Bathroom Design Trends for 2024
Embracing Bold Colors, Practicality, and Long-Term Comfort
By Zey Hilla, MS, NCIDQ, Designer for Kitchen and Bath
The bathroom, often the last room in the house to receive a makeover, has stepped increasingly into the spotlight in 2024. In growing numbers, homeowners are prioritizing this private space, driven by the desire to stay in their current homes and make them truly their own. With rising mortgage rates and construction costs hitting in recent months, many are choosing to invest in updates to their existing homes rather than move to or build new homes.
Now taking center stage for many homeowners who have crossed other updates off of their lists, bathroom design trends for 2024 are all about bold aesthetics, practical updates, and long-term comfort.
Here’s what our design team is seeing and working with clients on when renovating their bathrooms.
Bold and Warm Color Palettes
Gone are the days of sterile grays and whites from the 1990s and early 2000s. Homeowners today are embracing richer, more daring colors in their bathrooms. Jewel tones and darker, warmer hues are replacing the neutral palettes that have dominated for the previous two decades. This shift extends to all elements of the bathroom — from tiles to countertops — creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere for homeowners and guests alike!
Natural Wood Tones with a Modern Twist
Wood is making a strong comeback in bathroom design, but not in the orange and red tones of the past. Instead, cooler brown tones are being favored, bringing a natural, “earthy” feel to the space. Simplistic, flat-slab cabinet door designs are popular, contributing to a sleek, mid-century modern aesthetic that’s both timeless and trendy at once.
Large-Format Tiles Are Big (in More Ways than One!)
One of the standout trends for 2024 is the use of large-format tiles. These tiles minimize grout lines, making maintenance easier and giving the bathroom a more streamlined, sophisticated look. Large tiles with continuous patterns and bold colors create a statement, transforming the shower into a focal point of the space. While smaller mosaic tiles may still be used for shower floors, due to their practicality in sloping, the walls are all about large, impactful designs that make a fresh statement.
Luxurious Showers Over Tubs
With the shift towards aging-in-place — especially Baby Boomers and those post-retirement — many homeowners are opting to replace traditional tubs with spacious, luxurious showers. Freestanding tubs remain popular where space allows, offering a deep soaking experience for those who still cherish one, but alcove tubs are becoming less common than in years past. Frameless shower doors are increasingly a preferred design choice, offering a sleek look with easier maintenance.
Warm and Natural Countertops
Countertops are following the trend towards warmer tones as well. While quartz remains a popular choice, natural stones like granite and quartzite are gaining traction quickly. These materials complement the warm color palette of other design trends in the bathroom and bring a touch of natural elegance to the home overall.
Elegant bathroom vanity with double marble sinks and gold fixtures Statement Fixtures Evolving
The hardware and fixtures throughout the modern bathroom are also seeing a makeover. Brushed brass and matte black finishes are replacing the once-dominant brushed nickel (or other matted silvery hues that were so popular in yesteryear). These finishes and updated materials add a touch of luxury without the outdated shine of the 80s and 90s. Decorative grab bars that match these fixtures are being incorporated into showers, combining style with practicality.
Speaking of “combining style with practicality…”
Practical Aging-in-Place Features
As homeowners plan to stay in their homes longer, the concept of aging in place is influencing bathroom design as well. However, there is no need to sacrifice “form” in favor of “function.” Quite the contrary, in fact.
Features like grab bars, wider shower openings, and multiple shower fixtures (including handheld options) are becoming standard — but matching the bold statements, design aesthetic, and tone-setting of the other design components mentioned above. These additions ensure that the bathroom remains functional and comfortable for years to come…but without sacrificing style in the process!
The Bathroom as a Thoughtful, Long-Term Investment
Overall, bathroom renovations in 2024 are viewed as long-term investments, perhaps more so than ever before. Homeowners are willing to spend more, knowing that they’ll be enjoying these updates for many years to come. While labor costs may have increased here and there, the cost of materials has become more reasonable, allowing for high-quality, stylish updates without breaking the bank.
Overall, bathroom design trends for 2024 are all about embracing bold colors, natural materials, and practical updates that cater to long-term use, as well as to the reality that many of us will be staying in our existing homes longer than what might have been true just a few short years ago.
By pursuing these trends and their own personal tastes, homeowners can create a bathroom that’s not only beautiful but also functional and future-proof.
Zey Hilla , MS, NCIDQ, specializes in custom home planning and residential remodeling, with an emphasis on function and aesthetics.
