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1. Self-Care Enhancements
We may keep our nail files and Epsom salt for bubble baths in the bathroom, but how much self-care are we actually reaping from this space?
Stephanie Krickeberg, the associate director of marketing of Sprig by Kohler said that “over the last few years, the trend of creating more elevated, spa-like experiences in the bathroom has skyrocketed. We have seen people prioritizing the shower as a way to integrate self-care throughout their day.”
Krickeberg told Forbes Home that Sprig by Kohler has developed its own shower infusion device that encourages a step away from utilitarian monotony and starts a new wellness ritual. There is an increasing importance of elevating the bathroom to match the elevated experience homeowners are seeking beyond pure function.
2. Customized Showers
Going hand-in-hand with self-care, customized showers are a popular new feature among many brands this year.
Alex Yacavone, design studio manager of trends and CMF at Kohler told Forbes Home that “2023 has been coined ‘the year of the shower.’” This claim is shared by Pinterest’s recent insights into customizable showers as a major 2023 trend.
“With that, consumers are looking for ways to customize their showering experience to a more elevated routine,” Yacavone continued, including products that allow you to control six different sprays using digital valves and controls.
3. Warmer Earthy Tones
Last year’s call to sea-inspired hues has shapeshifted into a more neutral, earthy palette. We saw it first when Sherwin-Williams announced Redend Point SW 9081, a soulful clay tone.
According to Seth Fritz, lead designer at Brizo, “We are tracking Earth tones, warming of color palettes and a true return to nature in so many exciting ways. Visual, tactical and representative nods to nature are being used everywhere,” he said. “This will continue to create a wellness escape in the master bathroom space, but now with more of a luxe focus. Warm metals, mood lighting, textured walls and furniture pieces create inviting relaxation spots in homes.”
4. Sustainability and Eco-Consciousness
At the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in February 2023, multiple top brands incorporated sustainability enhancements into their presentations and the products themselves. Fritz of Brizo continued that “sustainability is key in this space,” including “intelligent usages of water, sustainable materials, connected technology, products creating ultra clean water [and] even water additives for wellness.”
Recycled materials in the bathroom aren’t exactly new, but rather a continued trend, according to John Cialone, Partner and Vice President of Tom Stringer Design Partners: “All recycled products continue to be popular, and why not use them?”
5. Materials That Scream Craftsmanship
Alex Dornbracht, managing director or Kallista, said that finishes like their French gold or unlacquered brass are popular “for customers who want a material that ages naturally over time and [has] a story.” Dornbracht stressed the importance of homeowners being able to connect to their space.
“Materials and finishes that have a story around craftsmanship or provenance give customers an emotional connection to the products they put in the bathroom,” Dornbracht said.
6. Unexpected Pops of Color
Dornbracht of Kallista says that “while customers are still more likely to prefer a neutral color scheme in the master bath, we see a trend for playing with colorful accents in the powder room and secondary bathrooms where decor can be more playful.”
For a room like a bathroom, the word “risk” probably has only come to mind when stepping out of the tub onto slippery tile, but it’s taken on a new meaning in 2023, thanks to this trend.
“We continue to see the bathroom evolve into a space of expression where homeowners are willing to take a little bit more risk. Color has been an important tool in showcasing expression in a once-utilitarian space. Specifically, color has been used as a callback to retro aesthetics with bold hues,” Yacavone of Sprig by Kohler told Forbes Home.
7. Aging in Place Design
According to the Population Reference Borough, the number of Americans aged 65-plus is projected to almost double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060, and 2023 is still expecting to see much higher-than-average mortgage rates, which could mean that more people are planning to age in place in their homes versus alternatives.
Kallista’s Dornbracht explained that “we see a trend for thoughtfully embedding the principles of universal design into bathrooms without looking institutional as more customers want to live in homes that allow them to age in place.” Making accessibility tweaks to your home could look like installing safety bars, a bench for sitting in the shower or in the main bathroom area and changing the tile to non-slip alternatives such as ceramic, porcelain or cement tile.
8. Refrigeration (Yes, in the Bathroom)
Heather Shannon, Director of Brand Marketing at Perlick, said the company has noticed a growing number of homeowners interested in adding refrigeration to their primary bathrooms.
“Our customers request refrigeration in their bathrooms for multiple reasons, but there are two common themes we are seeing. First [would be] convenience. Homeowners want to put their medication in the bathroom instead of walking to the kitchen at night. They want their face creams and organic makeups and facial masks to be next to the bathroom sink instead of in the refrigerator downstairs,” Shannon told Forbes Home.
“The second reason is luxury. A growing number of homeowners are installing refrigeration near soaking tubs to have access to water, champagne, wine or other chilled beverages without ever having to leave the relaxation of the bath,” she continued.
Note that if you’re interested in adding refrigeration to your bathroom, but don’t have the space or the resources to install one into the hardware, consider a portable, smaller refrigerator that you can sit on your counter.
9. Integrated Bidets
You may have seen them on a trip abroad, but bidets are just now on the rise in the U.S. Danielle DeBoe Harper, senior creative style manager at Moen, told Forbes Home that “I think we’re finally wising up to what the Europeans have long been enjoying: total clean and total comfort. With increased awareness and interest in personal wellness and care, it is no wonder we’d eventually come around.”
