What Every Sydney Homeowner Should Know
Bathrooms are really having their moment right now.
Since realising this space had all the potential to become our very own private wellness retreat, the humble bathroom has radically transformed from a practical, functional area to an oasis of style and calm. And when it comes to 2025 bathroom trends, inspiration abounds.
From clever tech to taking cues from nature, enhancing space to highlighting design features, bathrooms are no longer overlooked or playing second fiddle to the kitchen or games room. They’re stepping up and delivering the wow factor, big time.
It’s good news if you’re considering a bathroom renovation, as there are endless opportunities to get the most out of your room whilst adding your mark. Here, the Designline team explores some of Sydney’s most coveted current bathroom trends.
1. A Return to Tradition
Fashion is cyclical, so it was only going to be a matter of time before ultra-contemporary-looking bathrooms returned to more classic, timeless looks. Think traditional tapware, decorative wall panelling, and timber vanities.
We’re big fans of a more classic-style bathroom as it champions our stellar local cabinet makers‘ skill, and endures over time. Unlike come-and-go fads, a traditional design settles confidently into itself. If you’re investing in a major bathroom renovation, opting for a more classic design will ensure your room doesn’t date. On the contrary, it will mature beautifully and deliver a strong return on investment.
2. Wellness Technology
Smart tech isn’t just about future-proofing your home. Where the bathroom is involved, it’s also about improving hygiene, energy efficiency and convenience.
Smart toilets
If you’ve been to Japan, you’ll know the Western world is a little late to the party on this one. But we are catching up, with an increasing number of smart toilets being specified in renovated Sydney bathrooms. Features typically include heated seating, bidet-style cleaning, automatic flushing/ opening/ closing, and remote control via an App.
Smart shower systems
It’s not so much the shower that’s smart, but how you use it. Forget about turning taps or dials. Instead, smart showers rely on a sleek and compact digital display that can control water temperature, flow and pressure, and be operated via voice command.
Heated bathroom flooring
Also controlled by smart technology, heated floors can reduce your energy consumption, maximise available space, and provide uniform heating to the whole bathroom.
Smart mirrors
Snow White’s wicked witch would have a field day with modern bathroom mirrors. Forget about simply capturing who’s the fairest; smart mirrors operate on voice command to adjust their backlighting, play music, and even provide news and weather updates. They often now come with a fog-free feature, no matter how hot and steamy things get.
Add smart scales, motion-sensor soap dispensers, waterproof television screens & Bluetooth speakers, and advanced water purification systems, and you’ll have future-proofed your bathroom for years to come!
3. Nesting with Nature
We never said bathroom trends for 2025 wouldn’t contrast with one another! That said, they can still work in harmony, as is the case when nature and tech meet.
A fancy word for integrating nature into buildings, biophilia is evidence-based design that brings psychological and physiological benefits to those it touches. From improving mental health and increasing happiness, to lowering blood pressure and heart rate, bringing the outside in is scientifically proven to be good for you.
It’s also great for your bathroom! Biophilia can apply itself in many ways:
- Natural light through skylights or clean window dressings that encourage plenty of light to spill in (think wide-panelled louvres).
- Well-circulating air – this is especially important in humid areas like the bathroom, which are otherwise prone to mould.
- Plants – whether hanging, sitting in pots or even as a wall feature, they provide a tactile and pleasing connection to nature.
- Natural materials and colours – from timber and stone to bamboo and wicker, think highly sensory textures that add instant warmth and comfort to a space. Equally, subtle palettes from sage and seafoam to muted ochre and soft greys conjure feelings of calm and centredness.
4. Textured Tiles – an Underfoot Upgrade
Making a bathroom a sensory experience complements the whole nesting in nature appeal.
So it’s no surprise that tactile, textured tiles have become big. Adding depth and dimension, they often include natural materials or finishes and are very practical for wet rooms (where slip rating is a mandatory consideration). From ceramic, stone and marble to geometric and fluting (more on that later), there are so many style sensations from which to choose.
5. A Home Spa Sanctuary
Once upon a time, a home spa was all about locking the door, putting petals in the bathwater, running soothing music and applying Aesop products. How times have changed.
Bathroom renovation trends don’t get more exciting than this. Think freestanding bathtubs, steam showers, and integrated aromatherapy and sound systems. But don’t stop there. Home saunas and even red light therapy saunas (which use low-level red light to stimulate cells) are literally and figuratively so hot right now.
6. Considered Lighting
Gone are the days of a single light doing all the work.
This year’s major bathroom trend pays homage to light and its many roles and responsibilities. Think task lighting for shaving or makeup, soft and subtle lighting for those late-night toilet runs, and natural lighting (more biophilia, please!) to simply soothe and relax.
But don’t forget decorative and accent lighting also have a part to play in this fabulous new place. After all, you need to make those feature walls and vignettes (see below) stand out!
7. Accent Walls for a Statement Space
Whereas once a feature wall just used a different shade of paint, it’s getting a complete makeover these days.
Bathroom feature walls might comprise entirely of mirror panels (a big bathroom trend for small spaces), be turned into a gallery hanging, feature statement (waterproof) wallpaper or even become green with a vertical indoor garden (there’s a touch of biophilia, again!). This can be a really enjoyable way to have fun and inject personality into the bathroom design, especially if you don’t feel confident to take a bold approach across the board.
8. Fluting Makes Waves
We started to see this vibe early on in the hospitality world. Cool bars and hip cafes suddenly embraced soft curving, grooved pannelling, and fluted cabinetry and objects, and none of us could get enough.
With its soft, timeless appeal, it’s little wonder this has become a frontrunner in 2025 bathroom design trends. From basins and baths to glass and wall panels, fluting is the new fabulous. Sigh.
9. Integrated Storage
Small bathroom trends in 2025 continue to address the storage challenge. In fairness, this isn’t an issue for tiny bathrooms alone; every home always wants more storage!
Rather than buying a multi-purpose shelf, bathroom renovations are incorporating integrated storage such as bespoke built-in cabinetry. These recessed storage solutions save so much space and connect seamlessly to other fixtures and finishes, giving the room clean lines and a cohesive feel.
This is where our Director Jackson and team of local cabinet makers truly excel. With Jackson’s innovative space-saving ideas and the team’s exceptional craftsmanship, we create stunning custom cabinetry and clever storage.
10. Wall-mounted Fixtures and Floating Vanities
We’ve spent much time exploring the latest bathroom design trends that look or feel fantastic. But what about function? Let’s not forget that this is one of the hardest-working rooms in the home, and it needs to perform as well as it looks.
That’s where wall-mounted fixtures and floating vanities come in. Not only do they look sharp, but they also take up less of a footprint and make cleaning a breeze.
Inspired by these bathroom trends? Reach out to our team today for a no-cost, no-obligation measure and quote. Whether you want the latest looks or something simple, we deliver outstanding bathroom renovation results, no matter what the scale or budget.
