Bathroom Decor Trends That Should Be Left In The Past, According To Our Design Expert

Do you have a home bathroom that feels stuck in the past? While vintage is always in, having a dated bathroom can leave your home feeling off-kilter, especially if the rest of your abode is stylish and chic or features more modern tones. If you were wondering what antiquated additions you can remove or upgrade in your washroom, Artem Kropovinsky, Founder & Principal Designer of Arsight, spoke exclusively with House Digest to reveal what can go to bring your bathroom(s) up to date. According to Kropovinsky, brass fixtures, heavy wallpaper, and corner units or built-in bathtubs are out-of-style and could be keeping your home from reaching its full potential.

One of the smallest and most unassuming pieces of your bathroom could be one of the biggest reasons it feels so drab. Brass faucets and hardware can pull this interior back decades, making the space look and feel expired. "Where once they provided an air of luxury, today it's not uncommon that this detail seems outdated," Kropovinsky explains. He recommends swapping these out for brushed nickel or matte black fixtures, which are sleek and understated and can match almost any décor scheme.

If your bathroom features heavy wallpaper, Kropovinsky notes this trend is outlived and will hold your bathing area back from joining the current century. "It is too dominating for small bathrooms," he told House Digest during an exclusive interview. If your space is already tiny, avoid patterns or prints that feel overbearing when it comes to the walls, as these can weigh them down and crowd the room. With too much intensity in a small space, it will feel like the walls are closing in. It can also overwhelm both the room and anyone who uses it.

When it comes to decorating your bathroom, Kropovinsky suggests keeping it simple. "Replace heavy wallpaper by lighter, neutral paint colors," he responded when asked what options could replace antiquated wallpaper. "This not only makes the area feel light, but also more spacious and airy." Use cream, beige, soft browns, and other warm whites over once trendy bathroom paint colors like gray to keep the space cozy and inviting. For those who love wallpaper and prefer prints over monochrome neutrals, Kropovinsky recommends using "the less busy version of a wallpaper on smaller areas like an accent wall."

One of the biggest items that Kropovinsky says should stay in the past is a built-in bathtub. Bulky corner units also fall into this category, and he shared with House Digest that "they take up a large amount of space and are often not utilized." Regardless of the size of your bathroom, having a piece of equipment dominate so much of the square footage is a huge commitment, and if you aren't using it every day, it is somewhat of a waste. Even more to the point, if you have the once popular bathroom feature known as a jet tub, which is usually built into the wall, it could hurt your home's resale and could also be harboring bacteria.

Removing these bulky additions will free up so much space within your bathroom, and Kropovinsky notes that "large bathtubs can be replaced with walk-in showers." He argues that "they are useful, space-saving, and fit our contemporary tastes." Freestanding tubs are also considered stylish and don't seem to be going out of trend any time soon, so you can still enjoy a relaxing soak whenever you're in the mood. While Kropovinsky's recommendations will help update your bathroom(s), he also notes "bathroom décor should be able to represent the individual's style and comfort. Trends are indicators, however, not laws." With that in mind, make sure to create a space that is true to you and your style, because you are the one who gets to use it!