10 Bathroom Trends That Are Going Down The Drain In 2025 (Plus 10 Even Worst Ones)
Bathroom trends can be tricky, one minute you’re in love with that bold tile or quirky sink, and the next you’re wondering what you were thinking. I’ve had my fair share of design regrets, so I get it.
As we move toward 2025, designers are calling out the bathroom choices that are quickly falling out of favor. Think styles that once felt cutting-edge but now feel more cringe than chic.
If you’re planning a remodel or just curious about what to avoid, let’s dive into the biggest bathroom fads we’re ready to leave behind, for good this time.
1. All-White Everything
Remember when everyone wanted that clinical, stark white bathroom look? Those days are numbered! Designers now view all-white bathrooms as cold, sterile, and frankly boring.
Homeowners are craving warmth and personality instead. White-on-white schemes require constant cleaning too – every water spot and speck of dust shows up like a neon sign.
If you’re planning a bathroom update, consider incorporating some earthy tones or soft pastels to create a more inviting space that won’t feel like a medical examination room.
2. Vessel Sinks
Those fancy bowl-shaped sinks that sit on top of counters? They’re quickly becoming yesterday’s news! While they once screamed luxury, vessel sinks have proven impractical in daily use.
Water splashes everywhere, cleaning around the base is a nightmare, and the height often feels awkward. Many homeowners regret the choice after a few months of actual use.
Undermount sinks are making a strong comeback because they’re simply more functional and timeless. Sometimes practicality wins over trendy looks!
3. Barn Doors For Bathrooms
Sliding barn doors seemed like a space-saving miracle when they first appeared in bathrooms. Now? They’re quickly sliding out of style!
The truth is, these doors never really provided proper privacy. Everyone can hear everything that happens behind them, and those little gaps around the edges? Mortifying!
Plus, the rustic farmhouse look is fading fast in bathroom design. Traditional swing doors or pocket doors offer better functionality and sound insulation while taking up minimal visual space.
4. Word Art And Bathroom Signs
Those cutesy wooden signs saying “Wash” or “Soak” are heading straight for the donation pile! Nothing screams “dated decor” faster than bathroom word art telling you what to do in spaces where the function is obvious.
Interior designers collectively cringe at signs announcing “Powder Room” or worse, those jokey ones about bathroom behaviors. Your guests already know where they are!
For wall decor that will age better, consider simple artwork, a small plant, or nothing at all – sometimes clean simplicity makes the strongest statement.
5. Overly Themed Beach Bathrooms
Seashell soap dishes! Anchor-patterned shower curtains! Blue and white everything! The nautical bathroom theme is officially washing away with the tide.
When every single element screams “BEACH,” your bathroom starts feeling like a tacky souvenir shop. Designers are now favoring subtle nods to coastal vibes rather than all-out theme parks.
If you love oceanside vibes, try incorporating just one or two quality elements – perhaps a sophisticated blue paint color or natural textures – rather than filling every inch with maritime kitsch.
6. Industrial Exposed Pipe Fixtures
The industrial look with exposed copper pipes and raw metal fixtures is rusting away fast! This trend borrowed from urban loft aesthetics never really belonged in residential bathrooms.
Homeowners discovered these fixtures are fingerprint magnets and require constant polishing to look presentable. Many industrial-style fixtures also waste water with their open-flow designs.
Sleeker, more efficient fixtures that blend form and function are taking center stage instead. Sometimes hiding the plumbing is actually the more sophisticated choice!
7. Gray Everything
Gray dominated bathrooms for nearly a decade, but this cool-toned takeover is finally fading! What once seemed sophisticated now feels cold, clinical, and frankly depressing.
All-gray bathrooms often end up feeling like concrete bunkers rather than relaxing retreats. Without careful planning, these monochromatic spaces can appear flat and lifeless.
Warmer neutrals and nature-inspired hues are stepping in to create more inviting atmospheres. Even those who still appreciate minimalism are opting for softer, more complex neutral palettes with actual personality.
8. Busy Patterned Cement Tiles
Those boldly patterned cement tiles that flooded Instagram? They’re cracking under pressure! While visually striking, these high-maintenance floors have proven problematic for many homeowners.
Cement tiles stain easily, require special sealing, and the busy patterns quickly date a bathroom. Some homeowners report regretting the installation within months as trends shifted.
Looking forward, simpler patterns or textured tiles with more subtle variation offer greater longevity. Sometimes less really is more when it comes to elements you can’t easily replace!
9. Rainfall Showers Only
Those Instagram-worthy ceiling-mounted rainfall showers are facing a drought in popularity! While they look luxurious, many homeowners discovered they’re not practical as an only shower option.
Rainfall showers make it nearly impossible to shower without wetting your hair. Water pressure often disappoints compared to traditional showerheads. They’re also water wasters in an increasingly eco-conscious world.
The new standard includes adjustable, water-saving fixtures that offer multiple spray options. Functionality is making a splash over pure aesthetics!
10. Floating Vanities
Wall-mounted floating vanities are no longer floating everyone’s boat! Though they create an illusion of space, homeowners have found they sacrifice too much storage and stability.
Many floating vanities wobble slightly after installation or over time. The space underneath often becomes a dust-collecting zone that’s awkward to clean.
