In 2020, most home remodeling projects were focused on the heightened awareness of cleanliness in our bathroom. In 2021, homeowners have made hygiene a top priority without sacrificing the importance of style.
2021’s bathroom remodeling trends are now all about making our bathroom spaces as aesthetic and functional as possible.
Many homeowners would agree that the bathrooms in their homes are the most under-designed portions despite being the most used. For most, other areas of the home have taken precedence over creating a luxurious spa bathroom.
We’ve all been there.
If you’re planning on spicing things up for 2021, we’re going to make sure you don’t regret your decisions. In other words, we’ll have you focus on convenience, practicality, functionality, and design. Let’s quickly go over some ideas that will not only serve a great purpose but will provide you with some joy and contentment once these projects have been completed.
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Doorless Showers
Since we always seem to be dealing with a space crunch, we find it challenging to sprawl around bathroom elements. However, nowadays, the best bathroom remodeling companies have changed what was initially considered a necessity for a smaller bathroom into something that is also a popular trend for those bathrooms with enough space for bathtubs.
Ideally, doorless open showers require a minimum 6-foot buffer area on either side so that you can avoid flooding the bathroom with water. However, you can just as easily have a half-wall divide the shower space from the vanity.
A Natural Touch
Bathrooms tend to be dull spaces unless some planning goes into livening them up. One trend for 2021 is natural decorative elements. It is common to see homeowners use plants to throw in a little bit of liveliness (quite literally) and color to their bathrooms.
Whenever one says ‘au naturale’, the first thing that comes to mind is plants. One surefire way of decorating any space in the home is using potted plants. If you’re willing to go beyond these, we’d like to divert your attention to upcycle items. To join this eco-friendly trend, try to include some reclaimed wood and recycled plants in your bathroom.
A Vintage Vibe
As time moves forward, bathroom remodeling trends ironically revert to old styles. However, the best bathroom remodeling companies are embarking on this retro/vintage trend by including wood in their designs.
If we were to analyze evergreen trends, the very first thing most experts will point out is how wood has been used throughout the decades. This is why our retro-crazed clients tend to incorporate wood into their designs.
Try to ditch all those porcelain vanities and ceramic tubs and consider switching to wooden ones. And if you’re wondering, yes, it is quite possible to make wood waterproof.
Floating Vanities
Even though floating vanities commonly scream contemporary, these space-saving solutions now have more customizable options than we have ever seen before. Bathroom vanities now also have wall-mount designs with a long list of configurations, such as complete units with sinks, countertops, and storage beneath the base.
The latter is a great option depending on the length and width of the countertop. Plus, whatever you settle for, you may be able to do so without compromising the plumbing. You can also now add storage cabinets around these vanities both horizontally and vertically, low or high, and open or with door lids.
Wall-hung vanities are airy and clean and won’t seem bulky as the traditional huge box on the bathroom floor. Also, regardless of their setup, floating vanities have made it a lot easier for homeowners to clean their bathroom floors.
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Earthy Colors
More than ever, our homes have become our sanctuaries and personal retreats. We search for a sense of calm, a natural simplicity, and a dwelling to help us relax, reflect, and breathe.
Rooted in nature, Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year – Urbane Bronze – grounds a room with its organic appeal. The trend of “bringing the outdoors in” is complemented by this hue. Pairing well with foliage and light-filled spaces, its warmth reflects a feeling of serenity.
Understated yet bold, this hue can be considered neutral and used in every room. Urbane Bronze embodies the richness of wood, metal, and stone. Pair this color with warm neutrals, modern greens, and other earthy tones. In addition, it works well with stone accents, wood finishes, and mixed metals.
All About the Terrazzo
The best bathroom remodeling companies have fallen in love with the Terrazzo trend once more. The beautiful mix of marble, natural stones, and cement produces an exquisite, rough edge look, but that’s not even the best part.
This trend integrates seamlessly with most modern counters and shower walls. What’s more, carpet-like backsplashes and walls are incredibly eye-catching and very hard to ignore.
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Standalone Sinks and Tubs
We can all agree that there is nothing more luxurious than standalone tubs for modern bathrooms. Despite the increasing availability of numerous designs and styles of tubs, standalone tubs are creating quite the hype in 2021.
This particular trend is best suited for the most comprehensive bathroom remodeling projects. However, a few structural changes could make them work for smaller bathrooms too. But why stop there?
Alongside the tub, standalone sinks in place of traditional vanities are gaining a lot of traction for modern remodeling projects. These standalone fixtures create a ‘luxe’ aspect, drawing a host of people to this trend.
Bold Patterned Tiles
If you’re considering changing the tiles for your bathroom, don’t be afraid to experiment. The best bathroom remodeling companies are now clashing tiles with various colors and textures to produce a chic and timeless look for bathrooms.
