Here at ELLE DECOR, we love reporting on home design trends, whether theyre the macro currents that well be seeing everywhere in the year ahead or the micro TikTok crazes that have us scratching our heads. But let us be real for a minute: bathroom and trends in the same sentence can feel a tad oxymoronic. After all, how many of us are staring at Bush-era plumbing fixtures (hey if it aint broke, dont fix it!) or are stuck with whatever horrific tile their landlord got on discount. Not to mention that, according to the latest data from Angi, a website that connects consumers with home improvement services, the average bathroom remodel in the U.S. costs just north of $12,000.Still bathroom design trends tend to tell us a lot about how we live, how we relax, and what we think is chici.e. they reveal a lot more than we tend to think. And 2025 is looking particularly interesting as the post-pandemic trend of self-care collides with an insatiable appetite for personalization. The idea of incorporating personal touches in bathrooms has become so important as people move away from generic designs and are now focusing on creating spaces that reflect their unique taste and style, explains Alex Yacavone, senior design studio manager at Kohler.Overall, I'm seeing a trend away from minimalism and towards bolder design moves and more drama, even in small spaces, adds Xavier Donnelly, creative director of New York interiors firm Ash.From vibrant arrays of tile to a renewed focus on showers, here are the top bathroom design trends experts are predicting will be everywhere in 2025.Skip SectionJump toHead-Turning Tile Patterns Cerruti & DraimeSquare format tile creates an eye-catching pattern in the Parisian loft of designer Fabrizio Casiraghi.Hyper-expressive slabs of stone have been ensconcing our water closets for the past several years now. But in 2025, were starting to see a shift back to tile according to nearly all of the experts we spoke to. But if you think were in for a resurgence of plain white subway tile, think again: tile in 2025 is bolder than its ever been before.Stone has been the staple for luxury bathrooms for a long time, but new gorgeous, vintage-inspired patterns with deep glazes and intricate shapes bring a sense of classic charm and timelessness, says veteran designer and leader of global design at LIXIL Americas Jean-Jacques LHenaff.Donnelly has been seeing square tiles that can be arranged in patterns come to the fore. So has interior designer Victoria Sass of the Minneapolis-based firm Prospect Refuge Studio, who has incorporated 1x1-format tiles in bright stripes and stacks. Its all part of a move towards what she dubs as retrospective futurism. As she tells us: The future of residential bathrooms seems like it will look a lot like the past.Brown Ori HarpazWarm mocha plaster walls warm up this powder room in a L.A. home designed by David Lucido. Organic shapes and materials keep the palette cozy and earthy. You cant have a powder room without a mood, right? the designer told us.Brown tones have gained momentum, and I believe this trend will persist with warm, earthy hues continuing to play a central role in interior design, says Kohlers Yacavone. These colors create a sense of comfort and grounding that resonate in the bathroom space. Sass also cites brown as a major color theme in the bathroom. But be careful, she cautions. Too much of a good thing goes the way of shiplap and poor boucl.If youre one to pooh-pooh this polarizing bathroom trend, consider other colors that designers are spying everywhere: I think we'll see nods to the past but with a new spin. Ye olde avocado becomes a modern day mint, harvest gold lightens up to a bright and bubbly blonde, Sass suggests.High-Contrast FinishesStephen Kent JohnsonIn a Montana home designed by Commune, gold hardware gleams amid a palette of cherry red and timber tones.With all of the bold hues designers are spying, it follows that fixtures will need to trend bolder to have impact. Weve been observing lustrous gold faucets, knobs, and hardware in the bathrooms weve showcased these last few yearsand the trend shows no sign of stopping. Goldsfrom yellow to redare still trending strong as they offer a gorgeous contrast with deeper wall decor," says LIXILs LHenaff. He is also seeing homeowners mix matte black with gold, and adds that Grohe, one of LIXILs brands, has collections with more subtle finishes like graphite in its pipeline. Seashells Noe DewittSeashells are making waves in virtually every space of the house, but they feel especially appropriate in the bathroom. Here, in a home designed by Redd Kaihoi, a prim shell-backed chair sits pretty in the powder room.The live-action version of The Little Mermaid in 2023 may have caused an uptick in all-things