Once-Trending Bathroom Designs That Are Being Replaced In 2025

Things can change quickly in home design, especially when it comes to bathroom trends. You might have seen these bathroom fads everywhere in 2024, some even in previous years, too. But one thing is for sure: they are being replaced in 2025. We exclusively interviewed interior designers, home sellers, and material suppliers to place your finger on the pulse of what is soon to be out of style.

It will likely be a relief to know, however, that none of these changes in design are just for the sake of change. Instead, incorporating them will create more functional, more inviting, and prettier bathrooms. Our experts have thoughtfully considered what their clients have used and enjoyed in the past but have the benefit of time to understand why these things didn't work out. In fact, many of these trends are about stepping away from trends entirely and focusing on classic, tried-and-true bathroom options. It's all about having more storage, more personality, and more bang for your buck in your bathroom for 2025.

There is a running online joke that using the shower at someone else's home is a bit like navigating a spaceship, as the controls are so confusing. Luckily, homes that have out-of-this-world finishes are being replaced in 2025 with more classic options. "I am seeing that the ultra-modern, futuristic bathroom style is losing ground to vintage-inspired elements," Nicole Saunders, interior design specialist and founder of The Design Build Vault, tells House Digest in an exclusive interview.

The way this trend is manifesting "includes the resurgence of classic tiling patterns like hexagons, retro fixtures, and colors that hark back to the 1920s or 1970s," Saunders continues. "These vintage details provide charm and character without sacrificing functionality." Of course, leaning into classic designs doesn't mean having a nonfunctional bathroom. Instead, Saunders encourages readers to "look for a blend of old and new bathroom designs such as pairing vintage hardware with modern finishes, or style antique mirrors into contemporary designs." The best part? There is lots of flexibility in the way one can successfully team up old and new. If you're not a fan of antiques, you might do this by having a pedestal sink with vintage-style cross-handle faucets in a lovely brushed brass finish, and pairing it with a contemporary chrome mirror. 

Vessel sinks sit on top of the counter instead of the more traditional recessed basin design. They've been popular for some time. However, you mightn't see too many of them in bathrooms designed this year and beyond. "Something that I think will be out of style in 2025 is vessel sinks," Adam Hamilton, CEO of REI Hub, tells House Digest. "These have had their moment these past few years because they are certainly unique and interesting to look at, but the novelty has worn off, and people are now coming to the realization that they aren't always the most practical. They can take up extra sink space, cause more messes, and be more difficult to clean."

Instead, there will be a return to more classic sink designs — the kind where the basin is down inside the counter. This way, you have more counter space and things look less cluttered. If you worry about losing any style or personality from your bathroom when moving away from vessel sinks, consider using quirky drawer pulls or a bold cabinet color to make up for it.

While marble is a timeless design option, some experts believe that it's a countertop material that doesn't belong in your bathroom. "While marble has been a luxury standard in bathrooms, its heavy, veiny appearance is being phased out in favor of sleeker, more understated materials," Saunders shares. Marble throws itself in the eyes too much, especially if you choose a vibrantly colored option, like the purple-veined Calacatta Viola or the burgundy red Rojo Levante. 

But don't worry. If you were thinking of using marble and need a new idea, Saunders still has you covered. "In my expert opinion, smooth quartz and honed concrete will become popular choices for vanities, offering a modern, elegant look without the overpowering patterns of traditional marble." The reasoning behind this is simple, she says. Quartz comes in so many different colors, but it doesn't have a loud pattern like marble. It's also easy to customize, so no matter what shape, shade, or style you want to achieve, you can fit quartz into your plans. It's "an ideal choice for those who want to add a pop of personality to their bathroom design," Saunders shares. The same can be said for smoothed concrete. If you don't like the steely gray of traditional concrete, you can stain it nearly any color you want. When using concrete in the bathroom, just make sure it is properly sealed so moisture doesn't seep in and stains don't develop.

As marble countertops find themselves falling out of style in 2025, the stark coldness of all-white bathrooms is falling right alongside them. "Oversized, all-white bathrooms with minimal character are giving way to more personalized, textured spaces that tell a story. One significant trend I'm seeing fade is the monochromatic, sterile bathroom aesthetic," Shiva Samiei, interior designer and CEO of SHIVA SAMIEI & Co., tells House Digest in an exclusive interview.

While white was once thought to be timeless, chic, and easy to keep clean, more and more people are realizing that it also makes your bathroom feel a bit sterile, almost like a hospital instead of a home. "Clients are moving away from clinical-looking spaces toward warmth and personality," she continues. "I recently redesigned a bathroom in a Vancouver home where we replaced pure white tiles and stark surfaces with rich terracotta tiles, organic shapes, and textured wall treatments that create depth and interest." To recreate this look at home, reach for earth tones in your bathroom. This might be deep browns, warm reds, or even moody greens for countertops, tiles, and even cabinetry. If you want to redecorate instead of completely redesign, consider swapping out your towel set or adding more plants to add warmth to your all-white bathroom.