In 2021, this trend focuses on textures and designs that are both subtle and contrasting in nature. We love how shiny and matte tiles combine to produce elegant colors. The result is a classy and subtle bathroom.
Fixtures That Make a Statement
Statement fixtures are a brilliant way to level up the bathroom space. The emerging trend of nude color palettes can elevate the effectiveness of your fixture theme. Imagine copper and gold metallic taps, handles, and shower knobs with a background of nude colors.
Such classic yet rustic fixtures are practically everything bathrooms need this year. Adding a fancy selection of tapware to your fixtures is a great way to break away from all the outdated and muted decor selections you’ve grown tired of.
Feature Lights
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a bathroom’s lighting can spice up the ambiance of any part of the house. Bathroom lighting schemes are heavily underrated, and 2021 is about to change just that. Previously, most homeowners didn’t realize that lighting fixtures effectively spruced up the bathroom’s decor. Of course, all of this is about to change.
This year, the best bathroom remodeling companies are bringing in feature lights out of just dining rooms and living rooms and installing them in bathrooms – and quite rightfully so. From a design standpoint, feature lights elevate fixtures such as standalone bathtubs and add a whole new level of design into one of the most personal spaces of your home.
Back-Lit Medicine Cabinets and Mirrors
Houz Magazine published that at least 3 out of 4 homeowners had opted to install backlit mirrors for their bathroom renovation project. These medicine cabinets and mirrors are quite an exceptional choice for the modern bathroom. This is because their embedded features can produce ambient lighting without any reflections or added glare on the mirror. Of course, it can also double up as a nightlight when it is dimmed.
These eye-catching, simple shapes have both functional and decorative purposes. For example, backlit mirrors create a mesmerizing glow effect behind the mirror, which also casts a floating mirror illusion.
Smart Storage Options
Some homeowners looking to remodel their bathrooms do so for additional storage. However, it can’t be as simple as adding deep and big drawers such as those used in the kitchen for pans and pots.
What you need are small dividers and drawers. Many bathroom remodeling companies are now adding tower storage drawers that range from countertop heights and beyond. On that note, some homeowners have also enjoyed vanity and medicine cabinets that also have outlets for curling irons, shavers, or electric toothbrushes.
You can finally remove all the clutter out in the open and give your bathroom a much neater look for a pleasant bathroom experience.
Steam Baths
More and more homeowners are considering adding steam baths in their bathrooms. People are now discovering the beauty of having a steam bath at the end of a stressful day.
This system, which takes hardly 10 to 15 minutes to heat up, needs a few other adjustments in the bathroom; these include marble or tile surfaces, air-tight doorways (since a steam room should be completely insulated and enclosed), floor drains, a sloped ceiling to allow drain condensation and, of course, a seat.
With all of the above taken into account, no homeowner can deny the aesthetic benefit of a steam room in their bathroom.
Smart Technologies
Smart toilets have been in the spotlight for the past couple of years alongside other innovative toilet technologies. These include automatic lid openers or flushers, seat warmers, and automatic deodorizers.
In 2021, you should look forward to other such innovations that will spread out to other parts of the bathroom. This includes automatic sinks, smart showers, mini-fridges, and many other options that are meant to add convenience to the bathroom.
Another great trend that is becoming more and more popular in households is Bluetooth speakers. With these added into your bathroom remodeling project, you can wind down and jam along to your favorite tunes while you’re in the bathtub, taking a shower, or seated on a luxurious smart toilet.
Soaking Tubs Instead of Jacuzzis
Bathroom tubs aren’t quite dead yet. Most forward-thinking homeowners are now opting for quiet soaking tubs instead of noisy Jacuzzis since they create a more serene experience in the bathroom.
Such jetless tubs are typically insulated and deep. Of course, these are pretty different from those installed in most homes around the ’80s and ’90s. Remember the ones where you would need a couple of tries before you were able to get out?



Searching for the Best Bathroom Remodeling Company in the Greater Milwaukee Area?
After browsing through all these bathroom remodeling trends, we hope you are excited to get started on your bathroom remodeling project. We’re eager to listen to your ideas, offer suggestions, and make amazing improvements.
Design Tech Remodeling is one of the best bathroom remodeling companies in the Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Waukesha Counties. As a multi-award winner nationally and locally, the company has a proven track record providing quality custom, spa-like bathrooms to its customers for over 20 years. To get in touch with them regarding your bathroom remodeling needs, contact Design Tech Remodeling or give them a call at 262-240-9999.
From modern and chic to vintage and industrial, whichever personal style you choose, we can help design and create the bathroom of your dreams.