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This is the year of the bathroom. No longer seen as simply a place of necessity, interior designers predict 2016 to be the year when bathroom design is given as much consideration as any other room in the home.

Playing a far greater role than just a practical place, bathroom designs are set to encompass the desire for ultimate escapism, relaxation, pampering and indulgence. Think bathroom – think luxury.

Inspired by nature

One of this year’s most prolific themes for all rooms in the home is ‘bringing the outside in’, and we’ll see this heavily influencing bathroom designs, colour schemes, furniture and sanitary ware.

Made to measure coloured slim shower tray image courtesy of Fiora

With the effortless ability to incorporate nature’s rough and natural textural elements, wood and stone will both be prominent in helping to create the epitome of a restful space. Wooden and natural stone surfaces in the bathroom will be key, whether as flooring or a console for the washbasin, and will sit alongside sleek stylings and clean lines to create a sense of effortless beauty.

Ambience-creating colours and finishes

Last year saw the emergence of the must-have grey colour palette, and this will continue, with darker shades being particularly on-trend for the bathroom, for a tranquil feel of luxury and relaxation. Richer colour schemes including midnight blue, indigo, dark purple and rouge, as well as matte greens, are also set to feature strongly.

Image courtesy of Porcel-Thin features marble effect porcelain tiles

Metallic finishes are still on the rise, albeit the softer and warmer tones of rose gold, alongside brass and copper. Gold will be the way to make THE ultimate bathroom style statement in 2016.

Marble is predicted to be even bigger this year than last. The chicest bathrooms will be adorned with marble and marble-effect floors, walls, shelves and features.

But don’t think you have to go with one theme – mixing materials will be highly fashionable. This year’s most stylish bathrooms will boast marble with metallic and stone with stainless steel.

The personal touch

Product customisation will continue as a massive trend in 2016, as consumers increasingly look for designs with personalised touches to give unprecedented exclusivity. We’ll see a rise in demand for made-to-measure shower screens, with personality reflecting designs and unique hallmarks – from colours to inscriptions and bespoke prints.

The interior design keyword this year is ‘smacious’ – the transformation of small spaces to make them feel spacious. Designs are moving heavily towards creating luxurious living in even the smallest of areas, and we’ll see ingenious ‘space-saving’ ideas continuing their meteoric rise.

Statement-making solutions

Where space isn’t limited, indulgent and attention-grabbing freestanding baths will remain a popular choice in both traditional and contemporary bathrooms. And vanity basins with storage cabinets underneath will continue to be a sleek, stylish and practical furniture solution.

Image courtesy of Porcel-Thin features Paris plain and pattern cream porcelain tiles

Porcelain and ceramic tiles will be prominent in creating a ‘wow’ factor in the bathroom – anything from high gloss mirror-like tiles to bright or boldly coloured or highly patterned designs. And extra-large format porcelain tiles will adorn both walls and floors, as the perfect complement to luxurious bathroom suites.

Shower indulgence

With wetroom areas, large walk-in frameless and semi-frameless enclosures, rainfall showerheads and digital controls, showers are now seen as a luxurious alternative to bathing, and this trend will evolve further in 2016.

Image courtesy of Impey

We’ll see a rise in supersized shower enclosures, enhanced by large-format porcelain tiles, for maximum impact. And the floor-level shower, with its impressive ‘walk-in’ experience, is looking to take this year by storm. Extra-flat shower trays that merge seamlessly with the floor will be the number-one choice for the design conscious, for their sleek style and practicality.

Luxury lighting and technology

Low-voltage LED lighting will be a key design feature in this year’s bathrooms, with numerous exciting possibilities for using strips of LED, from behind a mirror to nestling within an alcove.

Image courtesy of Porcel-Thin features Paris pattern cream porcelain tiles

As technology continues to advance, we’ll see further cutting-edge solutions becoming bathroom must-haves. Showers, baths and taps that can be controlled with phones and tablets, Bluetooth-enabled musical mirrors and self-switching lighting are just some of the finishing touches we’ll see, as people seek to transform bathrooms into the ultimate luxurious sanctuary.

Image courtesy of Bossini

Why not let our team of specialist designers help you create the bathroom of your dreams for 2016?

Contact our Dorset bathroom design team on 01929 551963 or email wareham@roomh2o.co.uk

Last month regular watchers of the hit TV programme ‘Grand Designs’ saw Isle of Wight couple Bram and Lisa Vis set out on a project to build their dream beach-side home. Featuring the very latest in modern architectural design and materials their luxury build was eventually completed at a cost of £3.2 million.

What viewers may not have realised was that Room H2o, together with our sister company UK Tiles Direct, had played a crucial role in supplying the top of the range bathroom furniture and porcelain tiling used.

Image of The Bunker, a luxury house on the Isle of Wight featured by the Channel 4 series Grand Designs

Channel 4 show calls in the bathroom experts for luxury building project

In a building project where the quality and high specification needs of the clients were of paramount importance Room H2o were delighted to have been chosen to design the bathrooms and supply the furniture, shower enclosures, fixtures and fittings. Given the overall feel of contemporary luxury for the whole Grand Designs build project Room H2o’s range of showers, shower trays, doors, vanity units, wash basins, taps and toilets were the perfect choice to match with the theme of modern elegance.

Whilst the completed bathroom suites were only briefly featured in the aired episode this quick look has certainly whet our appetites for a hopefully more extended look in a future edition of the Grand Designs magazine.  However, this was still sufficient to amply demonstrate the breathtaking beauty of Room H2o’s stunning, sophisticated product range.

Room H2o were pleased to have been a part of this incredible 7000 sq ft+ contemporary build project – not least for opportunity it afforded us to showcase the premium quality and elegant designs prevalent across all the bathroom products and brands we stock.

Viewers looking to replicate or incorporate any of the bathroom design elements seen in this episode of Grand Designs can benefit from our digital bathroom design services and browse a selection of our luxury bathroom products and shower enclosures on our website.

When the owners of the Dog & Badger luxury bar and restaurant in Marlow decided to embark on an extensive refurbishment of the grade II listed building they approached Room H2o to create some bespoke frameless glass washroom cubicles and doors with a colourful twist.

Occupying a beautiful grade II listed building dating back to circa 1390, a visit to the Dog & Badger in the village of Medmenham is an experience in its self.  And that is before before you have sampled the fine wines and cuisine on offer at this luxury bar and restaurant in the heart of the Chilterns.

Bespoke frameless glass washroom cubicles

The Dog & Badger reopened on July 29th following and extensive refurbishment in which Room H2o are proud to have been involved.  Looking for a stylish but robust solution for their washroom entrance doors and cubicles the owners of the Dog & Badger contacted Room H2o.  Following a site meeting layouts, colours and materials were agreed and our frameless glass enclosure team set about designing and building new frameless glass entrance doors, toilet cubicles and urinal partitions using laminated glass with coloured inlays.  Head technician James Foster lead the project and managed the installation of the doors and cubicles.

“The Dog & Badger was a really interesting and satisfying project to be involved with, although as is the case with all old buildings it was not without its challenges.  Everybody who was involved in the project is really pleased with the finished doors and cubicles”

From frameless shower cubicles and wetroom panels to glass interior doors and washroom cubicles Room H2o’s bespoke shower enclosure team will design, manufacture and install the perfect solution to your requirements.  Please contact us today to discuss you frameless glass project.