Designers Are Betting on These Fresh Bathroom Trends for 2025

Bathrooms are among the most important rooms in the house—and also the trickiest to design. Since function is paramount in these spaces, it can sometimes be tricky to know how much color, tile, or lighting to use in these essential spaces. There's always a shiny new showerhead or faucet that might look better ... but does it perform well?

To get to the bottom of it all, we spoke to some of the industry's top interior designers, who have worked on everything from sculptural powder rooms to traditional primary baths. Take a look before you plan a renovation in the new year!

Personal Spas

Your next trip to the spa may not require you to leave the house. Nowadays, bathrooms are being designed more and more to resemble luxe retreats, complete with steam baths and more. "People are using their homes as saunas as much as they can," says Katie McPherson, an associate principal at interior design firm Meyer Davis. "They're making it a priority in their lifestyle."

New product offerings reflect this demand. Brizo's luxurious Mystix steam shower speaks directly to this demographic; Kohler's freestanding Stillness bathtub channels all of the peacefulness and zen of a traditional Japanese bath.

Details Get a Spotlight

There's more color and texture in bathrooms now—but maybe not in the way you'd expect. "I've never seen so many beautiful, artistic toilet paper holders—ever," says Stephanie Luk, director of interiors at Electric Bowery. "People are understanding that functional things can be decorative, too. It doesn't have to be so serious."

The same holds true for faucets, taps, and other smaller moments in the bathroom space. "I've been doing colorful taps for a while," says Keren Richter, principal designer at White Arrow. "It's more playful, as opposed to just unlacquered brass." Not only that, but it's a relatively simple way to add a splash of color without committing to a full wallpaper or mural.

Tile Everywhere

Tile isn't new by any means, but it's being embraced now more than ever—and in more interesting ways. "Stone is beautiful, but people are thinking about tiles in a more considered way," says Luk. "It’s so easy too with mosaics … people are open to taking a little more risk than they’re used to."

Zellige tiles, which have always been a favorite, are particularly en vogue at the moment. "The possibilities for design are endless," says Tina Schnabel, head of interiors at Barlis Wedlick. "I think it’s so much fun to play with tiles to create unique patterns and designs for clients that are personable."

Natural Materials Are Back

In the same vein as personal saunas, natural materials are more in demand than ever. If you really want your primary bathroom to feel like a mountainside spa, after all, then natural stone or oak can really transport the space—as opposed to just white polished marble. Trends like Japandi, with its focus on minimalism, clean lines, and wood finishes, are certainly contributing to this move.

"Clients are interested in simple, quality materials, but installing them in precise and unique ways that lets the materials shine," says Schnabel. "For example, beautiful, rounded edges on vanity profiles."

Unexpected Lighting

Bathroom lighting has been pretty one note over the years. That paradigm is shifting a bit as homeowners expand their horizons. "People are getting clever–they're not just doing overhead lighting or typical bathroom sconces," says Staver Gray, co-principal of interior design firm Ward + Gray. "We did a project recently with integrated sconces on the frame of the bathroom mirror." Lighting is essential, after all, and there are options aplenty that challenge the typical bathroom mold.