If a new bathroom is on your agenda in 2026, now's the time to start looking into bathroom trends to figure out what will be on offer when it comes to choosing your final bathroom design.
From must have fixtures to predicted colours and surface finishes, it seems that the 2026 bathroom trends are all geared towards one main goal – turning your bathroom into a room that truly focuses on ritual and wellness.
That said, there's still room for some quirky features and a healthy splash of individuality, so join us as we take a deep dive in the the 2026 bathroom trends you won't want to ignore.
1. Timber is on trend in 2026 bathroom design
If there's a material that looks to define both bathroom and kitchen trends in 2026, it's timber. And, while it was once reserved to dry zones in your home, due to advances in product design and technology, there's now no limits to where it can be used.
From waterproof wall panelling such as these oak and black waterproof panels from Naturewall, through to wood effect bathroom floor tiles, it instantly adds warmth to your bathroom ideas and fits with the biophilic trend we'll come to discuss later. So why is it that it's become so popular?
“Wood bridges the gap between hard and soft. It stops bathrooms feeling clinical and introduces the visual comfort of furniture, creating a link between bathing spaces and the rest of the home," says Keeley Sutcliffe, design manager at BC Designs.
"There is a strong desire for bathrooms that feel connected rather than separate and timber helps achieve that. It absorbs and reflects light differently to stone or tile, softening the overall tone of a room. We are using it in ways that feel architectural, not decorative; fluted panels, integrated shelving, even subtle ceiling wall cladding that draws the eye upward.”
Keen to use timber but only have a small bathroom to work with? Choose a lighter toned wood and pair it with white and a splash of green foliage for a light and airy space.
Keeley Sutcliffe is Brand Manager for award-winning British bathroom designers, BC Designs. Since 1999 the award winning company has been leading the way with its thoughtful, innovative and considered bathroom designs.
2. Include a spa suite in your bathroom design brief
Although it's not uncommon to think about a spa when choosing your new bathroom, it's a request that industry experts are seeing ramp up even more as we head towards 2026.
But, it's not just about making sure you have enough fluffy towels to hand. It's about taking a calm and considered approach to your bathroom or ensuite ideas, and taking every little detail into account to get the best end result.
Keeley Sutcliffe explains: “We are seeing people design bathrooms with the same level of thought that would once have been reserved for a kitchen or living room. Every detail matters, from how light moves across the surface of a freestanding bath, to the tone of the brassware or the warmth of the timber. It is a more intelligent, sensory approach to design.”
And, if putting a spa in your home feels like a step too far, think of hotel bathroom ideas instead, says Sally Sally Bettison, design manager at Tissino.
“Hotel style bathrooms are making a come-back in 2026 and it’s really exciting to be part of it. Forever luxurious and often seen as unachievable, it’s actually a trend that can be adopted reasonably easily with a few additions to your existing bathroom," she says.
"One of the key elements is a statement freestanding bath, but if that’s not your style then opt for a contemporary design that is sleek. Or, if space is in an issue then check out a corner bath – a curvy modern feel will invoke a sanctuary feel instantly,” suggests Sally.
Bathroom style expert, Rikki Fothergill from the Big Bathroom Shop agrees, telling us the ‘spa-throom’ is definitely back in style (if of course it ever went away).
"2025 has been another year where wellness has boomed and I expect to see the trend for self-care growing event more next year. As people start to ditch nights out for Pilates mornings, there is a focus on ‘romanticising’ life. Where better to start than the bathroom?" says Rikki.
“A shower won’t just be a shower, for example," explains Rikki, "it will have enhanced steaming features, immersive lighting will feature heavily, and I predict an uplift in features like bathroom underfloor heating for an extra touch of luxury.”
Sally is Design Manager at Tissino. With a background in fashion design, Sally brings her love and experience of fashion into the bathroom sector, designing trend-led and colourful products that homeowners can enjoy daily.
With over six years of industry experience working as a marketing executive at Big Bathroom Shop, Rikki is a specialist in luxury bathrooms. She has a keen eye for latest interior trends and more importantly, has a deep understanding of what’s important to customers when choosing products for their next bathroom renovation project. Through her insightful content, Rikki inspires and guides customers, helping them find the perfect bathroom solutions to suit their home design and needs.
