Bathroom Trends We’ve All Loved But Are Ready to Move On From

Bathroom design has always reflected the time it was created in. Some trends defined entire decades, shaping how our homes looked and felt for years. And while many of these styles were loved in their moment, bathroom design today is moving in a more relaxed, practical, and layered direction.

Here are three bathroom trends that had a huge impact, and why homeowners are now choosing a different approach.

1. Everything Perfectly Matching

For a long time, the goal of bathroom design was coordination. The bath, basin, toilet, tiles, accessories, all perfectly matched in colour and finish. From pastel suites to fully coordinated sets, this trend dominated bathrooms from the late 90s through to the early 2010s.

While cohesive, these spaces often felt rigid and overly “done,” leaving little room for personality or flexibility.

What’s changed

Modern bathrooms favour contrast and balance over exact matches. Mixing finishes, textures, and tones creates spaces that feel more natural and lived-in, and far easier to update over time without a full renovation.

2. Tiny Tiles Everywhere

   

Small-format tiles, mosaics, and miniature squares once covered entire bathrooms, walls, floors, showers, even ceilings. They added texture and detail and were especially popular in the early to mid-2000s.

The downside? Lots of grout lines, visual clutter, and higher maintenance, especially in busy family bathrooms.

What’s changed

Larger-format tiles are now the go-to choice. They create a calmer, more seamless look while being easier to clean and maintain. Texture and interest are still important, they’re just achieved through stone effects, subtle veining, and finish rather than scale.

3. Cold White Bathroom Lighting

Bright, cool white lighting was once considered essential in bathrooms. It felt clean, clinical, and functional, particularly popular from the mid-2000s through to the mid-2010s.

But while practical, cold lighting can flatten finishes, wash out colours, and make bathrooms feel harsh rather than relaxing.

What’s changed

Bathrooms today are designed to feel warmer and more inviting. Softer lighting tones, layered lighting, and better placement help create a space that works just as well in the morning rush as it does in the evening wind-down.

Why These Trends Are Fading

Bathrooms are no longer purely functional spaces. They’re places to slow down, reset, and invest in long-term comfort. As a result, design choices are becoming:

• Less rigid
• Easier to live with
• More timeless
• Focused on how spaces feel, not just how they look

At Bathshack, we don’t believe trends disappear, they evolve. Understanding what worked in the past helps homeowners make smarter, more considered choices for the future.

If you’d like to talk through your ideas in person, our team is always happy to help you make sense of the options and plan with confidence. 

Visit us in store to see materials up close and talk through your space. 

Or, if you’re still exploring ideas or know what you want, browse our bathroom and tile collections online and start getting a feel for what suits you.