2008 has come and gone, and with it has come a diverse selection of trends in luxury bathroom décor and features. The trends from this year were highly varied, ranging from the simplicity and serenity of Asian-influenced Zen décor to luxury materials and fixtures—and even electronics in the bathroom. Here are just a few of the top bathroom trends of 2008.
The natural look. Natural is in with trendy bathrooms of 2008. Many of the most contemporary bathroom designs bring natural materials into the bathroom in different forms. Stone tiling and countertops, hardwood flooring, and natural neutral colours were all highly popular in 2008. White colours favoured warm natural eggshell and seashell hues rather than the more harsh and chilly blue whites. Don’t forget a vase of flowers to contrast with all those natural earth tones.
The Zen look. Asian influence is making itself known in recent trends as the bathroom becomes less a place to get clean and more a place to relax and unwind. In 2008, homeowners often chose to pattern their bathrooms after the Zen peacefulness of a spa retreat. Think floors made of polished river stones or bamboo, Japanese soaking tubs and water fountains. To achieve a Zen look, choose just a few contrasting natural materials encompassing wood, stone and metal—the key to a truly meditative bathroom is balance and simplicity.
Multimedia in the bathroom. In 2008, waterproof televisions installed on or near bathroom mirrors grew in popularity. The trendiest homeowners placed televisions behind the vanity mirror and installed speaker systems in the shower. To follow this trend without breaking the bank, consider buying a portable shower radio. These are typically inexpensive and are designed to hang from the curtain rod, requiring no difficult installation.
Luxury showers. Luxurious showers are growing in popularity, with two-person showers, steam showers, and an array of massaging jets showing up in trendy bathrooms all over the country. The most luxurious showers include aromatherapy, chromatherapy, and built-in sound systems. It’s also trendy to install luxury showers with distinctive features—corner showers with dramatic shapes, glass doors and striking tiling were all highly popular in 2008.
Luxury baths. Of course, luxury doesn’t stop at the shower. Whirlpool tubs have always been popular, but in 2008 homeowners had a vast array of choices. Some chose deep Japanese and Asian-inspired soaking tubs over the traditional whirlpool tub, while others chose two-person or larger tubs to give plenty of soaking room for romantic encounters.
Luxury materials. Forget the run-of-the-mill ceramics, linoleums and stainless steel. The trendiest bathrooms of 2008 featured marble and granite, brushed bronze and copper and other striking materials. While these materials are beautiful and eye-catching, they come with a big price tag—you can save money by buying linoleums that imitate luxury materials. These are often quite high-quality and cost a great deal less than the real thing.
Attention to comfort. Luxurious details including heated towel rails and heated stone floors assured optimal comfort in the bathroom in 2008.
Basin sinks. Forget about the old-fashioned pedestal and countertop sinks. In 2008, homeowners went with creative and distinctive basin sinks in a wide variety of designs and materials. Hand painted ceramic, glass, stone and metal sinks were made popular on several design and renovation shows.
Green bathrooms. Going green has become a big trend throughout many different industries—including bathroom redesign. Some trendy homeowners are choosing natural and recycled materials for countertops and tiles, while others save water with air showerheads and dual-flush toilets. Of course, you don’t need to redesign your bathroom to go green. Buy recycled toilet paper and natural personal care products with biodegradable containers. Choose organic cotton and other cloths for your towels and shower curtains. Give your bathroom a fresh coat of paint using no-VOC latex paints. With these steps, your bathroom will be greener without costing you a lot of money.
2008 was an interesting year when it came to bathroom trends. The year’s most popular bathrooms were luxurious and fitted with all the most cutting-edge media technology. They were also balanced and simple, including design reminiscent of Zen spas and country retreats. Environmental friendliness is a trend that will go with any bathroom design—and will hopefully continue to be popular for many years to come.