If we take anything away from the predicted bathroom trends for 2027, it’s that we’re going bolder and more adventurous than we have before.
Whilst paint colours for 2027 are edging into the warmer, moodier and more indulgent tones – tiles, sanitary ware and metals are all seeing this same elevation in bathrooms too, and there’s a definite nod towards being a little more spontaneous with our choices than we’ve seen for a while.
I’ve enlisted the help of some designers and leading bathroom brands in the business to bring you the very best, and most emerging bathrooms trends to watch in 2027.
2027 Bathroom Trends To Watch- Tiles, Colours & Furniture
1. Natural Walnut Is Making A Comeback
It’s not just paint choices that are seeing a return to deeper, bolder tones this year. For many years we have seen honey, soft coloured wooden tones on vanities and bathroom furniture, but that inherent pull we have towards nature and being comforted is being driven with the comeback of natural walnut in the bathroom.
Mariette Barsoum, Principal Designer at Divine Design Center says, “We’re definitely moving away from the very pale, Scandinavian-style white oak that has been everywhere for the past few years. Walnut is making a comeback, and I love that we’re seeing more of its natural grain and richness“.
Using walnut in a bathroom is such a beautiful way to introduce natural definition to ground your colour scheme, without having to use tones of black that can sometimes feel a little obtrusive in a soothing space.
My top tip: Introducing walnut tones on a vanity unit is a really easy way to get onboard with this trend, but a more affordable approach could be to add some walnut decorative accessories, or even a chair if you have the space. You only need 1-2 pieces to have the desired effect in the bathroom.
2. Tile Drenching
Naturally, tile drenching is a concept that has followed hotly in pursuit of the very popular colour drenching trend. Like the painting version, this involves using one type of tile throughout the entire space, resulting in a high impact and flawless look.
Damla Turgut, founder and creative director, Otto Tiles & Design shares, “One of the clearest shifts I expect to see in 2027 is the rise of tile drenching in bathrooms. We’ve already seen this approach gathering momentum elsewhere in the home, particularly in kitchens where tiles are no longer confined to the splashback, and I think bathrooms will continue that story in a more immersive way”.
“This is about using tile across much more of the room, wall to wall, across both walls and floor, even the ceiling, to create a fully wrapped effect”.
Damla added that it works especially well in smaller bathrooms, where the repetition of material can make the space feel more impactful. “That could mean a soft all over ecru or beige scheme, or something bolder such as contrasting stripes or a more graphic layout. Either way, the result feels much more complete and intentional.”
My top tip: Don’t be influenced by a trending or highly patterned tile to try this approach, unless it’s a tile you really love, as you will quickly get bored of how it feels in your bathroom. Whilst colour drenching literally means saturaing the room in one single colour, you don’t have to take this literally with tile drenching. The below bathroom is an example of how you can get started with this trend without it feeling too overpowering.
3. Coloured Sanitary Ware
It was only a matter of time before our sanitary ware choices caught up with our more adventurous colour choices. Whilst interior trends tend to be cyclical, we’re not talking about those avocado tubs from the 70’s, just yet.
We got the lowdown on how to approach this trend from Paul Dwyer, MD, Thomas Crapper & Co, “I expect coloured sanitary ware to become a much more prominent feature of bathroom design in 2027. White will always have its place, but we’re seeing a growing appetite for basins and exposed cisterns that introduce colour in their own right”.
“While coloured basins in deeper shades such as Forest Green and Indigo Blue are becoming increasingly popular, exposed cisterns offer even greater opportunities to experiment with colour and finish. What I find interesting is how these individual elements can influence the rest of the bathroom. A statement basin can create a focal point, but when paired with an exposed cistern in a complementary or contrasting colour or metal finish, the whole space takes on a more considered, design-led appearance”.
Paul adds, “Our exposed cisterns in polished brass and nickel have become statement features in their own right and are among our most popular products, while our primed cisterns can be painted in any colour, allowing them to blend into a colour-drenched bathroom or introduce a contrasting accent against the surrounding walls and tiles.”
My top tip: Basins are a fun way to start with this trend, especially in smaller spaces such as a downstairs toilet where it can feel a little bit easier to go for bolder choices. Contrast them with an unexpected metal choice such as brass, or black to create a high impact focal feature.
4. Smaller Scale Motifs With More Personality
Bathrooms with more personality and softer touches are becoming more important in bathroom design plans. From large scale patterns and plain designs we’re starting to see an evolution into tiles with smaller scale motifs and daintier designs that feel a little bit twee, but in a really good way.
“I think we’ll also see a move towards smaller scale motifs that feel more characterful and a little less expected. There is growing interest in tiles that introduce detail and pattern in a way that feels decorative, but still refined. In some ways, it is a little like a modern reinterpretation of Delft style tiles, where the motif becomes part of the charm, but the overall result still feels current”, says Damla.
“What matters is the sense of individuality. People are looking for bathrooms that feel more considered and more personal, and motif tiles can do that beautifully. Used in a shower enclosure, behind a basin or across a single wall, they bring detail and interest without overwhelming the room.”
The below shower tiles are the perfect embodiment of this design style, it’s subtle, soft, yet offers a really cosy, and unique feel to the design.
My top tip: This style works particularly well on small scale tiles, to execute this look well though be sure to pair it with a large scale, plain design on the rest of your tiles to avoid the patterns clashing for attention.
5. The Return of Decorative Washstands
Paul shares that he thinks we’ll see a growing interest in decorative washstands in 2027, particularly as people look to introduce more furniture-like elements into their bathrooms.
