Bathroom design is shifting in 2026, with top interior designers highlighting a move away from polished finishes towards warmth, texture, and eco-conscious innovation. Hand-painted tiles are gaining popularity, adding charm and artistry to showers, backsplashes, and vanities. Designer Abby Wolf-Weiss notes a preference for "relaxed, unexpected layouts" over perfectly stacked tiles that can feel clinical.
© Mikhail Kokhanchikov | Dreamstime
Smarter, spa-inspired layouts are also emerging, with features such as level-threshold showers, ceiling-mounted rainfall heads, floating vanities, and pocketed or partially screened toilets. Melanie Boyden highlights the integration of tall tower cabinets with built-in power for practical, clean designs.
Vintage lighting is making a comeback, with cast brass and Italian modernist fixtures adding character and "patina" to bathrooms. Sustainability drives further innovation through thermostatic digital valves, water monitors, leak sensors, and zoned underfloor heating, combining comfort with efficiency.
Textured surfaces such as fluted limestone and ribbed ceramics are replacing traditional marble, while colour palettes embrace earthy tones. Shades of sage, olive, terracotta, and rose-beige are paired with materials like light green onyx for a modern yet timeless look. Designers predict these elements will define bathrooms in 2026, blending artistry, comfort, and environmental awareness.
Source: www.thespruce.com
