Clean, Beautiful, and Timeless: Avoid the Trendy Trap in Your Bathroom
If you’re like most people, then you spend a lot of time in your bathroom every day. It’s a space that needs to be functional, but that also benefits from being well-designed. It’s where you wake up and get ready for the day, as well as where you unwind each night. It also needs to be durable and easy to clean.
That’s a lot of boxes to check!
Sometimes, trends can get in the way of your ideal bathroom. Trendy designs can sometimes make your bathroom less functional and they don’t always age well. If you’re planning to renovate your bathroom, you need to think about balancing design with ease of use to create a space that feels like a haven.
Depending on where the bathroom is in your home, it’ll have different purposes. Perhaps it’s a personal bathroom, or maybe guests will be using it. No matter the case, you’ll need to think about what features you want in the renovation and which trends you’re looking to avoid.
There are other traps to avoid when you’re renovating. To see what we recommend for homeowners as they undertake their first renovation, check out our tips here.
When is a Trend “Too” Trendy?
Trends have always been a part of interior design. They come and go, and oftentimes, they resurface and repeat themselves. Certain trends can be fun to adopt for a period of time, but you may regret renovating your bathroom on a whim.
If you see a trend you like in a magazine or online, ask yourself a few important questions:
Does it diminish the function of the room?
Would it be easy to take out and replace if you got tired of it?
How expensive is it?
Will it take a long time to install?
Most homeowners will want to stay away from trends that are expensive, time-consuming, and permanent. If you’re taking on a big bathroom renovation, stick to timeless features that will age well over the coming years.
How to Identify a Timeless Feature
The word “timeless” gets thrown around a lot in the design world, so what does it actually mean? How are you supposed to know if something is timeless or not?
If you’re thinking about jumping on a trend for your new bathroom remodel, ask yourself whether this trend ever surfaced in the past. Some good examples include classic wooden cabinets, brushed bronze hardware, Edison-style light fixtures, etc.
If a “trend” has been around for a while, it might be a safe design choice for your new bathroom. Look for a few key signs, including:
Natural, neutral textures and colors
Classic hardware tones (silver, bronze, black)
Materials from nature (wood, stone, granite, etc.)
Six Ways to Create a Timeless Bathroom
There are several ways you can avoid short-lived design trends and renovate a lasting bathroom for your home. Here are six of our best tips for designing a bathroom that feels true to your needs and taste.
1. Personalize Your Storage
Customizing your storage spaces is one of the best ways to create a bathroom that fits your style. First, think about what the current version of your bathroom is lacking. Do you wish you had more under-cabinet space for large items? How about drawer dividers for small accessories? Do you want easily accessible storage for guests?
Consider what might be helpful or practical in your new bathroom, and search for ideas that might suit your needs. Ask your contractor for their input on storage ideas. They might have designed something in the past that fits your ideas.
2. Invest in Quality Materials
Splurge on high-quality, long-lasting countertops for your bathroom that will hold up to wear and tear. Some of our favorite surfaces for the bathroom are quartz and porcelain. They both hold up to the moisture well. Also, neither requires special cleaning products or resealing, which makes caring for them a breeze.
3. Purchase a Practical Sink
If you prefer a low-maintenance bathroom, then be wary of high-concept bathroom sinks. While overmount sinks can be eye-catching and stylized, undermount bathroom sinks are easier to maintain and are unlikely to go out of style.
Whether you choose simple or ornate, you can get your perfect sink from Alpha Surfaces. We have a large selection of sinks that we can pair with your new countertop.
4. Accessorize Carefully
The bathroom is not a place in your home where you want clutter. Choose accessories that serve a purpose and don’t get in the way of your bathroom’s function.
Of course, this doesn’t mean your accessories need to be boring. Changing your cabinet hardware or even just updating the color of your towels can have a big impact on your space without adding new elements that clutter the room.
5. Experiment with Paint and Wallpaper, but Invest in Flooring
Paint and wallpaper offer another opportunity for you to experiment with color and design in a reversible way. If you want to see how a new color trend would fit in your bathroom, you can try it out with a paint or wallpaper sample. If you don’t like it, you can always paint over it later.
Be more cautious when it comes to bathroom flooring. Like your countertops, you want to invest in flooring material that’s both beautiful and durable. Flooring isn’t as easy to replace down the line, so choose a neutral, easy-to-maintain material that you’ll still like in a few years.
6. Keep Plumbing Top of Mind
We get it — plumbing isn’t the prettiest part of your bathroom renovation, but it is important. Before you renovate your bathroom, consider having it inspected by a trusted plumber. If there’s anything that needs to be repaired or replaced, make sure it gets done before you install new fixtures. It’ll be much more difficult to go back and make repairs later.
Balance Function and Fun
There’s always room for a little experimentation in your renovation process, but when in doubt, stick to the designs and materials that have been around for decades. Prioritize your personal taste to create a bathroom you’ll still love in five to ten years (or beyond!).
Are you ready to upgrade your bathroom with a beautiful natural stone surface? Then schedule a free, no-obligation bathroom countertop design meeting with our Oklahoma natural surface pros today.