mermaidcore, butaccording to Pinterests latest trend reportage2025 will be the year of the sea witch. While the bulk of this trend will be seen in beauty and fashion (Gen Z and Millennials will dive head first into sultry siren makeup, wet wavy hair, and moody mermaid manicures from sun up til moonlight, the report foretells) its already making waves in the residential bathroom space. Were mainly spying it in elevated takes on shell shapes and nods to Rococo-style grottosbe it a chair, side table, or even an entire shell-encrusted ceiling. Ashs Donnelly, meanwhile, is spying seashell wall sconces everywhereso the year ahead might be a good time to make this under-the-sea theme part of your world, too.80s and 90s Redux Nicholas CalcottGlass brick, sleek finishesthis bathroom by Jett Projects demonstrates how minimalism is getting a glamorous 80s-inspired update in 2025.There are also 2025 trends a-plenty for minimalists. But rather than sterile all-white spaces or barely-there surfaces (remember Kim Kardashians sink controversy?), the experts are seeing a return to throwback materials that feel straight out of the 80s and early-90s.For those of us with a little Patrick Bateman in our blood (the style, not the murdering) what could be more appealing than a crispy clean bathroom chock-full of function? posits Sass. From stainless steel surfaces, glass block walls, maybe a mini-blind or two, I feel like the world has caught a minimalism bug and there's no telling how far it will go!Donnelly, for his part, predicts mirrors will be taking over our walls in the year ahead. Adds Sass: I recently completed a bathroom with wall-to-wall carpetand I'm here to say, I didn't hate it!Chicer Showers Kelly MarshallBeautiful mint-green mosaic tile covers the walls of this stylish wet room designed by Mark Grattan.While our obsession with a deep bathtub isnt going anywhere, residential experts predict there will be a renewed focus on showers in the year ahead. The shower has truly become the new centerpiece, says LHenaff. Performance showering with various experiences (waterfall, rain, mist, etc.) is key to a successful luxury bathroom design.According to Zillows latest, househunters are increasingly craving wet rooms, in particular. This luxurious design element most often found in high-end hotels is the latest spa-inspired upgrade to start showing up in homes. A wet room combines the shower and bathtub into one waterproof space without the usual shower curb or enclosure. Wet rooms are being featured 19 percent more often in listings on Zillow, according to the report.Theres also good news for DIYers looking to make a high-impact update in 2025: I think we're going to see a luxe upgrade to the shower curtain replacing the glass enclosure in some chic bathrooms, says Donnelly.Self-Care on Steroids William Jess LairdA tranquil spa in a Brazilian home designed by ELLE DECOR A-Lister Andre Mellone.Many post-pandemic trends have come and gone (were predicting home offices are out in 2025), but our lockdown obsession with self-care has now become the norm in residential bathroom design. In fact, according to Zillow, real estate listings mentioning wellness features were up 16 percent year-over-year in 2024.The bathroom is not just a functional space, but a sanctuary for relaxation and self-care. As wellness becomes more a part of daily life, people will continue to prioritize bathroom features that promote physical and mental well-being, says Yacavone.What exactly are those features? LHenaff is seeing saunas, rainfall showers, steam rooms, and more. These trends emerged during the pandemic to counteract the effect of limited social interaction, but it has been growing ever since, he says.The offerings are getting hyper-specific, too. At ELLE DECOR, weve observed everything from mani-pedi stations to champagne bars in home spas. Sass agrees. I think we are well past the tipping point on the self-care spectrum and everybody wants everything they can fit and afford in their personal bathrooms: salon-grade lighting, steam, and saunas galore, coffee machinesheck, I wouldn't be surprised if I put a microwave in a bathroom in 2025!Anna FixsenDeputy Digital EditorAnna Fixsen is the deputy digital editor of ELLE DECOR, where she oversees all facets of ElleDecor.com. In addition to editing articles and developing digital strategy, she writes about the worlds most beautiful homes, reviews the chicest products (from the best cocktail tables to cute but practical gifts), and reports on the most exciting trends in design and architecture. Since graduating from Columbia Journalism School, shes spent the past decade as an editor at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record and has written for outlets including the New York Times, Dwell, and more.