According to the National Kitchen + Bath Association (NKBA), traditional bathroom designs are taking a back seat for a more spa, clean and minimal look. The organization interviewed hundreds of designers, renovators, architects, manufacturers and dealers to find out the trends in bathroom styles, sinks and bathtubs, cabinets, lighting, flooring, colors, and other elements. Freshome asked trend spotter Elle h-Millard, a certified kitchen designer and Head of Industry Relations at the NKBA, for photos and comments on the main design trends in American bathrooms. Here are the NKBA bathroom design trends that you need to know about.
The most popular bathroom styles
According to H-Millard, transitional and contemporary styles are popular in bathrooms. “The transitional bathrooms have clean, classic lines, with painted walls and wooden cabinets,” she says. Substructure sinks, brushed nickel, and cool color palettes are also features of the transitional style.
A modern bathroom. Image: NKB Discover these products now: chandelier bathtub” the revival of bathtubs lends itself to a more sculptural look, creating the contemporary look,” explains H-Millard. Features include frameless cabinets and porcelain tiles. “In addition, the large surfaces of the bathtub make it easy to clean, which makes both the transition and the contemporary popular.”
Trends in wardrobes
Freestanding vanities, wooden vanities, linen storage cabinets, and open shelves are the most popular types of storage options. Medicine cabinets, consoles, and toilet cabinets-not so much.
Surface trends
Quartz is far from the most popular choice for countertops, with granite coming in second and cultured marble/marble in third even further away. “Another runaway favorite is porcelain stoneware flooring, followed by ceramic tiles and stone floors,” says H-Millard. When choosing a wall surface, painting is the most popular option, although porcelain tiles are also popular. Ceramic tiles are a distant third.
Sinks and faucets
Substructure sinks are almost twice as popular as a built-in sink/countertop or sink. “The preference for porcelain sinks is significantly higher than the desire to use glass or decorative metal,” explains H-Millard. When it comes to faucets, brushed nickel, satin nickel and polished chrome are in a virtual dead heat.
Trends in bathtubs
Acrylic is the most popular bath material, followed by cast iron and fiberglass. “By far the most popular configuration is freestanding, compared to a pedestal or platform configuration,” says H-Millard. In terms of bathtub light fixture colors, white is the overwhelming favorite, although silver/gray is gaining popularity. Beige/bisque/bone/Almond is only a small percentage preferred.
Sustainability trends
A hand-held shower head combined with a mounted shower head is the main feature of a large bathroom, followed by a freestanding bathtub and a bathtub. “In secondary or guest bathrooms, a smaller percentage indicate having a hand shower (in addition to a mounted shower head) as the main feature,” says h-Millard. However, instead of a freestanding bathtub, a standard bathtub with a surround shower is more popular. “The third most popular feature of the second bathroom/guest bathroom is the water-saving shower,” she says.