3. Freestanding baths are back and more of a feature than ever
Although freestanding baths have always been a popular feature in luxury and larger bathrooms, or when you have the space for a bath in the bedroom, there's a change in focus on just how important they are as we head into 2026.
“Bathrooms are now being designed around the bath, not the other way round," says Keeley Sutcliffe. "Placement, proportion and materiality matter. A sculptural bath under a rooflight or set against textured plaster becomes a focal point that defines the room’s rhythm.”
It's a fact we can back up with the number of beautiful freestanding baths we get to see here at Homebuilding & Renovating. Long gone are the days of boring bath tubs, instead, baths are being designed as the main centrepiece of the room.
From jewel coloured tubs through to modern masterpieces, when it comes to the best way to treat such an item in your bathroom, it's simply to lean into its brilliance and make it the focal point around which all other items pay homage to its beauty.
4. Top of the wish list? A sauna in the bathroom
According to the experts, more and more of us are looking to expand the size of our bathroom when designing a self build or renovating a house. Rather than it being a room based around necessity, it's becoming an escape, a place where we can unwind and relax.
The must have item in this newly enlarged room? A sauna.
"The ultimate expression of the bathroom as retreat, saunas are quietly entering the domestic space," confirms Keeley Sutcliffe. “The demand for wellness at home is real. People want to replicate the calm they experience in spas within their own four walls. A small sauna or steam cabin integrated into a larger bathroom does exactly that.”
Keen to include one in your home? Pay extra attention to your bathroom ventilation plans and water supply early on and check if there are any specific requirements regarding weight or your electricity supply.
5. Blue will one of the most popular bathroom colours in 2026
Some may say decorating with blue is tricky, but following the announcement that the Dulux Colour of the Year was a trio of blue shades, if there's one place it's an easy colour to use, it's the bathroom.
However, what you want to avoid when using blue in bathrooms is turning your space into a seaside pastiche that you regret after a short while. The key to success? It's all down to colour choice and what you pair it with says Rikki Fothergill.
"From soft cerulean accents to deep navy cabinetry, blue offers both tranquillity and depth and is a colourway that can transform a functional space into a retreat. It also pairs beautifully with so many other options such as warm metals and natural woods," she adds, "meaning almost any aesthetics can include it in a space.”
And, as we'll come to discuss further on, blue also ties in well with the biophilic feel of bathrooms that some of our experts predict will shine in 2026 bathroom trends.
6. Brushed nickel remains this season's favourite finish
The rise of brushed nickel as the metal of choice started to hit the bathroom agenda in 2025, and although some are predicting chrome will have it's day too, not everyone agrees this to be the case.
“There is a clear trend moving away from the classic chrome”, says Rikki Fothergill. “We are so excited to see people getting more experimental with their finishes in the bathroom."
“Brushed nickel gives you the neutrality of chrome without the coldness," explains Keeley Sutcliffe. "It feels timeless, a finish that will not date as trends move on. To integrate it successfully, use it consistently across taps, fillers and towel rails, allowing it to harmonise with the wider palette rather than compete with it.”
"We also predict brushed nickel will be the key metallic in 2026 bathroom trends," agrees Sally Bettison. "It has a lovely soft finish that moves us away visually from the stark finish of chrome and is warmer to the eye than brushed brass."
Wondering which colours to pair it with? Sally suggests a range including soft creams, pale pink, taupe and even darker shades such as forest green, indigo blue and terracotta.
7. Tactile fluted surfaces will be big in 2026 bathroom trends
Given fluted finishes have been seen interior design trends for some time, it's perhaps no surprise that they are set to flood bathrooms too in 2026. It's also a style that compliments a move towards fludity, curves and calm lines, says Nick Duggan, managing director of The Radiator Centre.
"The trend for 2026 is leaning into softer shapes and a more relaxed silhouette. Vanities featuring rounded corners, freestanding baths with smooth curves and gentle arches in shower screens are all expected to be a hit," predicts Nick.
Fluted bathroom furniture and bathroom features are a great way of leaning into this softer design approach, adds Rikki Fothergill. "It's such as simple, yet so effective design which is proven to add depth and dimension in what can often be boxy, flat spaces”, she says.
