12 Up & Coming Bathroom Trends That Are Taking Over In 2026

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If your bathroom is in major need of a refresh, take a few pointers from top interior designers. This year, tons of bold, textural trends are taking over. It's always a difficult balance to curate a dynamic bathroom that still feels serene, but the experts are up for the challenge. By following a few pro-approved tips, you can add a splash of creativity to your most personal space while still ensuring a timeless interior.

We had the unique opportunity to obtain exclusive interviews from Autumn Dawn Pochiro, Brandy Rinehart, Artem Kropovinsky, Thomas Borcherding, and Chloe Judge. These highly experienced design professionals each provided a unique opinion about where bathroom trends are headed in 2026. Whether you're ready to redo your bathroom or just like to be kept in the loop with upcoming design trends, some of these picks are inspiring and easy to implement. These fresh, emerging bathroom trends will be taking over in 2026, so get ready to start seeing them everywhere.

Autumn Dawn Pochiro, the founder and principal designer at Autumn Dawn Design, has officially deemed the all-white bathroom out of style. She calls the once-modern style sterile and outdated. In 2026, she urges homeowners to consider rich, colorful designs. Pochiro shares this advice in her exclusive interview: "Bathrooms are becoming the jewel box of the home. This coming year, expect to see a trend of color-drenched doors and trim in bathrooms."

Color drenching is a painting trend that can boost the tranquility of your room. It involves painting the entire room in the same color family – ceiling and trim included. Rather than painting just your walls, no architectural element should be left out. However, you don't have to use the same exact shade throughout your entire space. Instead, you can use your doors, door frames, and trim as bold accent pieces. For example, if your bathroom is a sage green, go for a richer, deeper shade of green around your windows and door frame.

In the same vein as the color-drenching trend, Pochiro is an advocate for using tiles to your advantage. Instead of thinking of them as a necessity, allow yourself to treat them as a stylish centerpiece. Pochiro explains: "Colored tiles will dominate Pinterest, making a statement in showers, floors, and accent walls. Irregular tiles that embrace the imperfection of tile design." This is another cue to stray away from cookie-cutter, sleek bathrooms with builder-grade materials. In 2026, designers are embracing the beauty in imperfections.

Tiles present practically endless possibilities when it comes to patterns, textures, and colors. Zellige and terracotta tiles took over last year's interiors, and the handcrafted style is a tile trend you will see even more of in 2026. Consider tiles with uneven surfaces, emphasizing their handmade appearance. When it comes to selecting the right hue, rich, earthy colors are some of this year's top trending tile shades. Dare to explore colors like plum, navy blue, and olive.

Your bathroom should be a multi-sensory experience. Although the appearance is important, Pochiro feels that your design should go beyond just the visuals. This year, people are craving another level of luxury in their bathroom design. She elaborates: "Wellness spa areas, such as infrared saunas, will create an impressive focal point in primary bathroom designs." She emphasizes that your bathroom should feel like a personal sanctuary — a space to recharge and rejuvenate. Pochiro continues: "Imagine spaces filled with multi-sensory elements like biophilic design, rejuvenating infrared saunas, serene sound rooms for meditation, and refreshing plunge spas."

Whether you are designing a large master bath or a more compact space, there are several ways you can give your bathroom a spa-like touch. You can purchase entire sauna units that are space-efficient and ready to install. For example, you can order this X-vcak 1-2 Person Infrared Sauna with red light therapy on Amazon. If you don't have space for an entire unit, focus on smaller pieces that you can incorporate, such as this Viconor Red Light Therapy for Face and Body. Another easy option to give your bathroom a spa-inspired feel is to add live greenery.

Although entirely minimalist spaces might be falling out of fashion, that doesn't mean that clutter should be visible. In fact, miscellaneous items can actually pull focus from your bold bathroom decor. Brandy Rinehart, working with Habitar Design, recommends getting creative when it comes to hiding unsightly objects. She tells us in an exclusive interview: "One detail I've completely crushed on? Beautifully designed hidden toilet paper holders. With a bit of pre-planning—or during a renovation—you're no longer staring at a roll of toilet paper, but instead enjoying a chic dispenser or fully concealed niche." This is just one area where thoughtful storage solutions can make a major difference in your space.

There are endless hidden storage ideas perfect for adding space to your bathroom. Think out of the box when it comes to creating less visual clutter. For example, this Fkhouse Laundry Cabinet has the appearance of a small credenza, but completely conceals your laundry basket and adds countertop space. To follow Rinehart's tips, this AmazerBath Toilet Paper Cabinet looks more like a natural storage space than a toilet paper holder. The key is to stop thinking of your bathroom like a utilitarian space and give it just as much attention as any other living area in your home.

To expand on the subject of treating your bathroom no differently from the rest of your home, Rinehart emphasizes the importance of lighting. Allow yourself to indulge in ambient lighting that transports you to a resort-style space. Rinehart explains: "Think proper facial lighting and ambient glow, instead of feeling like you're showering under a concert spotlight." Two upgrades she suggests are mirrors with integrated lighting and ambient lighting in showers.

Even if you don't have natural light in your bathroom, you can make a windowless bathroom feel lighter with expert-approved hacks. Rinehart recommends DIY lighting options like adding taped lighting to shampoo and soap niches. She also mentions motion-sensor lighting underneath floating cabinets for convenience and a warm atmosphere. Both of these options are affordable and accessible, making it easier than ever to upgrade your space. These MCGOR Under Cabinet Lights are dimmable and easy to install.

