Tap into the latest bathroom trends

The style expert at BC Designs reveals the latest looks to turn a sad space into a sanctuary

With the focus ever more on the home, and making it a haven to escape the worries and stresses of life, we look for ways to restyle that will fit with our budget. That might be a full renovation of a cramped and leaky bathroom, or making over a dingy space that just needs a lick of paint for a bright new look. Barrie Cutchie, design director at BC Designs, explores the bathroom trends that will be making waves in 2023. For more new bathroom styles, go to BC Designs at bcdesigns.co.uk

Check mate

Checkerboard is one of the hottest surface and tile trends, and is great for adding pattern and colour without being too over the top. The colour doesn’t have to be traditional black and white — use contrasting or similar shades for a softer or contemporary take. Checkerboard flooring works in most spaces, but in an en suite or cloakroom, use smaller tiles to see more of the pattern.

Softer shapes

Bring curves into a bathroom with decorative and functional items where the design is focused on more organic forms. Adding curves gives a visual rhythm that creates a relaxed feel, removing harsh lines and angular corners. These softer lines are naturally found in nature, which speaks to us as we become more in tune with the environment.

Warm metallics

Choosing taps and showers in brass and brushed brass, with their rich undertones, adds a warm contrast to the starkness of a tiled bathroom. Think about the other parts of the room with chrome finishes that can also be updated, such as flush plates/ buttons, radiators, and shower door fixings and profiles. Don’t feel the need to stick with a single finish — mixed metals are also on the rise.

Zest for life

Orange featured heavily in homewares in 2022, and has now filtered through into bathroom schemes. This style isn’t about in-your-face Tango orange shades, it is about more subtle burnt oranges and bursts of terracotta. A tricky colour to get right, but there are ways to make it work without overpowering the room. Use it as a colour pop on a painted bath, then pick out details through tiles or accessories.