Designers are returning to vanities with legs or full cabinets that provide more storage while still maintaining a light appearance. Sometimes having your storage actually touch the floor is the more practical choice!
11. Accent Walls Of Small Mosaic Tiles
Those tiny mosaic tile accent walls behind the vanity? They’re officially on the chopping block! What once seemed like a perfect way to add texture now reads as busy and dated.
Homeowners quickly tired of the excessive grout lines that collect grime and are nearly impossible to keep clean. The small tiles also make spaces feel choppy and visually overwhelming.
Larger format tiles or alternative materials like wood paneling create a more cohesive, easier-to-maintain look. Sometimes simplicity is the ultimate sophistication in bathroom design!
12. Fake Plants Everywhere
Plastic greenery is getting flushed from stylish bathrooms! Those dusty fake ferns and synthetic succulents aren’t fooling anyone anymore.
Artificial plants collect bathroom dust and moisture, quickly looking shabby. Many lower-quality versions fade from bathroom humidity and cleaning products, making them look even more obviously fake.
Real plants that thrive in humidity like pothos, ferns, or air plants are taking their place, bringing actual air-purifying benefits. If your bathroom lacks natural light, quality preserved plants offer a better alternative than plastic imposters.
13. Open Shelving Instead Of Cabinets
Open bathroom shelving is closing up shop! While these Instagram-ready displays looked charming in photos, living with them proved less appealing.
Bathroom items collect dust quickly when exposed. Most people don’t actually own display-worthy toiletries and necessities. The constant styling needed to keep open shelves looking presentable became a chore many homeowners quickly tired of.
Closed storage with perhaps just one decorative shelf is making a strong comeback. Sometimes hiding your collection of half-empty shampoo bottles is the more sophisticated design choice!
14. Jetted Tubs
Those massive jetted tubs from the 1990s and early 2000s are officially circling the drain! Once the height of luxury, these water-guzzling giants have fallen dramatically from favor.
Homeowners discovered the jets collect mold and bacteria that’s difficult to clean. Many people rarely used these tubs enough to justify their enormous footprint and water consumption.
Sleeker freestanding soaking tubs or larger walk-in showers are taking their place, offering luxury without the maintenance headaches. Sometimes simpler really is better in bathroom fixtures!
15. Chevron Patterns
Zigzag overload! Chevron patterns are rapidly retreating from bathroom designs everywhere. This once-ubiquitous pattern now immediately dates a bathroom to the 2010s.
Many homeowners who jumped on the chevron bandwagon now regret committing to such a distinctive pattern in permanent elements like tile. The busy visual effect also tends to make smaller bathrooms feel chaotic rather than calming.
Simpler geometric patterns or classic layouts like herringbone offer more staying power with similar visual interest. Sometimes trends zigzag out of style as quickly as they zag in!
16. Edison Bulb Lighting
Those exposed vintage-style Edison bulbs are dimming in popularity! While they created a certain industrial-chic vibe, they’ve proven impractical in actual bathroom settings.
The harsh, unflattering light makes grooming tasks difficult. Many homeowners discovered these decorative bulbs provide insufficient illumination for functional bathroom activities like applying makeup or shaving.
Warmer LED fixtures that balance form and function are taking center stage instead. Good bathroom lighting should make you look good – not like you’re being interrogated in a vintage factory!
17. Medicine Cabinets
Those traditional recessed medicine cabinets are being prescribed an early retirement! Once a bathroom standard, these shallow storage units no longer meet modern needs.
Today’s personal care routines involve more products than these small cabinets can handle. Many older medicine cabinets also feature unflattering lighting and create awkward recesses in walls.
Larger vanities with drawers designed for organization are proving more functional for today’s bathrooms. Sometimes traditional solutions need updating as our storage needs evolve!
18. Clear Glass Shower Doors
Completely transparent shower enclosures are losing their crystal-clear appeal! While they created an illusion of spaciousness, the maintenance reality has proven less attractive.
Keeping clear glass spotless requires daily squeegee sessions and frequent deep cleaning. Many homeowners tire of the constant battle against water spots, soap scum, and mineral deposits.
Frosted or textured glass options are gaining popularity for their more forgiving nature and added privacy. Sometimes a little visual obscurity is actually a practical bathroom blessing!
19. Aggressive Spa-Themed Decor
Those “spa-inspired” bathrooms with scattered river rocks and Buddha statues are checking out! Cultural appropriation issues aside, these themed spaces often feel forced and inauthentic.
Many homeowners went overboard with massage stones, bamboo accessories, and inspirational spa phrases. The result? Bathrooms that resemble a chain spa waiting room rather than a personal sanctuary.
More subtle approaches to creating calm are taking center stage, focusing on quality materials and thoughtful design rather than themed accessories. Sometimes true luxury whispers rather than shouts!
20. Toilet Rugs And Fuzzy Seat Covers
Plush toilet rugs and matching seat covers are finally getting the flush they deserve! These bathroom relics harbor moisture, bacteria, and dust in ways that modern homeowners find unacceptable.
Hygiene concerns aside, these fuzzy accessories scream “outdated” to anyone who enters your bathroom. They’ve become shorthand for stuck-in-the-past decorating.
Simple, washable bath mats placed strategically and bare toilet seats are the modern preference. Sometimes eliminating unnecessary textiles is the cleanest, most contemporary choice for bathroom design!
