powder room, where it's fun to go for drama, or in the vanity area of the master ensuite.

Warming to the idea
Electric towel warmers are nothing new, but this luxe touch is becoming more sophisticated. One company, Jacuzzi, has the ultimate unit that can be installed in most standard cabinet drawers and features a two-hour automatic shut-off. The Home Spa Towel Warming Drawer also speaks to the trend of stashing everything out of sight – no more bulky wall-hung towel warming bars visually cluttering the bathroom