Looking for additional ways to soften your bathroom? Even your bathroom heating is getting a new look of late explains Nick.
"The rectangular ladder rail or bathroom radiator is being replaced with innovative designs incorporating softer edges and corners, and hooks, instead of bars," Nick tells us. "We even have circular designs on offer which allows you to choose a more integrated, but still practical solution to drying bathroom towels."
Nick has over 20 years of experience in central heating and radiators, leading the team at one of the UK's largest independent suppliers.
8. Larger and double showers will be in demand
If you still prefer a shower to a bath, or even have space for both, make sure your bathroom layout includes space for a large enough shower, as you're set to see plenty on offer in 2026, says Sally Bettison.
"Larger shower areas are one of the new trends you’re going to be reading about for next year. Ideally double the size if you can stretch to it," she predicts.
"The beauty of this kind of configuration is that they actually take up less space than you might think, plus they can have a light and airy feel with a walk-in design featuring glass panels and uber sleek metallic stabilising bars," she advises.
"Another prediction is a soft water shower," adds Sally, "which doesn't have a full ‘rain effect’ but is more than just a ‘mist’ as it sits in between the two."
9. Use biophilic colours and features
It's perhaps no surprise that with the predicted bathroom trends of timber, wellness and spas already on the cards, nature will continue to provide inspiration for bathroom design in 2026.
Biophilic design has weaved its way into our homes over the years, and while some years it plays less of a part than others, in 2026, it's set to reign once more.
"The all‑white bathroom era is quietly giving way to more emotive palettes and layered colour," says Nick Duggan. "Earthy beiges, warm caramel tones, deep greens, terracotta and jewel‑inspired blues are rising as the go-to colours."
When searching for your bathroom colour palette, "a great place to start is by being inspired by what you can see outside," says Sally Bettison. "Think of the seasons and about what shades make you feel good – is it a sky blue? A moss green? The bark of a tree or the blush pink of hydrangea petals, or a grounding stone?
"It might be you decide to paint the walls in a pale blue, or source blue tiles and team with earthy taupe cabinetry," she suggests.
Accessorise with plants like ferns that will enhance your bathroom, pebbles picked from your favourite beach walk and towels in a soothing grounding shade for a biophilic bathroom you'll never want to leave.
10. Lighting will really matter in 2026's bathroom trends
As we extend the time we spend in bathrooms and embrace a range of different colours, finishes, surfaces and an aesthetic that demands attention rather than blending into the background, bathroom lighting needs to follow suit in 2026.
"Bathrooms are embracing richer, more emotive colour palettes. Neutral no longer means white; instead, tones of clay, stone, olive and sand are creating a grounded aesthetic that complements natural materials," says Keeley Sutcliffe, and this means layered lighting is a must.
“Lighting must be a design tool in bathrooms, not an afterthought. Look to build in circuits that shift from bright and functional in the morning to soft and ambient at night," advises Keeley.
"Pair warm wall lighting with backlit mirrors or hidden LED detail, ensuring light grazes across surfaces rather than flooding them," suggests Keeley.
The result? A bathroom that changes character with the time of day, calm in the evening through to energising in the morning, and one that's perfectly in line with the overall drive of bathroom trends in 2026 – the desire to create a space that's more than a sanctuary, it's a place to recharge, revitalise and prepare yourself for daily life, both on a physical and emotional level.
Shop the 2026 bathroom trends
Timber effect wall tiles offering the warmth of natural wood with the hard-wearing resilience of ceramic tiles
Embrace the wellness trend with this sauna. Bigger models are also available
Upgrade your ensuite or downstairs WC with this fluted vanity unit and sink
Keen to get started on your new bathroom? Start by understanding how much your bathroom costs could be, but remember that whatever your bathroom budget, there's always a way to incorporate key elements of the newest bathroom trends without having to splash the cash.
For example, you could opt to create a new tiled splashback rather than cover your entire wall in new tiles, or simply upgrade your accessories and add some new artwork until such times as you can afford to work on renovating your bathroom. The best way to avoid making any bathroom design mistakes when you do start? Don't rush the planning stage and you'll end up with a bathroom or ensuite you'll be proud of.
