The latest design trends and innovations in bathrooms

For many of us, the bathroom is one of the most important rooms of the house. Bathroom renovations are in fact the most sought-after form of home improvement in Australia, followed by kitchen renovations, according to data from Compare the Market. 

This is not surprising, considering that bathrooms and kitchens are both essential spaces with ever-evolving technology and innovations in design. 

This article looks at showers, exploring the latest design trends and innovations, and how they can be used to create bathrooms that will stand the test of time. 

The rise of eco-luxury bathrooms 

If you’re looking for inspiration, eco-luxury is a growing style trend that represents an effortless blend of sustainability and sophistication, creating spaces that are environmentally friendly without compromising on luxurious finishes and materials. This can be incorporated in bathrooms in several ways, for example:

• Use of renewable, recycled or responsibly sourced materials like bamboo, reclaimed wood, or recycled glass
• Installation of water-saving fixtures such as low-flow showerheads, sensor-activated faucets, and recycled water systems
• Inclusion of smart technologies to regulate water temperature and lighting
• Addition of spa-like features such as rain showers, steam rooms and aromatherapy systems
• Inclusion of biophilic elements such as plants suited to high humidity, and even the use of natural light and nature-inspired colour palettes. 

Creating a Zen, spa-like experience

As mentioned above, one key element of eco-luxury design is the creation of a Zen, spa-like experience in the bathroom, and the inclusion of a luxurious shower is certainly one way to achieve this.

“In contemporary bathroom design, twin showers — featuring dual shower heads — are gaining popularity for their enhanced functionality and luxury,” says Clint Field, National Sales Marketing Manager at Nero Tapware. 

Above: Opal bathroom / Nero Tapware

“These setups often include both a fixed overhead rain shower and a handheld unit, providing versatility and a spa-like experience.” 

Nero Tapware’s Air Shower is a good example of this. According to the company, it creates an elevated showering experience by blending technology with luxurious design to create resort-style ambiance. It uses air infusion technology, mixing air with water to produce a softer, more voluminous spray that mimics the feel of natural rainfall.

“Outdoor showers are also gaining popularity in Australia, offering both functional benefits and aesthetic enhancements to residential properties,” adds Field. 

“Recognising this trend, Nero Tapware introduced the Zen Outdoor shower range, [which] provides a convenient and stylish solution for rinsing off after swimming or enjoying a refreshing shower in nature.” 

Low-flow, not low performance

Low-flow showers are another growing trend in eco-luxury design. This represents a departure from previous ways of thinking, with the emphasis being on high-flow at the expense of sustainability. 

“There is increasing pressure for showers to have a higher WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards) that is achieved through lower flow rates,” notes James Cocking, Senior Brand Manager, Portfolios at GWA Group. 

“This [creates] a significant technology challenge, with perceptions that lower flow rates are undesirable for personal shower experiences.” 

According to Cocking, it is possible to implement a low-flow shower system without impacting performance. For example, Methven’s Kiri Low Flow has a WELS 5 Star Rating (5 litres per min flow) that does not compromise spray performance by integration. The shower uses Methven Satinjet, a patented spray technology that combines colliding twin jets which produce over 300,000 droplets of water per second. 

Above: Methven Aio Shower System / Methven

For those looking for a unique shower experience with an eye-catching design, Methven is also challenging traditional shower forms with its Aurajet shower technology, which uses hidden nozzles to generate individual jets of water against angled surfaces, creating a controlled fan of water. This increases coverage and droplet density while delivering a new shower experience and adding a sculptural piece to the bathroom.

Accessible and aesthetically pleasing

“As part of universal design principles, bathrooms should be accessible to all,” adds Cocking. 

“Traditional grab rails have often posed a design challenge as they have a distinct look, causing people to hesitate to choose them.” 

Caroma has sought to change this with the introduction of its Urbane Universal Accessories line. For example, the Universal Rail Shower with VJet hand shower addresses this with a vertical rail that subtly integrates the hand shower, while also providing 110kg load rating for multidirectional force. 

“The fastest growing trend is the rail shower with overhead, which adds a more luxurious element to a traditional rail shower by incorporating a rain shower while still maintaining the rail shower’s benefit of being easy to retrofit to a single outlet.” 

Growing demand for prefab

Once limited to commercial structures, designers and their clients are increasingly recognising the benefits of modular and prefabricated design, making it another popular choice for residential bathroom projects. 

These pods integrate modern showers that feature: 

• Seamless design: Frameless glass panels and walk-in shower zones for a minimalist look
• Sustainability: Water-saving showerheads and smart technology for temperature control
• Customisation: Options like dual showerheads, LED-lit niches, and integrated storage cater to diverse preferences.

“We have noticed the growing design preference for open plan/walk-in showers,” says Ema Grima, Marketing and Digital Media Manager at Hickory. 

“This design choice fits perfectly within a prefabricated bathroom pod as the glass reinforced concrete (GRC) bases in the pods ensure a watertight seal, durability and efficient water drainage.” 

The time and cost savings associated with prefab bathrooms make them an ideal choice, especially for multi-residential structures. One good example of this is Nine by Mirvac, a luxury multi-residential property development in Sydney’s north. 

Above: Caroma Urbane Universal Accessories / Caroma

For this project, prefab manufacturer SYNC produced 769 pods (with 28 unique types) to be used across the two buildings. The pods feature bespoke designs with premium fixtures, natural stone-clad walls and advanced feature lighting.

“Our focus on prefabrication allows us to deliver high-quality, bespoke bathroom solutions while significantly reducing waste and improving efficiency,” says Chris Ong, Managing Director of SYNC.

With the use of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) principles, SYNC was able to significantly reduce waste, while improving recycling rates, with 99% of materials recycled within the factory. 

Off-site fabrication of the bathroom pods not only streamlined the construction process but also significantly enhanced site safety and efficiency, while simultaneously mitigating risks associated with traditional construction methods due to less trades required on side and the use of specialised machinery for material handling. 

Above: Kiri showerhead / Methven

“By building prototypes and manufacturing off-site, we can control quality and safety to a higher degree, ensuring that each pod meets our stringent standards before reaching the site,” adds Chris. 

The overall result was the creation of a timeless and opulent multi-residential building featuring bathrooms with luxurious natural materials, artisan lighting and top-of-the-line fixtures. 

Main Image: Nero Tapware - Zen Outdoor Shower / Supplied

SUPPLIERS

Caroma

Methven 

Nero Tapware

Hickory (SYNC)