10 Bathroom Trends That Really Aren’t Aging Well

Some bathroom trends looked cool when they first popped up, but now? They’re making spaces feel outdated fast. Bathrooms should feel clean, functional, and easy to maintain—but a lot of these older trends are doing the opposite.

If you’ve been wondering why your bathroom feels tired no matter how clean it is, one (or more) of these might be the reason.

Vessel Sinks

They had a moment, but vessel sinks are a pain to clean around and often feel bulky now. Water splashes everywhere, and they’re prone to chipping if something bumps the rim.

Undermount or integrated sinks are taking over because they’re sleeker and way easier to keep clean. They give the whole bathroom a more current, streamlined look.

Glass Block Windows

Glass block was supposed to bring in light while keeping privacy, but it’s feeling very stuck in the 90s. It tends to make bathrooms look dated fast.

Frosted glass or modern privacy window films give the same benefit without dragging the space backward in time. Plus, they’re easier to swap out if styles change.

Overly Ornate Vanities

Big, furniture-style vanities with heavy carvings and dark finishes were popular for years. Now, they make the space feel heavy and closed-in.

Lighter woods, clean lines, and simple designs are much more current. They brighten up the room and make the space feel fresh without trying too hard.

Beige Everything

There was a time when every bathroom was layered in beige—beige tile, beige walls, beige counters. Now it reads as boring and washed out.

Crisp whites, soft grays, or earthy greens and blues are taking over. They still feel neutral but add way more character and contrast.

Industrial Pipe Fixtures

The industrial trend showed up hard—exposed pipes, black iron shelving, and raw finishes. But in a bathroom, it often feels cold, unfinished, and kind of harsh now.

Warmer metals like brushed brass or matte nickel are trending instead. They still look modern but add softness and warmth that feels less harsh.

Mosaic Tile Accent Strips

Those little mosaic tile strips running through the middle of a shower wall were everywhere for a while. Now, they feel overly busy and dated.

People are ditching them for large-format tiles or continuous slabs that make the space look bigger, cleaner, and far more high-end.

Faux Wood Tile

It tried to look like wood but often fell flat—especially in cool grays or weird tones. Now, it’s one of the fastest ways to date a bathroom floor.

Stone-look porcelain, textured concrete styles, or even real sealed wood in powder rooms are replacing it for something that feels more natural and less fake.

Bright Colored Cabinets

Popping a bright teal or navy vanity into a bathroom was trendy for a while, but bold cabinets are already starting to feel tired and hard to pair with other elements.

Soft, natural tones—like white oak, walnut, or taupe—tend to hold up a lot better over time. They make the space feel clean without screaming for attention.

Open Storage Shelves

Floating shelves over the toilet or next to the vanity were big for a while, but in bathrooms, they usually become clutter magnets.

Closed storage wins every time in a bathroom. It hides the mess—like extra TP, cleaning supplies, and random bottles—and keeps the space looking calm and clean.

All-Gray Bathrooms

Gray had a chokehold on bathroom design for years. Gray tile, gray walls, gray cabinets—everything was gray on gray.

Now it feels cold and lifeless. Warmer neutrals are moving in—think creamy whites, soft taupes, and light wood tones—that still feel fresh but way more inviting.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.