Before we dive in, a word of caution: trends should inform your decisions, not dictate them. A bathroom renovation costs thousands of pounds and should last 10-15 years. The smartest approach is to use trends as inspiration while choosing finishes and fixtures you genuinely love — not just what is popular on Instagram this month.
That said, understanding what is current helps you avoid choices that will date your bathroom quickly. Here is what is genuinely trending in UK bathrooms in 2025, what is falling out of favour, and — critically — what is likely to stand the test of time.
What Is In: Trends Worth Considering
Dark, Moody Colour Schemes
The all-white bathroom has had its time. In 2025, UK homeowners are gravitating towards deeper, moodier palettes: navy blue, forest green, charcoal grey, and even matt black. These colours create a sophisticated, cocoon-like atmosphere that makes a bathroom feel like a retreat rather than a clinical space.
What works: Dark walls with a white or light-coloured suite creates beautiful contrast. A forest green or navy feature wall behind the basin or bath gives impact without overwhelming a small room. Dark floor tiles with lighter walls is another reliable combination.
What does not work: Going dark on every surface in a small bathroom with no natural light can feel oppressive. If your bathroom is under 4m2 with a tiny window (or no window at all), limit dark tones to one or two walls and keep the ceiling and suite light.
Timelessness rating: 8/10. Dark bathrooms are not a fleeting trend — they have been popular in high-end design for years. Navy and dark green are particularly safe bets that will not date quickly.
Large Format Tiles
The era of the small mosaic tile is fading. Large format tiles — typically 600x600mm or 1200x600mm — dominate UK bathroom renovations in 2025. The appeal is clean lines, fewer grout joints, and a more contemporary look.
- Why they are popular: Fewer grout lines means less maintenance, less mould risk, and a sleeker appearance. Large tiles also make small rooms feel bigger.
- Practical considerations: Large tiles need flatter walls. If your walls are uneven (common in older UK homes), the substrate needs more preparation — adding time and cost. Large tiles are also heavier and more likely to crack during installation if the adhesive is not applied correctly.
- Cost: Large format tiles start from around £25/m2 for budget porcelain, with premium options reaching £80-£150/m2. The tiling labour is similar or slightly more than smaller tiles because cutting is more demanding.
Timelessness rating: 9/10. Large format tiles are not a trend that will date — they are a genuine improvement in bathroom design. Stick with neutral colours and they will look current for decades.
Freestanding Baths
The freestanding bath has become the centrepiece of the modern UK bathroom. Whether it is a classic roll-top or a contemporary stone resin model, a freestanding bath makes a statement.
- Space requirement: You need a bathroom of at least 7-8m2 for a freestanding bath to work without the room feeling cramped. The bath needs clear space around it — pushed against a wall, it loses the entire effect.
- Plumbing: A freestanding bath needs floor-mounted or wall-mounted taps, and the waste pipe runs under the floor rather than through the wall. This means the floor may need routing or building up to accommodate the pipework — discuss with your fitter early.
- Cost: Budget freestanding baths (acrylic) start around £200-£400. Mid-range composite resin models run £500-£1,200. High-end stone or cast iron baths can exceed £3,000.
Brass, Brushed Gold, and Warm Metallic Finishes
Chrome is no longer the default. Brushed brass, brushed gold, and matt black fixtures have taken over UK showrooms. These warm metallic tones add richness and character to a bathroom in a way that chrome simply cannot match.
- Maintenance: Brushed brass and gold finishes are typically PVD-coated (Physical Vapour Deposition), which is far more durable than traditional lacquered brass. Quality PVD-coated taps resist fingerprints and water spots much better than polished chrome.
- Mixing metals: You do not need to match every metal in the room perfectly, but stick to the same family. Brushed brass taps with a brushed brass shower valve and towel rail looks intentional. Brushed brass taps with polished chrome accessories looks like you changed your mind halfway through.
- What looks cheap vs expensive: Bright, shiny gold looks dated and tacky. Brushed or satin gold with a subtle, muted finish looks expensive. The difference is enormous — always see finishes in person before committing.
Smart Showers and Thermostatic Controls
Digital showers are no longer niche. Brands like Mira, Aqualisa, and Triton offer Bluetooth-connected and app-controlled showers that let you set precise temperatures and flow rates. Meanwhile, programmable heated towel rails with thermostats are replacing the old "always on" models.
