Bathroom Trends You'll See Everywhere In 2021

It may come as a bit of a surprise to you to learn that interior design trends can extend to virtually any room of your house — including the bathroom. While a well-designed bathroom is always in style, some people are obsessed with keeping up with the newest interior design trends to keep their homes feeling fresh and chic.

For many, 2020 was all about making our home offices functional and stylish, our living rooms cozy and open, and our kitchens transformed into the ultimate bakeries for us to live out our bread-making dreams. But what about our bathrooms? Our bathrooms have served as the at-home spa, the bearer of baths, the antidote for unwashed hair, or even just a respite and moment of silence. That’s why we, and interior designers alike, believe that bathrooms should receive just as much design attention as the rest of our home. Keep reading to find out what some of the most predicted bathroom trends of 2021 will be.

We just can't handle it: No more bathroom handles

Of the many things that 2020 has taught us, perhaps what has stuck with us the most is just how much bacteria can live on surfaces. That’s just out in the world, too — we’re not even talking bathroom surfaces yet. As for bathrooms, a study by NSF International showed that faucet handles are the second-dirtiest spot in the bathroom (only second to toothbrush holders). The study found that 27% of faucet handles tested positive for yeast and mold, 9% for coliform and 5% for staph (via Time).

This is why interior designers are predicting that 2021 bathrooms will probably have less handles wherever possible, a sort of “no hardware” trend. This could take the form of cabinets with pulls, lips that extend over doors, and devices that you push in and open. The overall effect is incredibly minimalist and contemporary, which is the perfect clean-slate aesthetic for starting a new year (via Emily Henderson).

Like clashing patterns, mixing metals is totally in

Is it finally time to admit that mixing metals is cool? We sure think so, and it seems like design professionals do as well. It’s time we throw out the unspoken rule that every type and color of metal in our bathroom (and the whole house, for that matter) need to match. But just because you’re mixing metals doesn’t mean everything will look cohesive. There’s an art to it.

There are many different metal types, finishes, and tones, some of which can suit each other perfectly while others might not look great together. Online fine-art marketplace Invaluable recommends that when mixing cool and warm toned metals, to decide which will be the dominant tone and which will be the accent. Tips include: “For a dominant warm color, add cool colored accents. For a dominant cool color, add warm accents. Neutral metals can be mixed with both.”

Back-lit mirrors and medicine cabinets for the bathroom

For those of you looking for a chic but functional option for your bathroom, back-lit mirrors and medicine cabinets are a way to go. We’ve all tried out those phone cases that give you the best back-lit lighting for your selfies, so why not channel that into our bathroom vanities?

According to a study by Houzz, “Three out of four homeowners install new mirrors during a master bathroom renovation, and most are now choosing lighted models.” This look is modern and functional, and its embedded elements supply ambient lighting without added glare or reflections. It can also act as a nightlight when dimmed for your midnight trip to the toilet.

“Backlit mirrors and medicine cabinets are an exceptional choice for modern bathroom design,” says Linda Lang, senior staff designer at Robern; adding, “A backlit mirror creates a glowing effect on the wall giving the illusion of a floating mirror” (via Better Homes and Gardens).

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