From fluted everything to smart and sleek storage, here are five ideas worth considering for your next bathroom project…

After a couple of busy days at the UK’s leading kitchen, bedroom and bathroom exhibition, kbb Birmingham, roughly 20,000 steps, and an immeasurable amount of caffeine consumed throughout the show later, I’m back to report the latest bathroom launches I’ve seen, felt, and explored in detail.

1. Textural experience

From the conversations I’ve had with the experts, homeowners are now looking to create layered, lived-in spaces more than ever, with oodles of personality and character. So, texture is becoming the must-have feature in bathroom design.

Whether we’re talking shower panels and trays, furniture or sanitaryware, it seems tactile finishes are as, if not more, popular as colour. Which leads me onto…

2. Fluting

This trendy finish is a feast for the senses! Visually pleasing and tantalisingly tactile, fluting has gone beyond your classic shower panels, now adorning everything from baths and basins to taps and tiles. While it’s an open invitation to interact with its tactile nature, this effect can add a contemporary touch to your bathroom.

So, if you’ve been debating embracing fluting, take this as your sign to bring everyday luxury to your bathing or showering space. “Bathrooms are personal spaces, somewhere you start and end each day, so it’s only right they feel uniquely yours,” says Angela Neve, director of marketing and new product development at Vado.

3. Smart bathroom storage

Organisation space is key in any room, but especially in UK bathrooms, which are notoriously compact (unless you’re knocking down walls to gain precious footprint or building from scratch). Enter: smart storage. I’m talking innovative solutions allowing you to conceal or show off your toiletries, recessed furniture, and pretty and practical lit-up mirror cabinets.

“Small space is a catalyst driving meaningful innovation,” says Jonathan Hunt, Hettich UK’s head of marketing. “Those who lean in this direction and see flexibility as an essential part of good design will play a defining role in shaping the way people live in the years ahead.” So, there is no need to compromise on style in favour of practicality when, with smart storage, you can have the best of both.

4. Eye-catching colour

I’ve written about coloured sanitaryware making a comeback in bathrooms, and this was clearly confirmed by the latest design ideas and launches I spotted at the show. Picture textured basins drenched in sunset shades, blueberry blue showers, matt green wall-mounted toilets, muted mauve furniture, and so much more.

So, if you are planning a project anytime soon and love a mood-boosting look, you might want to turn the saturation all the way up… To ensure your scheme won’t date, choose colours you’re fond of and styles you’ll love for years to come.

5. Boutique bathrooms

Finding yourself longing for that tranquil feeling often found in hotel bedrooms and spa bathrooms? Why not bring the allure home. The vanity area plays a key role in nailing this look, with LED mirrors oozing a boutique feeling. Equipped with light-up features, demisters, and clever functionality, the latest designs suit a range of aesthetics.

Complete this timeless, elegant look with nature-inspired finishes such as wood and stone, polished gold fittings, elegant brassware, and layered lighting.

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