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Bathroom trends for residential construction and remodeling

Modern bathroom sink with wooden drawers

As a construction professional, you do your best to stay on top of your game — you hire the best crews, you look for the highest quality materials, and you take great care of your customers. Part of taking great care of customers means advising them well and helping them avoid costly mistakes. Bathrooms can be expensive to renovate, and likely your customers will lean on your expertise to guide them through the process. So, we’ve scoured the design world (and made notes of what our customers are up to) to identify the most popular bathroom trends in residential design and construction, and here’s what we found.

Pro tip: Before you make any bathroom design recommendations, get to know a little about your customer’s daily life. Bathrooms are pretty intimate places, which means a master bathroom calls for some different needs than a guest bathroom. Is this a home with kids and high traffic or a swanky bachelorette pad? Does this bathroom need to have a lot of storage or is it a simple powder room with just the bare necessities? If this is a starter home and your customer is concerned about resale value, you may want to recommend different bath options from those that you would recommend for a custom-built home. Once you have a good idea of your customer’s needs, you can recommend appropriate options that fall within the current bathroom trends.

1. Incorporate materials that reflect the natural environment.

As our world becomes increasingly more digital, people are turning to private spaces that reflect natural sanctuaries. One example is a rise in marble details throughout bathrooms— floors, counters, in the shower, even on walls to showcase the inherent beauty in a well-cut slab.

Concrete continues to be popular and is a fraction of the cost of marble. Subtle, muted and solid, concrete pairs beautifully with light woods, steel and porcelain. It’s easy to install, clean and maintain, and it’s perfect if your customer is drawn to a more minimalist, modern style.

Modern bathroom with his and hers sinks

2. Use space and an open layout to create a unique experience.

In new construction or renovations, some adventurous people are beginning to create open concept bathrooms. As homes get smaller, open concept bathrooms often make master suites feel larger.

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This bathroom remodel trend showcases a wall of glass dividing the space, but retaining the open feel. Source: Instagram

An alternative way to make a space feel special? Create a spa-like environment. The key to achieving this is through lighting. Whether through natural light or strategically placed artificial lighting, you can achieve a dreamy, relaxing vibe.

If your customer embraces all things quirky, maybe they’ll enjoy shaking up the standard placement of objects in their new bathrooms. For example, vanities in front of windows allow people to enjoy natural light and beautiful views while washing and brushing. Some designers are even installing faucets facing sideways, which can make a small or oddly shaped bathroom more functional and a simple space more playful.

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Sideway faucets make this simple space feel whimsical. Source: Instagram

3. Let the walls make a statement.

Even a small space can showcase personality. A current bathroom remodel trend of painting walls black is not just bold, but also sophisticated.

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Black walls with gold accents turn a mundane space into something sleek. Source: Desire to Inspire

If your customer isn’t afraid to go bold, but leans more to the playful side, they may opt to cover one wall with bright or colorful wallpaper.

Even windowless bathrooms can have great views if your customer chooses to showcase something from their art collection on the wall. This option gives your customer utmost flexibility, and why not elevate the bathroom experience with some beautiful artwork?

4. Select fixtures that honor the past in unexpected ways.

Sometimes fixtures get overlooked — or customers just opt for the basics — because the choices are overwhelming. But fixtures can be fun and can elevate a bathroom in the same way the perfect jewelry upgrades an outfit. A current trend is old-fashioned or rustic styles, like exposed fixtures made from gunmetal, pewter or polished nickel.

A stylized bathroom with gold fixtures, white and black tile, and marble countertop

Art Deco styles are also back! This 1920s inspired bathroom trend embraces bold, geometric shapes and shiny, metallic features.

Modern bathroom with black and white tile

5. You can’t make a wrong decision with cabinetry … as long as you choose wood. 

Whether your customer prefers reclaimed, driftwood or stained wood makes no difference because they’re all on trend! If your customer is interested in painting cabinetry, they might consider matte black or grey accents in a lighter colored bathroom. The visual pop is stylish and sleek. If you’re installing new cabinets, floating vanities can provide an elegantly minimalist look.

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A floating, natural wood vanity … two great trends in one. Source: Pinterest

6. Cool technology makes bathroom time fun. 

Technology is inspiring every aspect of our lives—even in our bathrooms. If your customer has the budget, consider an infrared sauna. This heats your body directly without warming the air around you. I mean, who wouldn’t want that?

And if your customer really wants to be on the cutting edge, have them consider a “smart” toilet. These technological wonders can provide hands-free experiences and can do everything from heating your seat to playing music.

Bathroom with a modern style toilet

Buildertrend provides residential construction companies a user-friendly, web-based software to help them build more projects, complete projects faster, reduce costly communication errors, and maximize customer satisfaction. Discover how our software can work for you by scheduling a live demo.

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