“There’s something very appealing about an exposed metal washstand, with its slender legs and architectural detailing. It gives a basin a completely different presence in the room and brings an element of decoration without taking up a great deal of space”.
“Washstands also work particularly well in smaller bathrooms and powder rooms, where a conventional vanity unit can sometimes feel quite heavy. The open structure allows you to see more of the floor and surrounding space, while finishes such as polished brass, brushed brass, nickel and chrome provide opportunities to introduce another decorative detail.”
My top tip: As Paul mentioned, they work well in smaller bathrooms and downstairs toilets, where space is often a premium, the decorative finish of a washstand also lends itself as a place to hang a little hand towel. A little bit of textile and colour that can soften up the angular lines of a similar washstand to the one below.
6. Patterned Flooring Is On The Rise
We’ve been dipping our toes into classic, timeless patterns on flooring over recent years with checks and stripes, but it’s all about having even more of a party on the floor this year as we start using more audacious and stand out floor tiles in the bathroom.
“I expect patterned floors to become an increasingly important part of bathroom design in 2027, particularly stripes, checkerboards and geometric arrangements created using relatively simple tile shapes.What I find interesting is how much you can change the character of a room simply through the placement of the tiles. A striped floor can draw the eye towards a freestanding bath, for example, while a diagonal checkerboard can bring movement to a compact bathroom”, shares Damla.
Damla adds that colour plays an integral role in using patterned tiles confidently. “A traditional checkerboard takes on a completely different appearance when you combine chocolate brown with pale pink, or terracotta with cream. It’s a wonderful way to introduce pattern while still having control over the scale and overall effect.”
My top tip: If you’re using a wall tile with flooring, step away from the pattern. Unless you’re combining an overly patterned tile with something classic and functional like a stripe you run the risk of your tiles clashing. Combining with a plain or subtle tile on the wall will help to keep the bathroom feeling calm, and stylish.
7. More Adventurous Colour Combinations
We’re not asking for permission to go bold in our interiors anymore, and this is so telling with the colour trends coming out for 2027. Earthy colour schemes are continuing to be popular, with bolder and more indulgent shades such as sunwashed yellows and grape purples becoming the wild card shades for the year ahead.
Damla agrees, “I think we’ll see people becoming much more confident in how they combine colour in bathrooms in 2027. There’s a growing interest in palettes that bring together colours you might not immediately think to pair, such as pale mint with burgundy, dusty pink with chocolate brown, or butter yellow with soft green”.
“Tiles are particularly well suited to experimenting with these combinations because you can control how much of each colour you introduce. You might use a stronger shade across the shower walls and balance it with something softer elsewhere, or introduce a contrasting colour through a tiled vanity or decorative border”.
According to Damla, the important thing is to consider how the colours relate to one another across the whole bathroom, in doing so you’ll create a much more intentional and seamless space.
My top tip: Picking a paint colour or tile choices can be incredibly daunting when there are so many shades out there. I always recommend finding 2-3 colours that you love and feel comfortable to sit in and going from there to order your paint and tile samples. Anymore to choose from and it will make the decision impossible to make.
8. White Is Still Here, But In Much Warmer Nuances
The years of bright white interiors are finally over. White will always hold a place in a bathroom, but in much warmer, comfortable tones. Popular white shades feature either yellow or pink undertones, highly adept at counteracting any blue light associated with dark, north facing rooms.
Holly Scott, Interior Designer at Holly Scott Interior Design says, “I think we’ve finally moved on from the cool grey interiors that were around for too long! Where people do want something neutral, I’m seeing much warmer neutrals coming through. They make a home feel softer and more inviting and less sterile and are a much better backdrop for introducing colour or more of an elegant way to use neutrals”.
Mariette agrees, “Pure whites and cool greys are giving way to warmer off-whites. We’re seeing a move away from cooler, chrome-dominated bathrooms towards warmer metal finishes“.
If you love the feeling of a white and uplifting neutral, you can still enjoy these shades in your bathroom in 2027, and the best bit is, a good neutral really is an utterly timeless foundation in an bathroom.
My top tip: There are so many good warm whites on the market, a few of my favourites that I return to time and time again are, Farrow and Ball Wimborne White, Schoolhouse White and Oxford Stone (for something a little warmer and more nuanced).
9. Decorative Brassware
“I think we’ll continue to see bathrooms embracing more decorative plumbing and exposed fittings in 2027. People are paying much closer attention to the smaller architectural details of a bathroom, from the taps and shower fittings to the pipework and basin supports. These elements are increasingly becoming part of the overall design”, shares Paul.
Where chrome has long been the standard, most popular metal option in bathrooms, we’re also starting to see much more use of unlaquered brass, polished brass and nickel. Metals are the jewellery of any home, and these understated, smaller details really do make the biggest difference to how a finished bathroom look.
“Exposed showers, traditional faucet brassware profiles, and beautifully finished metalwork can bring a great deal of character to a bathroom, particularly when paired with more contemporary surfaces or simple architectural detailing”.
Paul shared that he thinks polished and brushed brass will continue to be popular, but chrome and nickel are really interesting metal choices where you want the fittings to feel crisp and elegant. This is particularly effective when used in combination with very warm colours throughout your bathroom.
My top tip: Don’t be afraid to mix metals either! What was once a taboo is now a welcomed trend in interior design, combine between 2-3 different metals for a really cool look. Nickel and chrome work well together, as does unlacquered brass and nickel.
Bathroom design is becoming much more unique and personal in 2027, exploration of colour and fun decorating choices is leading the way, which of these bathroom trends gets your vote?
