The hottest bathroom trends right now, according to Dea Jolly

Explore The Block in 360 to win

Renovating or building a bathroom is an expensive and time consuming exercise so it is important to do all  your research before you begin. While setting a budget and organising tradespeople is key to a successful new bathroom, equally important is having a clear vision of how you want the space to look and feel. Breaking down the finishes and features that are trending for bathrooms can help narrow  options and ensure that your bathroom will look good for the next 10 years.

The main bathroom reveals on The Block this week uncovered the use of  key bathroom trends for 2016 – some more successfully than others.

Dan and Carleen’s winning bathroom is a winner for several reasons. This couple have really taken the judges criticism on board and have moved away from the overdone rooms we have seen from them so far. This week Dan and Carleen have tapped into one of the big bathroom trends of the moment – simplicity. Their bathroom is pared back and understated while still giving that important nod to the Art Deco heritage of the building. The patterned floor works perfectly with the simple wall tiles, and the addition of the handmade walnut vanity brings warmth to the space and picks up nicely on the current timber trend in bathrooms. Wet areas are the first to date, so keeping their design clean and simple will have them looking up-to-date for longer.

Kim and Chris have picked up on one of the major interior trends of the last few years with their use of brass tapware and accessories. Metallics give bathrooms a luxe and glamorous feel and work beautifully with natural materials. Unfortunately, Kim and Chris have gone overboard by adding a bit too much shimmer by also including brass handles and accessories. Too much metallic has the opposite effect and starts to look tacky and overdone – rather than sophisticated – if  overused. Making sure to get the balance right is important. Subtle metals that are matt or brushed will start to become more popular choices instead of the bright polished look going forward.

Who doesn’t love a shower seat? Daz and I put one into the ensuite on Triple Threat and we loved it! So, of course it was great to see one pop up this week in Julia and Sasha’s main bathroom with shower seats so on trend right now. Functionality and spatial planning is a key focus for bathrooms in 2016, with the bathroom increasingly becoming an important element in the idea that the home is a sanctuary. The addition of seated wash spaces, double showers with both an oversized rain shower and a separate handset and underfloor heating are just a few examples that can provide that luxury at-home spa experience.

Andy and Ben are getting better every week, with the spaces they are now delivering a vast improvement on their initial efforts. This week the boys have done a great job with the ‘bones’ of their bathroom, keeping it classic and understated. The use of a marble herringbone feature tile picks up beautifully on the current trend of patterned and geometric tiles in a subtle and timeless way that will endure. Plain, basic tiles laid in a pattern is a great way of adding visual drama without falling victim to fast dying trends. Andy and Ben still need to brush up on their styling skills – the addition of colour in the towels and more greenery would have softened their spaces and stop them from looking too dark and masculine.

Carleen and Dan’s main bathroom:

Julia and Sasha’s main bathroom:

Andy and Ben’s main bathroom:

Karlie and Will’s main bathroom:

Kim and Chris’s main bathroom: