10 Big Bathroom Trends For 2021
What do people want in their bathrooms, next year?
Bathroom trends were not the biggest news in 2020 were they? Pandemic, anyone?
So, as most of us want to put the last 12 tragic months behind us – and cheer ourselves up – we asked you to tell us what you want to see in your bathrooms in 2021.
We all need something to look forward to after this year, so here are 10 Big Bathroom Trends for next year, as chosen by you!
1 – Rainfall Shower
Chosen by 34.6% of respondents
Selected by more than a third of those in our survey, a rainfall shower head is the most sought after item that people want in their bathroom, in 2021.
Slimline, and providing a stunningly refreshing and natural showering experience, it really is no surprise that rainfall showers are top of the new year wish list.
With several striking finishes available, it’s easy to match brassware and create a luxurious look and feel that is made all the more opulent by a rainfall shower.
Opt for a change to your shower head, or select from a range of shower panels with integrated rainfall heads to add a touch of luxury to your post-pandemic bathroom.
2 – Minimalist Style
25.4%
With a quarter of the vote, minimalist bathroom style will be a big bathroom trend for UK homeowners next year.
Pared down decor, clear and decluttered surfaces, glass jars and all white colour schemes seem to be the order of the day when we think of minimal.
But you can maintain a minimalist feel in your bathroom with almost any colour you like, so don’t feel that you must white out the entire bathroom, in 2021.
The cool “grown ups” are pairing wood and marble with gold, brass and copper fixtures and fittings, to create elegant and contemporary bathroom spaces that reflect light and indulge the senses.
If white and minimal is not your thing, perhaps an elegant return to 1970’s aesthetics with colour combinations and light and shade may be more to your liking.
Who doesn’t love a bit of 70’s decor, anyway?
3 – A Double Basin
23.5%
Ahh the wonderful, and simply fabulous double basin – once you have one, you can never go back!
Perfect for busy households that share a bathroom – and for families that need to get to school or work on time – double basins are also a couples delight!
With just under a quarter of respondents choosing them, double basins are becoming a must-have bathroom essential, and we understand why!
Now available in a selection of styles and colours that can meet the requirements of traditional & contemporary interior-lovers alike, 2021 looks to be the year of the double basin.
Check out our collection of basin and vanities to discover a double basin to match your style.
4 – A Freestanding Bath
18.7%
With just under 1-in-5 people saying they wanted to see a freestanding tub in their 2021 bathroom, it sits 4th in our list of desirable bathroom trends of next year.
A freestanding bath is a style winner in any modern or period-style bathroom.
From claw-footed designs to the deep depths of contemporary slipper baths, a freestanding bathtub can be the perfect centrepiece of any bathroom space.
Indulge in a long and relaxing soak and combine modern and vintage styles with a range of attractive brassware to create the ultimate spa-like experience, next year.
Take the plunge into our extensive freestanding bath collection.
5 – Walk In or Wetroom
17.9%
Somewhat surprisingly, only at at number 5 in our list of big bathroom trends are walk in showers and wetrooms*.
A long sought after addition to many modern bathrooms, a separate walk in shower space is the ultimate in showering luxury.
With Crittal styles in dark and black finishes making the headlines over the last few years, in 2021, we think there will be a lot more love shown to copper, gold and bronze finished shower screens.
That’s not to say that the black finishes will simply fade away, as their more neutral dark hues work great with a range of brassware finishes; making them a little more accessible in terms of variance in style.
Not something that can be created overnight, a wetroom takes a little more planning and consideration than other items in our top 4; which could be the reason it isn’t top priority for everyone.
*Yes, we know they’re not the same thing – we just listed them alongside each other in our survey!
6 – Marble Vanity Tops
15.1%
Natural stone has been a mainstay of UK bathrooms for some time now.
In 2021, marble will be the material people desire the most and you will start to see it feature more on your favourite accounts on the ‘gram.
The very nature of marble makes it the perfect contrast to gold and copper brassware.
The natural look of the material transforming even the most ordinary of bathrooms into a space fit for a greek god or goddess.
As in our customer @chloelloydhome‘s bathroom, Aphrodite, Ares and Venus will fill with envy as you pair natural materials to create a truly elegant and contemporary bathroom space.
With 15% of the vote, you can expect to have a discussion with your partner at some point in the new year about the logistics of getting some heavy marble up your stairs!
7 – Subway Tiles
15%
Always fashionable, never out of style, subway tiles always seem to be on lists of bathroom must-haves and mainstays, don’t they?
With a range of tile colours to choose from and with simple looks that sit well in any size bathroom, it’s no wonder that these versaTILE (totally not sorry) items have made the list of 2021 trends.
Create sherbert heaven with pastel colours, explore your dark and mysterious side with grey, black and charcoal tiles, or keep it more traditional with gloss white.
There are lots of examples on our Instagram account, and you can discover a range of ways to introduce subway tiles to your bathroom space, on our inspiration pages.
For most of us though, as great as the coloured tiles are, nothing beats crisp white subway tiles in a sleek modern bathroom space.
8 – Brass & Copper Coloured Fixtures & Fittings
14.9%
Boy, are we glad that these were on the list!
We have just introduced a whole new collection of brass and bronze finished brassware, by Milano, so to see it on the radar of the public is a bit of a coup for us.
In 2021, brass and copperware are set to be the finishes of the year for bathroom fixtures and fittings.
From showerheads to taps and basin wastes – all the way down to bathtub feet and accessories – creating a coordinated look across the bathroom is always high on the agenda and 2021 will be no different.
Next year, expect to see an explosion of modern and traditional brassware finished in these elegant colours as people look to move away from classic chrome fixtures.
9 – Plants, Plants, Plants!
13.9%
A shower can invigorate you and set you up for the day, but did you know that bathroom plants can also fill you with negative ions – which, despite the name, are actually good for you.
From climbing Ivy to succulents and even some trees – 2021 looks set to be the year we bring the outside in even more than before, as more than 1-in-10 of us expect to use plants more next year.
10 – Black Fixtures & Fittings
11.9%
Dark, mysterious and incredibly popular in 2020, 11.9% of you told us that black is still a much sought after finish for bathroom brassware in 2021.
Perfect for minimalist styles and essential for a truly designer bathroom style, black brassware has seen a surge in available styles in recent years.
But 2021 may be the year we see black toilets, basins and baths become the “in” thing.
With black ceramics creeping into the bathroom loving consciousness, we expect to find a few of you styling it dark for a luxurious bathing experience in your homes.
Traditional and modern designs mean that there are options for everyone, so if black is your plan for 2021, you’re in luck right now!
Check out our black collection, today!
What Are Your Big Bathroom Trends For 2021?
So, there we are!
As we all wave goodbye to 2020 and usher in a bit of positivity and change in the new year, what plans do you have for your bathroom?
Will you rip out the old and go completely new, or will you make small changes that have a big style impact?
We’d love to hear about your plans and projects, so let us know about your favourite bathroom trends in the comments!
Whatever you do, we hope it’s a success and wish you all the best for a happy and prosperous new year – and good luck with your bathroom transformations!
Think BIG, Dream BIGGER!
John loves reading design blogs and bringing those ideas to the Big Bathroom Shop Inspiration pages. When he isn’t reading or writing copy, you’ll find him reaching out to industry experts to get all of the latest bathroom news.

Dawson Court
Billington Road Industrial Estate
Burnley
BB11 5UB
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