Kitchens aren't the only spaces that are taking inspiration from Old World, European interiors. Designers are also leaning into classic, organic materials when it comes to bathroom design. Rinehart points out the benefits of large-format stone tiles. She shares: "In smaller spaces, large-scale tile or slab stone creates drama and visual calm simultaneously, thanks to fewer grout lines (a win we can all appreciate)." She also notes that large-scale tiles are becoming more affordable and readily available to everyday homeowners.

In a bathroom, practicality is as important as style. Although you might be seduced by mosaic tiles and other decorative designs, don't forget to consider the hassle of cleaning grout. If you are designing a guest bath or a space that won't be used often, you might be able to get away with a solely aesthetic choice. However, if you are designing your primary bathroom, you don't want to make your day-to-day life even harder. For added simplicity, consider choosing a grout shade that matches the color of your tile slabs. This will also help create a seamless, stone-like appearance.

Another stone-inspired trend, try swapping your wood cabinets for something more daring — yet equally organic. If you're looking for a unique approach to luxury cabinetry, Rinehart shares her top pick: "This trend is especially near and dear to me. Stone-clad cabinetry creates an ultra-sleek, cohesive flow from shower to vanity that feels undeniably next-level—and timeless." She admits that the price tag may be on the higher end, but the visual effect is well worth it if you can fit it into your budget.

If you want to keep your costs down, Rinehart recommends trying this trend on a smaller vanity or powder room. Consider using the same kind of stone for your countertops and your cabinet fronts for a clean, contemporary look. If you want to take it a step further, you can use a similar slab in your shower or on your bathroom floors. This single-stone approach to your bathroom is daring and dramatic.

Beyond simply providing storage, think about how every piece contributes to the room's overall look and feel. Artem Kropovinsky, owner of Arsight Studio, shares his approach in this exclusive interview for HouseDigest readers: "Integrated storage will look more like furniture than built-ins. Recessed niches, reeded or fluted fronts, and slim, wall-hung cabinetry keep the room light while still solving the everyday clutter problem." Consider the visual and textural elements such as paneling, hardware, materials, and finishes that can turn functional storage into design features.

Following Kropovinsky's advice, add pieces to your bathroom like this TEENFON Fluted Bathroom Wall Cabinet for a touch of texture. If you need even more storage, try this compact Giantex 4 Drawer Storage Cabinet with fluted glass drawers. The key is to choose pieces that will elevate your current space instead of those that simply look like you are trying to conceal items. Each piece should look intentional rather than purely for storage purposes.

Take organic kitchen design to new heights with mineral paint and plaster walls. Kropovinsky tells readers: "Mineral finishes and plaster are moving into bathrooms — tadelakt, limewash-inspired looks and microcement create spa-like surfaces that feel both decorative and architectural." This falls in line with the eco-brutalist trend, blending unfinished, almost industrial surfaces with biophilia and organic touches.

If you love to DIY, it is possible to limewash your own walls by mixing lime putty or plaster with paint. However, when it comes to a high-humidity environment like your bathroom, you may want to purchase a pre-mixed limewash paint that is moisture-resistant, like this Suzuka Strato Texture Limewash with a wax coating included. For color inspiration, these limewash wall color ideas will add an old-world elegance to your space.

Americans are growing increasingly fond of the ancient practice of the bidet. Over the last few years, bidets have become more and more common in U.S. households. However, 2026 is taking the bidet one step further. Thomas Borcherding, lead designer at Homestar Design Remodel, elaborates in an exclusive quote for HouseDigest: "New features we are seeing become a part of bidet seats include integrated night lighting, self-sanitizing features, as well as pattern recognition used to identify when to warm the seat for you." These high-tech elements are solidifying the bidet as a must-have in luxury homes.

While separate bidets might be gaining traction, you can still add a bidet to your existing toilet. There are both electric and non-electric options available online. This ZMJH 236 Bidet Toilet Seat has a heated toilet seat and a high-tech bidet function with several adjustable washes. If you are shopping for an entirely new toilet, consider a modern solution like this Vipbear Smart Toilet with Bidet Built-In. Once you've selected your bidet of choice, this is how to install a bidet in the bathroom for that extra clean feeling.

There are several tech-related trends that are on the rise. Borcherding highlights another one of his top picks: "Smart shower valves with digital displays are the most exciting trend in 2026 to me. Imagine a shower valve that adjusts itself to the temperature that you set for it, as opposed to regularly cranking up the heat as the water heater drains." If you've ever gotten frustrated with achieving the perfect water temperature for your morning shower, you might just fall in love with this convenient invention.

It might sound fancy, but smart shower valves are fairly attainable. This Longriver Shower Faucet Set with Hydro Power Temperature Display is priced at only $179.97. You can also purchase a valve with a separate controller that can be mounted outside of the shower, like this Moen Matte Black Smart Shower system. You can even control the system remotely using your smartphone, Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant.

Fixture trends come and go, and it can be hard to determine what will stand the test of time. However, this trend is proof that even the most unexpected design trends can have a comeback. While retro bathrooms with pastel bathtubs and saturated sinks may have fallen out of favor for a while, this colorful approach is officially back. Chloe Judge, interior designer and co-founder at For Keeps, exclusively tells our readers: "We are finally seeing color return to the design world, this conversation is all about colorful fixture installations. A red wall-mounted sink, a cobalt blue faucet, a sage green or dusty pink sunken bathtub." Even colorful toilets are currently having a major moment.

Judge notes that these funky fixtures can easily be balanced by modern trends like zellige tiles or sculptural wall sconces. All in all, this trend is a reflection of people's desire to curate a totally unique space. 2026 bathroom trends are shifting towards creativity and personalization rather than predictability and colorless rooms. If you want to start small, consider swapping out your metal fixtures for something bolder like this bright red ASRCLOO Single Hole Bathroom Sink Faucet.