- Practical benefit: Precise temperature control eliminates the scalding-or-freezing dance. Digital showers maintain temperature within plus or minus 1 degree Celsius regardless of pressure fluctuations elsewhere in the house.
- Cost: Digital shower systems start around £500-£700 for the valve and controller. Installation is slightly more complex than a standard thermostatic mixer but within the scope of any experienced bathroom fitter.
- Heated towel rails: Timer-controlled electric towel rails (£150-£400) let you schedule heating only when you need it, rather than leaving a plumbed rail on all winter through the central heating system.
Bidet Attachments and Japanese-Style Toilets
The UK has been slow to adopt bidets compared to continental Europe and Japan, but that is changing rapidly. Rather than traditional standalone bidets (which take up valuable floor space), UK homeowners are fitting bidet toilet seats and attachments that add wash functions to existing toilets.
- Options: Simple cold-water bidet attachments (£30-£100), heated bidet seats with adjustable jets (£200-£600), or fully integrated bidet toilets from brands like TOTO and Geberit AquaClean (£1,500-£5,000+).
- Installation: Basic attachments just need a water connection (already behind the toilet). Heated seats need a nearby electrical socket — discuss this with your electrician before the tiling starts.
- Hygiene benefits: The cleanliness argument is straightforward and increasingly well-accepted. This is a trend that is growing steadily and shows no signs of being a fad.
Fluted Glass and Textured Surfaces
Reeded (fluted) glass is appearing in shower screens, cabinet doors, and even mirrors. The ribbed texture adds visual interest while providing partial privacy — ideal for shower screens in open-plan en-suites.
Similarly, textured wall tiles (3D tiles, sculptural tiles, handmade-look tiles with uneven surfaces) are replacing flat, uniform tiles as accent features. Used sparingly on one wall, they add depth and personality.
What Is Out: Trends to Avoid
Cream and Ivory Suites
The champagne, ivory, and cream-coloured suites that dominated the 1990s and 2000s are one of the quickest ways to date a bathroom. They have become synonymous with "needs updating" in estate agent listings. If you are renovating, go white for the suite — it is classic, it works with everything, and it never looks old.
Over-Patterned Tiles on Every Surface
Pattern tiles (geometric, Moroccan, encaustic) are beautiful, but using them on every surface creates visual chaos. The trend has swung toward using pattern tiles as a feature — a single wall, a niche, or the floor only — paired with plain tiles elsewhere. Less is dramatically more with pattern tiles.
Bath Panels That Look Like an Afterthought
The standard white acrylic bath panel that comes with most baths looks cheap and flimsy. In 2025, tiled bath panels (matching the wall or floor tiles) or tongue-and-groove panelling create a much more integrated, finished look. If you are spending money on good tiles and fixtures, do not let a £15 bath panel let the whole room down.
Planning Your Renovation Timeline
If you are inspired to renovate, here is a reality check on lead times:
- Popular tiles: 2-6 weeks for delivery, longer for imported or specialist tiles. Some ranges go in and out of stock regularly.
- Bathroom furniture and vanity units: 4-8 weeks from order, particularly for anything not held in UK stock.
- Brassware in non-standard finishes: Brushed gold and matt black taps can have 4-12 week lead times from some manufacturers.
- Freestanding baths: Composite resin and stone baths are often made to order — allow 6-10 weeks.
Our recommendation: Start planning 3 months before you want work to begin. Order materials at least 4-6 weeks ahead. Having everything on site before your fitter starts eliminates the most common cause of delays.
Timeless vs Trendy: Where to Invest
Here is a practical framework for balancing current style with lasting value:
- Invest in timeless: White suite, quality taps, good tiling, proper waterproofing. These are the bones of your bathroom and should last the life of the renovation.
- Follow trends on the easy-to-change items: Paint colours, accessories, towels, mirrors, light fittings. These can be updated in a weekend for under £200.
- Be cautious with: Coloured grout, very bold tile patterns on large areas, highly specific fixture finishes. If a trend requires ripping out tiles to change, think twice.
The best bathrooms are not trend-followers or trend-ignorers — they take the best of current design thinking and apply it with restraint. Choose what you love, build it well, and it will look good for years.
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