5 of the hottest bathroom trends for 2014

Perhaps the most underrated room in the house, the décor of the bathroom can often be seriously overlooked. It’s the room where you get ready in the morning, where you wind down at night and which you visit frequently throughout the day. So surely it should look great, fit in with the style of the rest of your home and be easy and simple to maintain?

Whether you want your bathroom to be the height of luxury and relaxation, or a more convenient solution for all the family, the top trends for 2014 allow for a multitude of tastes and requirements.

Non-bathroom décor

There seems to be a real craze in interior design for upcycling furniture and using reclaimed materials in your home décor. This could be perfect for you if you have an old cabinet going to waste in another room that you’re reluctant to get rid of, or a mirror that you don’t need.

We talked in a previous blog about how to upcycle and refresh old furniture in really inventive ways, and by doing so you can create gorgeous, unique storage solutions for your bathroom that really complement the rest of your home and allow your style and personality to shine through.

You can also tie this in with another trend which appears to have emerged in 2014. According to bathroom expert and interior designer Liz Murray, there is a growing demand for hardware in warmer shades of gold, copper and brass. Whether this is achieved through the handles and knobs you use on your bathroom furniture, the faucets or even the shower head, this is a trend which will add a touch of elegance and class to your bathroom as well as warming it up more than silver or chrome hardware would.

Natural materials

The natural look is definitely in for 2014, and it’s an effect that works really well in bathroom décor. From wooden flooring to slate tiles, natural materials can work for any taste and can be adapted to fit in with existing designs and furniture.

Many interior designers are favouring natural woods, and using them to create unique vanity units and beautiful dark statement floors. There’s also been a surge in the use of slate, and concrete has become a popular and daring look for walls, floors and even furniture.

If you want to achieve this kind of look for your bathroom, but don’t have the budget for an interior designer, there are a wide variety of natural-look materials on offer from most DIY stores at reasonable prices- B&Q, for example, have a large selection.

You can get wallpaper that mimics the look of stone or brick, or tiles in a slate or wood effect, and achieve a stunning finish without it costing too much. The great thing about using wallpaper and tiles instead of the real thing is that they’re designed to be much more durable than some natural materials, such as wood, would be in the bathroom.

If you’re lucky enough to have existing natural features– like wooden roof beams or an exposed brick wall – why not make the most of these and make them a feature? You can quickly get wooden beams looking fresh with a coat of beeswax polish, and a brick wall can be left mostly bare, with perhaps just an up-scaled vanity unit or freestanding bath against it for a minimalist effect. The great thing about the natural look in your bathroom is that the more worn and rugged it is, the better it looks.

Glamour

If you want your bathroom to be the ultimate in luxurious, relaxing glamour then you’re in luck, as this is a trend that’s really soared in popularity recently. Think modern boutique hotel bathrooms – simple in décor but oozing luxury in the way they’re designed and accessorized.

Start with a lustrous colour on the walls, such as a deep purple or grey, and build this up with dark wooden flooring and furniture, and metallic accessories. It might seem dark, but when lit with candles and soft lighting, the room will emanate warmth and relaxation. Add to this a free standing roll top bath and a backlit mirror and your bathroom will be transformed into a romantic, escapist retreat.

Monochrome

Perhaps the best design solution for smaller bathrooms, the monochrome look is a tasteful, timeless classic that’s remained on trend for years now. If your bathroom is small, chances are you won’t want to clutter it up with free standing furniture, and bold designs will often overpower the room and make it look even smaller.

Instead, keep it simple with a variation on shades of one colour such as grey or brown. Go for tiles that are sleek and polished and keep metallics such as taps and handles bright. With smaller bathrooms, you’ll want to maximise on natural light, so ensure that you aren’t blocking any windows with furniture, keep flooring and furniture to light wood shades and perhaps strategically position a mirror so that it will reflect a natural light source into the rest of the room.

Technology

Bathroom technology is developing fast and becoming increasingly popular in many houses. Consider the simple solutions like LED shower heads and Bluetooth shower radios, to the more complex developments like inbuilt audio visual systems to entertain you while you bathe. Motion operated taps have also boomed in popularity, and offer a more hygienic and convenient solution than most. Because it’s designed specifically for the bathroom, safety is at the forefront in the development of this technology.

And, of course, we couldn’t talk about bathroom technology trends without referencing our very own illuminated mirrors! Our stunning range offers something for everyone, from audio Bluetooth mirrors to demister cabinets, all designed with your safety and the latest in energy saving solutions in mind.

Take a look at our extensive range and, as usual, feel free to send us any photos of your illuminated mirror in action!