6 Bathroom Trends That Will Dominate 2023 (& 2 That Are So Over)

Transitional style—a more laid-back, less fussy take on traditional decor—has been trending throughout the house, so it was only a matter of time before it extended to the bathroom. And it’s a natural extension of last year’s interest in combining contemporary, spa-like features with organic materials. “Bathroom designs where natural stone, matte subways and glossy tile accents [will be] employed together to create a little drama without compromising the harmony,” designer Joshua Smith told us this summer, adding that the key is combining different textures and finishes to give the room more dimension.

Try the Trend: Stiffel Lana Black and Warm Brass Bath Light, $200

Bidets have been popular in Europe for ages, and they’re starting to catch on stateside, especially with the rise of units that attach to your existing toilet, like Tushy. It’s the top upgrade people are making to their toilets right now, with heated seats and self-cleaning models also rising in popularity. (On that note, you can have your bidet and heat it too with the Toto Washlet A2.)

Try the Trend: Toto Washlet A2, $298

All-white kitchens and bathrooms gleam, sure, but they can also feel a little one-note. An increasing number of people—30 percent of recent renovators, Houzz found—are choosing wood vanities, particularly ones with a matte finish. It can make the space feel a little warmer and more inviting while remaining relatively neutral.

Try the Trend: Amber Lewis for Anthropologie Single Bathroom Vanity

You may not be able to get your kids to stop slamming drawers shut, but you can install soft-close ones. And that’s exactly what we’re all doing. When it comes to upgrading a vanity, the top priority among homeowners is that drawers and doors have a soft-close feature.

Next on that list was having built-in electrical outlets, so you can easily charge your toothbrush or use your Dyson Airwrap without stretching the cord to its limits. It’s practical and pretty; after all, we’ve yet to hear of anyone gushing over how gorgeous that GFCI looks on the wall.

Try the Trend: Atencio 60-Inch Vanity Set with Soft-Close Drawers, $1,100

Pinterest predicted biophilic design would be big in 2022, and in 2023, that includes the bathroom. More than a third of respondents added some kind of greenery to their bathrooms post-remodel, with most saying they did so because they find the addition of a few plants aesthetically pleasing and calming. If that sounds like you, try adding one (or several) of these humidity-loving plants to your powder room.

Try the Trend: ZZ Plant, $88

When it comes to wallcoverings, most people are leaning toward saving money, sticking to budget-friendly ceramic and porcelain tiles in the shower, and opting for paint over tile, marble, wallpaper or wood paneling on the walls in the rest of the bathroom.

While people have been dabbling in bolder, more saturated greens and blues for their vanities, the walls themselves remain relatively neutral—white is the most popular color, followed by gray and beige.

Try the Trend: Backdrop Paint in Harvest Moon, $45/Half-Gallon

Out: Statement Sinks

Trough and vessel sinks may have been all the rage in newly renovated airports and buzzy, dimly lit restaurants (with trance music pulsing nonstop—you know the ones)…but they’re declining the fastest in popularity in people’s homes. They make a statement, but they often go out of style long before they break down and actually need to be replaced. It makes sense, then, that less-flashy-yet-timeless undermount styles are by far the most popular design (snagging 70 percent of the vote).

Out: Ultra-Modern Cabinets

With the rise of transitional style, it makes sense most people would opt for more decorative door fronts. Shaker doors are in; ultra-modern, handless designs are out. The latter, particularly in a high-gloss finish, read less “my home is my sanctuary” and more “take me to your leader.” Save it for the Starship Enterprise.