Frameless showers are like big glass boxes. Instead of having a defined frame, they have small discreet metal clips to hold them in place. While the glass is strong, and sometimes frosted for privacy, our experts note that this minimalist style is being abandoned. "Another trend on its way out is the minimalist, frameless shower design," Samiei says. "While these looked sleek initially, homeowners are now craving more defined shower spaces with statement frames, often in matte black or bronze finishes that add architectural drama to the bathroom."

The change in this trend is simply because people want something more to look at. Glass on its own can be quite subdued, so having a shower with a frame gives the room a little bit more personality. If you like the idea of leaving the frameless shower door trend in the past, consider something with a bit more flair, such as a large, arched shower entryway reminiscent of a Roman bathhouse, or for something more budget-friendly, reach for a grid shower door, such as the DreamLine French Corner Shower Enclosure. This is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of just being one large glass panel, it's broken down into smaller panes with chic metal to make things more interesting to look at.

Storage in the bathroom always seems to be at a premium. One way designers are fixing this issue in 2025 is by moving away from wall-mounted vanities. "The popularity of wall-mounted vanities, which have dominated recent bathroom designs, might decline as homeowners increasingly value storage solutions like bathroom sink cabinets that offer both style and practicality," Josh Qian, COO and co-founder of BestOnlineCabinets, tells House Digest in an exclusive. "Expect a resurgence of classic, freestanding vanities that provide ample storage while allowing for more flexibility in layout and design."

If you have a wall-mounted vanity, and it works for you, there is no reason to get rid of it. However, don't feel trapped into thinking that's the only place you can keep things in the bathroom. In addition to buying shelving units to fit around your pedestal sink (such as the Bonnlo Pedestal Sink Storage Cabinet), across from your tub, or even in the corner behind the bathroom door, there are so many other ways to increase storage in the bathroom. For example, the ALLZONE Shower Caddy from Amazon goes from the floor to the ceiling, giving you at least four times the storage capacity of a regular caddy.

Bathrooms need to be well-lit, as you want to make sure you can see while getting ready. However, our experts assert that LED lights should be used sparingly in 2025. "Although LED mirrors have become widely used, we find that the excessive use of LEDs feels contrived," Nitya Seth, interior designer and CEO of Nityanamya, tells House Digest exclusively. "Thus, we anticipate that cooler and less intense illumination, or so-called 'mood lighting' will be the order of the day to give a warmer feel." So while LED mirrors are great for putting on makeup or plucking your eyebrows, the light shouldn't be used elsewhere in the room. Think of things like LED strips around vanities, under the mirror, or behind bathtubs — these are just too much.

Instead, reach for light bulbs with a warmer glow and lean into traditional options, like recessed lights in the ceiling or within niches in the space. You might also consider pendant lights or chandeliers to create a statement piece with the lighting in your bathroom or even small lamp-like sconces on either side of your mirror. If you want mood lighting, reach for candles or battery-operated flameless options (like the Vinkor Flameless Candles from Amazon) for that soft, flickering effect.

Big tiles felt new and unexpected for most of the 2020s, but trendsetters are craving something new as the large-format look has become commonplace. "The uniform, large-format porcelain tiles are also losing ground," Samiei warns. "Designers and homeowners are gravitating toward more dynamic tile patterns, including handmade ceramic tiles, mixed geometric shapes, and artisanal designs that introduce visual complexity and craftsmanship."

Using tiles as a statement piece can add a lot of personality to your bathroom. Many people might choose to keep the decor in these high-use wet spaces sparse as a cluttered bathroom can be difficult to keep clean. If you have bright, zigzagged tiling, it does all the work. Tiling in the bathroom is a great way to incorporate styles like Art Deco into your home, as the movement relied so heavily on shapes and patterns to make a statement. If you look at bathroom designs that hark back to the Art Nouveau era, you'll notice the tile plays a big role. Looking for inspiration? Check out our guide to Art Deco decor, as the era from the 1920s to '30s was full of lively, exciting designs with tile.

Bathroom fixtures, like the faucets, drawer pulls, and lightswitches, are one of the most important features to select. They can set the tone for the rest of the space and define its personality. However, there is one type of fixture you won't see much of going forward. "Another trend that is seeing its twilight is the overuse of matte black fixtures," Jack Lorge, founder and owner of Rolli Shades, shares with House Digest. "The sleek, industrial look has dominated modern bathrooms for the past few years, but people are increasingly leaning towards softer metallics — brushed nickel, polished brass, and even mixed metals — to create a warmer, more versatile aesthetic."

If you are mixing metals, however, there are still a few rules to follow. The first is that you should typically select two metals so the bathroom doesn't seem hodge-podge. The next is that if something comes in a set of two or more, like you have two plugs in the bathroom that need covers, or three drawer pulls, they should all be the same finish. However, the plugs and the drawer pulls need not have the same finish. But where is this massive shift in design coming from, and what do our experts think you should be trying to achieve with this new look? "The shift is towards finishes that bring subtle elegance and a sense of timelessness," Lorge says, "rather than the stark contrast of matte black."