subject: Luxury Bathroom Trends 2012 [print this page] To most people, their home is their sanctuaryTo most people, their home is their sanctuary. For this reason, clients work hard to make their space as luxurious, comfortable and beautiful as possible. For a long time bathrooms tended to be the most neglected room in the house: generally a small room, usually fully tiled or painted. The current trend for luxury interior design is to focus more attention on creating a beautiful bathroom. The bathroom is now considered an essential element of stylish interior design and rapidly becoming one of the most important rooms in the home.
Furniture
Clients will be looking for furniture pieces with longevity and superior workmanship. Quality reclaimed furniture and mirrors will dominate with aspirational pieces for a well-travelled clientele. There is a number of interesting furniture pieces which evoke nostalgia and implement traditional styling with a contemporary twist to create a sense of luxury.
Wall and Floor Finishes
Although the consistent trend of part-tiling will remain prominent, mixing the scheme with a fully tiled feature wall to add a focal point will be a strong trend. The use of natural stone in grey, taupe and whites will continue, and to soften the scheme wallpaper will be introduced to add depth and texture. Polished plaster, another finish inspired by travels, will continue to grow in popularity. The application of polished plaster makes it a suitable and durable finish for use in wet and high moisture areas like showers and steam rooms.
The tile industry continues to produce truly inspiring designs. Try introducing textured tiles to create a natural spa feel during natural day light and flood with wall washes to create a sense of drama in the evening. Metallics will also continue to feature heavily in colour schemes, however, remember to balance these with natural stone and wood for that softer, more sophisticated look.
Accessories
Bathroom accessories are the jewels in a bathroom. There are extensive product ranges available that come in a variety of finishes to match brassware. Mixing leathers and ceramics add another tactile dimension to the space. We are seeing a move away from minimalist-style mirrors and more towards decorative framed mirrors to add a touch of elegance.
Lighting
Decorative lighting previously reserved for grand or popular living spaces will continue to disperse into bathrooms. The use of glistening pendants and chandeliers, ranging from classical to contemporary, enhance the character of the space, adding an element of theatre to it. The romance of an antique-style chandelier will remain on trend, although designs which draw from past will now have a subtle contemporary edge.
Chandeliers and pendants are stunning pieces on their own and can also be used as part of a layered lighting scheme. Mixing decorative lighting with down lights, recessed spots, wall lights and LEDs complete the scheme. Clever application of light layering frequently used to help create a dramatic interior. LED strip lighting in coffer ceilings adds an extra element to the overall design. It is advised to always check the lights suitability for bathrooms. Additionally, the layers of lighting should always be controlled on separate circuits give a flexible light scheme to suit any mood.
