Hotel luxury and smart tech: Inside the latest bathroom trends

Whether you’re building, renovating or simply daydreaming about your perfect bathroom, we count down five of the latest trends when it comes to design, fixtures and finishing touches.

1. Checking in

There’s nothing quite like a hotel bathroom and Aussie homeowners are increasingly designing their own spaces to emulate the feeling of a retreat in which to escape and recharge.

“In our recent consumer tracking research, hotel- inspired was the number one trend, showcasing our desire to escape regular bathrooms and lifestyle routines to bring the hotel feeling home,” Reece Bathrooms’ Daniela Santilli says.

This translates to a rise in open-plan bathrooms, with a seamless flow between the bedroom and ensuite, and upping the luxury factor.

“Think natural lighting, high ceilings, large tiles, and a show-stopping hero piece to bring the look together,” Santilli says.

2. Statement tapware

Phil Brenton, managing director of Artedomus, says the retailer has noticed a move away from traditional fittings in favour of modern and often quite unique tapware.

“Consumers are steering away from traditional tapware and instead opting for contemporary renditions that incorporate clean, sharp, modern lines,” Brenton says.

3. The perfect shower

Today’s homeowners are not ones to settle for so-so showers.

Instead more people are investing in the latest technologies to ensure showering is a luxurious experience, according to Santilli. “Everyone can enjoy that ‘perfect shower’ experience at the touch of a button, thanks to the latest in-shower technology,” she says.

For example, she points to the American Standard EasySET Body Shower Controller and Thermostatic Mixer, which let the user control water flow and volume and preset their preferred temperature, all with the touch of a button.

“It maintains a steady temperature no matter what, so there are no hot and cold fluctuations if other members of the household are using water while you shower,” she says. “Pair them together for the ultimate in personalised showering.”

4. Go big

When it comes to tiling, Brenton says it’s a case of the bigger, the better.

“There is an increasing popularity for large-format tiles and porcelain panels in interiors to support the ever-growing move towards open-plan living and desire to create seamless spaces,” he says.

“These oversized porcelain tiles and panels are perfect for contemporary environments where they offer a minimalist aesthetic and the appeal of continuous, uninterrupted patterns which visually expand a space.”

Large-format tiles not only make small spaces such as bathrooms appear bigger, they also minimise joints and grout lines, which means less maintenance, while oversized porcelain panels such as MAXIMUM replicate the luxury look of natural stone on floors, walls, showers or vanities, but are much hardier and more affordable.

“Artetech porcelain panels are also on trend at the moment,” Brenton says.

“The extra-large, strong, light, durable, versatile and 100 per cent natural tile is the most advanced architectural surface on the market.

“(It is) created specifically for use for high-traffic areas such as flooring, due to the high physical strength; resistance to scratching, etching and heat with low maintenance requirements.”

5. Toilets go high-tech

It’s not only the shower that’s gone high-tech.

The latest toilets are designed to make using — and cleaning — the loo a better experience than ever.

An example, says Santilli, is the Roca In-Wash Inspira Smart Rimless Wall Hung Pan toilet, which features smart washing and drying functions to allow users to perfectly personalise their toilet.

“Temperature and positioning can be customised by remote, and the toilet also features user detection and a night light,” Santilli says.

“This new generation of smart toilets features a new standard in toilet hygiene; rimless technology, which makes it easy to clean.”