12 Bathroom Trends to Avoid for 2023 – Design Ideas for a Modern Home
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Kristin Hitchcock
- Last updated:
Some bathrooms are obviously not stylish. For instance, you can look at the colored toilets of the 60s and easily spot an untrendy bathroom. However, some other trends are becoming increasingly untrendy, even though many still use them to design their bathrooms.
To help you avoid these fading trends, we’ve made a list of them. Some of these are decades old and not coming back anytime soon. However, others were popular only a few years ago but had become increasingly unpopular over the last few years. In many cases, they weren’t a good idea to begin with.
The 12 Bathroom Trends to Avoid in 2023
1. Colored Appliances
Once upon a time, it was very trendy to get colored toilets, sinks, and other bathroom appliances. However, today this is not a trendy option. It is difficult even to find colored toilets – and for a good reason. There are quite a few older bathrooms that still have these, of course, but they should be one of the first things that new owners replace (if only because the toilet is probably decades old). If you’re renovating a new bathroom, avoid this option like the plague.
2. Fuzzy Bathrooms
Bathrooms are often sterile and cold. However, in the 60s, they tried to fix this problem by installing fuzzy things on the toilets and floors. You don’t need a carpeted toilet, especially if you’re trying to avoid unnecessary mess (as we said at the beginning, some of these trends were just bad ideas, to begin with).
You should especially avoid brightly-colored fuzz. While many people installed neutral tones, some bright blue and yellow options were once available.
Luckily, this trend has largely been fazed out. You can hardly even find these fuzzy coverings anymore. If you find yourself owning a bathroom with these, you should preferably remove them as quickly as possible – if only because it is very unsanitary. Think about how long that carpeting has been there!
3. All the White
Once upon a time, white-on-white bathrooms were the norm. They were a knee-jerk response to the bold colors of the 60s and 80s. However, many people have not moved beyond the increasingly white bathrooms. Just because no one wants a bright blue toilet from the 60s does not mean all color is bad. In fact, if you want a stylish bathroom. You’re going to have to move beyond nothing but white.
There are countless ways to add some extra color to your bathroom. However, we recommend not using white floors, walls, and appliances. Many people will try to add a bit of color with accent pieces, but it often isn’t enough. Add some interest somewhere.
While white can make the space seem larger (and will likely be sued to some extent in most bathrooms), it should not be your whole color pallet. It can make your bathroom seem sterile and uninteresting – not to mention how hard it is to keep clean.
4. Unique Colors
Some people have attempted to move beyond plain white and utilized unique colors in their bathrooms. And for that, at least, they should be applauded. However, you can’t just use any color and expect your room to be stylish. Colors like grey, blue, and green are becoming all the rave. However, you should avoid avocado green and baby pink.
While it can look nice, for a bit, these colors do not go with white very well, which will likely play some role in your bathroom. They also don’t create a cool and calming atmosphere, which you should plan to do in your bathroom.
5. Oversized Appliances
Oversized bathtubs and sinks can seem like a grand idea when you’re planning your bathroom. However, they are rarely a good idea. Generally, most people don’t take baths all that often, so you’re dedicating a lot of space to something you won’t use all that often. Plus, it can eat into what little space you have in your bathroom and make it seem a lot smaller than it actually is.
No amount of white will counteract an oversized tub.
Plus, filling up a massive bathtub can actually be expensive and may not even work in drought-prone areas. Instead, consider a sleek shower, which can be equally as luxurious and much more practical.
6. Chrome Finishes
Once upon a time, everyone used chrome or nickel finishings in their bathroom. Once again, it was a reaction against the bold and loud style of the last century. However, this boring color has luckily run its course and is becoming less and less common. You’ll still find these options sold widely, though. We recommend avoiding them.
While many people think nickel-brushed and chrome are modern, they will speak to just how unmodern your bathroom is. Instead, most modern bathrooms use a different color, such as black, bronze, or gold. Take a clue from the picture above and choose a darker color, especially if much of your bathroom is a lighter coloration.
7. Subway Tiles
Subway tiles were the thing in design only a few years ago. However, they quickly puttered out. The truth is that most people just don’t use these tiles appropriately. They can work great if you’re doing an industrial-style bathroom, but many people have interpreted this to mean that they fit in any modern bathroom – they don’t.
There are very few examples of nicely-done subway tile bathrooms out there. Unless you’re a professional designer and know what you’re doing, you should avoid these tiles. Instead, choose large-format tiles in an interesting color and design.
Of course, if your heart is set on an industrial bathroom, then subway tiles are probably the way to go. Just be sure that you’re actually doing an industrial bathroom and not just a modern one.
8. Jetted Tubs
In the early 2000s, everyone liked jetted tubs. However, these have quickly become outdated and oversized. Let’s be honest. How often have all the jetted tubs of the 2000s actually been used? Probably not enough to make buying them work.
Plus, these tubs have a lot more working parts than standard tubs. Therefore, they can easily rake up extra maintenance costs. Plus, the tubes are very prone to bacteria growth and very hard to clean, so they aren’t exactly safe, either. Instead, go with a standard tub. Most people won’t miss the jets. We promise.
If you really need a tub, we recommend a free-standing option.
Related Read: 8 Best Hot Tubs: Reviews & Top Picks
9. Double Sinks
Once upon a time, two sinks were the way to go. However, they are not practical in the least. Couples rarely need to use the sink at the exact same time, so one side often goes unused for the most part. Plus, they are bulkier and take up more room. When you’re working with bathrooms, this is rarely what you want to do.
Furthermore, who wants an extra sink to clean? Two sinks only cause more work when it comes to cleaning. Instead, it is better to have more counter space, which is much more practical and makes the room feel much larger.
10. Dark Marble
We will admit. Dark marble can look good in bathrooms when paired with white floors and furnishings. However, we do not recommend dark marble for a few different reasons. Firstly, water stains can be a problem with darker marble. Marble is very porous and absorbs water quickly, allowing it to stain. It is hard to take care of and not made for bathrooms.
Furthermore, many people tend to go quite overboard with dark marble, which can make the room seem overwhelmingly small. Bathrooms tend to be relatively small, anyway.
11. Floating Sinks
Floating sinks had a very short time in the limelight. However, we don’t recommend them in most bathrooms – unless you’re going for an industrial feel. In many cases, these sinks simply look too out of place unless you have a design that specifically matches them.
Furthermore, you’re also missing out on the cabinet underneath the sinks and the potential storage space that would go with it.
12. Frameless Mirrors
At one point and time, frameless mirrors were the thing for bathrooms. Every bathroom designed in the 2000s typically has these frameless mirrors. However, if you want a bathroom that really stands out, we recommend having a framed mirror of some sort. These stand out much more than regular, frameless mirrors. They have a styling element that frameless mirrors don’t have.
Conclusion
Trends tend to go quite fast these days. What was popular in the early 2000s is no longer recommended by many design experts, especially if you plan to sell your home at some point. Full white bathrooms and huge mirrors aren’t typically what most modern home buyers are looking for.
If you want a modern, stylish bathroom, your best bet is to embrace modern hardware, smaller appliances, and cool colors. You don’t want a completely white bathroom, but you don’t want one completely red either.
Related Read:
- HOW TO MAKE YOUR BATHROOM SMELL AMAZING (9 EASY METHODS)
- 10 Bathroom Trends – Design Ideas for a Modern Home
Featured Image Credit: Beyond Time, Shutterstock
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