2020 has been a rough year so far. I think it’s safe to say that we all have hygiene on the mind, and that we could all use a reliable way to de-stress and unwind. Where do those two things come together? You’ve got it: the bathroom. A hot shower or a long bubble bath have always been go-to relaxation staples, and now more than ever “getting clean” is going hand-in-hand with “feeling better.” And that’s exactly why some of the biggest 2020 bathroom trends are all about bathing your way to a little peace of mind.
Open Showers: Frameless, Seamless, Curbless
For years now, the biggest bathroom trends have been all about making showers more “spa-like” – bigger, more open, and increasingly seamless. Not only does this make for a spacious, brightly-lit bathroom, but it makes your whole space feel like a haven. Using the same flooring throughout your bathroom, with a linear drain in the shower and a frameless shower enclosure (or no enclosure at all!) makes your whole bathroom feel like a getaway. The benefit? It feels like a high-end hotel, a destination that can help you step out of the daily grind… not to mention a seamless design is supremely easy to keep clean.
…Or Even Fully-Functioning Wet Bathrooms
If that last bit appeals to you the most, many homeowners are going a step beyond open showers and all the way to fully functional wet bathrooms. While open showers are typically designed to keep other fixtures (like your vanity, tub, and toilet) out of the splash zone, wet bathrooms are designed to be totally waterproof, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling. In the past, this has often been a functional design choice: a way to fit a 3/4 bathroom in the size of a half bath, or an age-in-place feature where the toilet doubles as a shower seat. But if you’re coming home every day feeling keyed-up and unclean, wet bathrooms might be the answer for your jangled nerves. Not only can you get washed up quickly, but you can spray down every inch of non-porous porcelain to ensure you aren’t leaving any nasties behind.
Stylish Signature Bathtubs For A Good Long Soak
Shop Freestanding Copper Bathtubs:
That said, sometimes bathing isn’t just about getting clean. If you’re more the type to take a long soak to unwind than to scrub down in a scalding shower, a big bathtub is a must-have. Upgrading to a signature bathtub is far from the newest of bathroom trends, and we’ve long since settled the debate over whether or not your need to have a tub (you do). But if you’re shopping a new bathtub in 2020, there are a few things you want to look for. First, you want your tub to be big – as long, wide, and deep as your space (and water heater) can handle. Second, you also want the tub to be distinctive, either in color (black is very popular right now!) or in shape. Tall, round, Japanese-style tubs are a good choice for smaller spaces, but just about any stylish freestanding tub will do the trick.
Get Steamy With A Private Tub Nook
If you’re getting a big, luxurious bathtub, you also want to think about where to put it. When freestanding tubs first started getting really popular, the seemingly-obvious choice was to put them on display: in the center of the room, where they can really stand out. But running plumbing to the center of your bathroom can be impractical. Now, it’s more common to have them tucked away – either integrated into a large, open shower, or sheltered away in their own private little niches or nooks. I’ve always loved garden tubs, placed in a windowed alcove that features both the tub and the window, but this year one of the top bathroom trends is to have your tub a little less visible, in a space that encourages quiet, steam, and extra privacy.
Upgrade To A Spa-Style or Rainfall Shower Head
Of course, all this is ignoring that any big bathroom renovations probably feel pretty far off at this point in 2020. So how do you build a more relaxing, usable bathroom when going shopping for groceries is a daunting process, to say nothing of having a bunch of construction workers in your house? Simple: update your shower head. I know, it’s such a small thing that it hardly sounds worthwhile, but trust me: updating from a standard or sub-par shower head to a luxury multi-function spa style shower head or even a rainfall shower head is hands down the best way to upgrade the functionality of your bathroom. And? Shower heads come in small, shippable packages, and are extremely DIY friendly to install.
…Or Install A Hand Shower For Maximum Cleaning Power
The same goes for another fixture we’re seeing a lot more of in 2020: hand showers. Whether an addition to your current setup or a straight swap with your existing shower head, a hand shower is a long-time favorite feature of mine that’s, incidentally, not a bad one to have in a pandemic. Hand showers function exactly like any other high-end shower head, but rest on a hook rather than being attached directly to the wall, and can be unhooked and held in the hand, on a long, flexible hose. That means you can control the flow of the water to get extra squeaky clean, and even use the shower head itself to clean and rinse out your shower between uses.
Even before the coronavirus took hold, 2020 bathroom trends were shaping up to be about a return to tried-and-true, familiar territory and comfortable-but-energizing features. Now more than ever, I think that’s exactly what we need, and the bathroom isn’t a bad place to start!
