Bathroom Design Trends for 2023

We have designed many bathrooms this past year and fielded a number of trendy requests from our customers that we wish to share here. On most occasions, we were challenged to accommodate the overwhelming desire for “A Bigger Bathroom”. Almost everyone wanted us to find more space in their existing master bathroom. Often that requires us to remove some walls, steal closet space and/or make one bedroom a little smaller.

Designing Larger Bathrooms

Without a magic wand, bigger bathroom design requires us to get creative. We have a number of bathroom remodeling contractors we sub work out to and this desire for more bathroom space requires us to first investigate what walls are load bearing before we can begin to re-imagine a new footprint.

So, we tap one of our bathroom partners to evaluate adjoining walls, doors and what structural changes can be made. Almost without exception, everyone seems to want more shower space. Most are ok with removing the bathtub. Interestingly enough, building a “Shower for Two” comes up often.

Since “Aging in Place” is a common discussion in our office, we are often asked to equip these larger walk-in showers with grab bars, a shower sitting area and slip resistant flooring.

Custom Bathroom Vanities

Another trend that we believe will continue into 2023 is customize bathroom cabinetry. We ask our customers to visualize their typical morning routines and bring us through how they prepare for the day when in front of the mirror in the morning. Then we ask, “What would make your morning experience better?” Eighty percent (80%) of those we work with ask for a larger mirror. LED lights around the mirror are a common request. We see a trend for slimmer side cabinets above the countertop for easy access to makeup and “tools”. Under the countertop we hear about a couple of drawers for brushes and hair accessories. Under those are box cabinets for linens. In fact, requests for a towel warming cabinet are on the rise. So are coffee stations.

Technology needs are also impacting the cabinetry design today, Cell phone charging stations are a must. Many customers like to have a small screen for the morning news and integrating speakers and Smart Home controls in the bathroom all play a roll in how we design your bathroom cabinetry. Most inventoried bathroom cabinetry is too basic to accommodate these demands. Plus, the quality found in re-seller showrooms is inferior to what we can have made especially for our customers.

Water Saving Faucets that are WaterSense Rated

Bathroom water faucets that regulate the water flow and are rated by the EPA’s WaterSense program are hotter today than we have ever seen. Our customers tend to be more environmentally aware than other areas of the country. The WaterSense initiative has been around for years. I’ve been aware of the rating system since 2007 and have been suggesting WaterSense approved products for over 10 years now. Product manufacturers of water faucets, shower heads, and toilets are all encouraged to design products that protect the worlds water supply. It is only in the last 3 years that we have seen an increase in demand for these more efficient bathroom faucets and showerheads. We expect that trend to continue.

Heated Bathroom Flooring

Nothing new to this request. But we are hearing this request from customers more often in 2022 and expect that trend to continue as well. Underfloor heating for bathrooms work best when we use ceramic or porcelain tiles. Electric radiant heat mats are easy to install in bathrooms, wet rooms, shower stalls but the key is to ensure we have the best talent using high quality grouting and waterproof sealants are applied. This is not a job anyone can do. Wood floor planks are an option, but the transmission of heat works best with porcelain tile.

I hope that you have found our insights helpful to you in your quest for bathroom design trends. If you are interested in getting your bathroom designed and your home is located in either New Jersey, New York City or Eastern Pennsylvania, we encourage you to contact our team of bathroom designers in NJ.