If 2021 is the year your bathroom will be getting a remodel, now is the time to dip into Instagram bathroom trends. It's an inspiring, if somewhat overwhelming, place to browse – with #bathroom alone driving over 9 million tags.
Where to start? Right here. With a little help from interior designer Sarah Davies, founder at FLOELLA Interiors, we bring you 2020's most on-trend bathroom ideas. So, whether you are looking forward to a major renovation, merely want to give the space a quick spruce – or simply love looking at beautiful bathroom trends, these are the Instagram bathroom trends that the world's design conscious have embraced this year – and that you should know about.
1. #freestandingbath
We are not surprised that freestanding baths are number on the list. After all, a freestanding bath makes a luxurious statement in any bathroom. From traditional roll tops with claw feet to more modern oval styles, there is a design for every taste, every budget and even every bathroom size.
Why choose freestanding over a fitted bath? Other than its beautiful, eye-catching shape and the feeling of luxury it exudes, a freestanding tub can actually help a small bathroom feel larger and brighter than a boxy, fitted bath. .
2. #marblebathroom
Marble tiles on floors or walls add an extra layer of opulence to a bathroom. An Instagram favorite, with over 99,000 images linked to #marblebathroom, we love real marble, but find that lookalikes can be very convincing and will allow you to stretch your budget further, applying marble to both walls and floors for a boutique-style bathroom.
3. #whitetiles
Simple, clean and fresh, a white tile brings a cool aesthetic to a bathroom. Add white tiles to walls so that the room feels light, bright and clean, and let pattern floors do the talking.
We love how the different tile shapes in this bathroom complement each other and add pattern and texture, despite the simplicity of the color scheme.
4. #gold
A gold accent in a bathroom is an Instagram must, with gold taps being a popular choice. This luxe look saw a 53% increase in searches between October 2019 and August 2020, as interior lovers looked to implement this trend.
There are many ways to apply gold within a bathroom – gold taps, light fittings and cabinet handles are the obvious choices, but gold tiles are drop dead gorgeous and create an instant feeling of hotel luxury.
5. #blacktaps
Step away from traditional chrome taps and add a chic and modern twist to your bathroom with black taps. Pair with marble effect counter tops for a striking look, or amp up the monochrome feel with black shower features and mirrors, paired against white tiles.
Sarah comments, ‘I love a white bathroom but be careful not to let it look too stark. You need to add in some interest and contrast. Black metal details, such shower accessories and taps create a dramatic look – adding in marble can also look wonderful, especially if it has heavy black veins running through it. Remember, it's about layering up different materials and textures to get that perfect look.’
6. #retrobathrooms
Retro bathrooms – whether with a distinct Mid-century modern look or one that leans towards cute vintage – are character-packed. You can add just a touch of retro with fluted glass wall lights or pair globe lights with gold fixtures to complement other gold accents.
Or, you can pick retro-style tiles and furniture and give your room a retro theme that is utterly contemporary, too.
7. #vesselsink
A vessel sink, or countertop sink, sits on top of the bathroom vanity, and is popular choice to have in the bathroom. There is a range of style options and materials available, from rectangular to oval, and from ceramic to copper.
The sink you choose need not match the rest of your sanitaryware – in fact, a bold contrast can create a focal point in a bathroom.
8. #undermountsink
An undermount sink will help you create a sleek and clean finish in your bathroom, and offers increased storage and display space, so it is no wonder that it is popular. In fact, this sink style saw a 23% increase in searches between October 2019 and August 2020, as interiors trend hunters implemented – and showed off – the look.
We love a double undermount sink like the one above: it creates a sophisticated boutique hotel style that is truly practical.
9. #hangingplants
We are a nation with green fingers, and we are clearly bringing our love of foliage into our bathrooms. Hanging plants was a top choice, with #hangingplants being tagged 278,000 times.
Sarah says, ‘Hanging plants can really add life and interest to an otherwise quite simple space. However, if you struggle to keep plants alive don't feel the pressure to have real plants – just fake it.’
10. #circlemirrors
Circle mirrors round off the top 10 – and we are big fans of them in a bathroom, with the curves echoing those of a bathtub, or contrasting nicely with the sharp angles of a shower screen. Whether you have a small bathroom or a spacious one, we advise the bigger the better to enhance the space and make it brighter.
Sarah adds, ‘Circle mirrors seem to be very popular; they give a nice softness to a room with lots of hard straight lines – it's a really nice balance.’
With thanks to the team at Norton Finance for this research
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