MomSkoop
Bathroom design trends come and go faster than you might think. What looks stylish today could feel outdated and tired in just a few years. Interior designers are already warning homeowners about certain bathroom choices that won’t stand the test of time. If you’re planning a bathroom remodel, you’ll want to avoid these trends that experts say will look dated by 2026.
1. Harsh Single-Source Lighting
Overhead lighting alone creates unflattering shadows that make everyone look tired and washed out.
Bathrooms need multiple light sources at different heights to work properly for grooming tasks.
A single ceiling fixture might seem simple and modern, but it fails to provide the even illumination you need for applying makeup or shaving.
Designers recommend layering your lighting with sconces beside mirrors, recessed lights, and even toe-kick lighting.
This approach creates a more spa-like atmosphere while being functional.
Single-source lighting feels cold and institutional rather than welcoming.
Bathrooms with varied lighting options photograph better and feel more luxurious to use every day.
2. Farmhouse Aesthetics
Shiplap walls and rustic barn doors had their moment, but that moment is quickly fading.
The farmhouse trend saturated homes across America, making bathrooms look like they belong in a country cottage rather than a modern house.
Distressed wood, galvanized metal accents, and mason jar accessories now feel overplayed and generic.
Designers are moving toward cleaner, more refined styles that feel fresh and timeless.
The problem with farmhouse style is that it became too recognizable and trendy.
When everyone has the same aesthetic, it loses its charm and personality.
Bathrooms designed with farmhouse elements will quickly signal a specific era rather than lasting style.
3. Cold Bathroom Walls that Fall Flat
Stark, bare walls in cool gray or white tones create bathrooms that feel more like doctor’s offices than relaxing retreats.
While minimalism has its place, taking it too far removes all warmth and personality from the space.
Bathrooms should feel inviting, not sterile and unwelcoming.
Adding texture through wallpaper, wood accents, or warmer paint colors makes a huge difference in how comfortable a bathroom feels.
Cold walls reflect sound harshly and make the room feel uninviting.
Designers suggest incorporating natural materials and softer color palettes.
A bathroom should be a place where you want to spend time, not rush through quickly because it feels cold.
4. Taj Mahal Quartzite and White Oak Pairing
This ultra-specific combination became Instagram-famous but will date your bathroom faster than you can say renovation.
When a particular material pairing gets too popular on social media, it becomes a time stamp rather than a timeless choice.
Taj Mahal quartzite with white oak vanities flooded design feeds for months, making every bathroom look identical.
The problem isn’t the materials themselves but their overuse in this exact combination.
Designers warn that highly specific trends like this one scream a particular moment in design history.
Choosing materials based on your personal style rather than trending combinations helps your bathroom feel unique and lasting.
5. Large-Format Tiles with Harsh Contrasting Grout
Bold black grout lines cutting through white tiles might look dramatic at first, but the effect quickly becomes overwhelming.
Large tiles are beautiful, but pairing them with starkly contrasting grout creates a grid pattern that dominates the entire room.
Your eye focuses on the lines rather than the overall design, making spaces feel busy and chaotic.
Grout that blends with your tile creates a more cohesive and calming look.
The harsh contrast trend feels dated because it prioritizes shock value over lasting beauty.
Subtlety in design choices typically ages better than dramatic statements.
Bathrooms benefit from visual calm rather than constant visual stimulation.
6. All-White and Stark Black and White Color Schemes
Completely white bathrooms or rigid black-and-white schemes lack the warmth that makes spaces feel livable.
While these color choices photograph beautifully, they often feel cold and unwelcoming in real life.
All-white bathrooms show every speck of dirt and require constant maintenance to look pristine.
Black-and-white schemes can feel too formal and reminiscent of old diners or checkerboard floors.
Designers are embracing softer neutrals, warm tones, and natural colors that feel more organic.
Adding even small amounts of wood, greenery, or warm metals transforms these stark schemes.
Color brings life and personality that pure black-and-white combinations simply cannot achieve.
7. Subway Tile Everywhere
Classic subway tile became so popular that it lost all sense of originality and personality.
Every coffee shop, restaurant, and home bathroom seemed to install the same white rectangular tiles in the same horizontal pattern.
What was once a clean, timeless choice became a cliché that signals a lack of creativity.
Subway tile isn’t bad, but using it everywhere makes your bathroom blend into the background of sameness.
Designers recommend exploring different tile shapes, sizes, and patterns that express your personal style.
Zellige tiles, fish scales, or geometric patterns offer more character.
Your bathroom should reflect who you are, not just copy what’s easiest or most common.
8. Ultra-Glossy Finishes
High-gloss surfaces on everything from tiles to cabinets create an overwhelming shiny effect that feels dated and impractical.
While some shine adds elegance, too much gloss makes bathrooms look like showrooms rather than comfortable spaces.
Glossy finishes show every fingerprint, water spot, and smudge, requiring constant cleaning.
The reflective surfaces can also create glare that’s unpleasant and unflattering.
Designers prefer mixing finishes with matte or satin options that feel more sophisticated and easier to maintain.
A completely glossy bathroom feels like stepping back into the 1980s.
Balance and texture create more interesting and livable spaces than one-note shiny surfaces throughout.
9. Pastel Tiles in Predictable Layouts
Soft pink, mint green, and baby blue tiles arranged in standard patterns feel more retro than refreshing.
Pastels experienced a revival, but using them in conventional ways makes bathrooms look like they’re trying too hard to be vintage.
The problem isn’t the colors themselves but the predictable, safe way they’re typically installed.
Standard grid layouts with pastel tiles lack the creativity needed to make the look feel current.
If you love pastels, designers suggest using them in unexpected ways with interesting shapes or mixed patterns.
Predictable design choices age poorly because they don’t take risks or show personality.
Bathrooms need character and thoughtfulness to remain appealing over time.
10. Too Much Open Shelving
Open shelves might look airy and casual, but they create constant visual clutter and maintenance headaches in bathrooms.
Everything on display collects dust, gets splashed with water, and needs to look perfectly styled at all times.
Most people don’t want their toiletries, towels, and personal items constantly on show.
Bathrooms need practical storage that hides everyday mess behind closed doors.
A few open shelves for decorative items work fine, but relying entirely on open storage feels impractical and stressful.
Designers recommend a mix of closed cabinets with minimal open shelving.
Functional storage solutions age better than trendy display-focused designs that prioritize looks over livability.