Latest Bathroom Design Trends

Q. HOW IMPORTANT ARE BATHROOM DESIGN TRENDS WHEN IT COMES TO DESIGNING A BATHROOM?

A. Very important in terms of getting people inspired and giving them ideas. Bathrooms have changed so much in recent years, as people have questioned how they can turn a functional space into something they enjoy being in. You are in your bathroom everyday, so like a kitchen it is important to ensure this place is just perfect for you and your family.

Q. HOW DO YOU BALANCE TRENDS WITH CREATING SOMETHING THAT WON’T DATE?

A. It’s a fine line, but these days people aren’t building bathrooms to last 25 years or a lifetime – that era has come and gone. And there are things you can easily change – for example, it’s easy enough to swap out a tap, so you can experiment with the colours in tapware now, then go for something else a couple of years later.

Q. CAN YOU SUGGEST WAYS TO UPDATE A BATHROOM WITHOUT EMBARKING ON A FULL-SCALE RENOVATION?

A. Changing out a big feature like a vanity and basin, and perhaps getting one in a soft wood, can transform the whole look and feel of your bathroom; it’s easy enough to do and it’s not a huge expense. You can also play with colours and textures, perhaps adding a feature wall to give the space a refresh. Because it’s a small room it really doesn’t need much to create an amazing new look and feel. Have a look at our The Bathroom Book for more bathroom inspirations and latest bathroom design trends.

Q. IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHANNEL THE LATEST LOOKS WITHOUT IT COSTING A FORTUNE?

A. Absolutely. Our private-label brands have pieces that are a lot cheaper, but offer the same look and style as you might get somewhere else. For example, you might want a stone bath that’s $5000 – but it’s not in the budget; we can get you the same look for less and still great quality. That said, our team can also work with you to help you invest in that one piece that becomes the focal point – but keep it more basic elsewhere to balance that cost.

Q. DOES AN AWKWARD OR SMALL SPACE LIMIT CHOICE?

A. Not at all, products have evolved as we understand small spaces better. Back in the day you might have only been able to get a bath of a standard size, now there is a wide range of variety. It’s the same with showers, they’re not basic square spaces any more, plus you can get bathroom vanities that don’t protrude from the wall as much – even toilets have evolved. We have an excellent article on small bathroom designs, make sure you read that through.

Q. IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET GORGEOUS LOOKS SHOWCASED OVERSEAS HERE IN NEW ZEALAND?

A. Yes, we’ve got some fantastic suppliers in places like Italy and Germany that we partner up with; we’re very much aligned with these guys. New Zealand tends to follow the European trends, our bathroom inspiration is based on what is happening there and we can access those pieces for you.

Q. AS HOMES GET SMARTER, HOW IMPORTANT IS FUTURE PROOFING IN BATHROOMS?

A. Future proofing currently is just being aware of it, understanding where you see it fitting into your life and starting off small. I see smart bathrooms heading into the areas of controlled water and lighting – both of which you can do down the track. You might start with LED lights in your vanity, bathroom cabinet or mirror as a very basic and simple way to ease into creating a lasting space, and then you can move into introducing smart technology around your water control.

Q. IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A MORE SUSTAINABLE BATHROOM?

A. A lot of the overseas companies we work with have products that cater for that, and while in New Zealand we don’t have the restrictions they have elsewhere – for example in Australia all their products have to be in dezincification resistant brass – at Mico we do have those options available. We have products with water flow limitations on basin mixers and showering and all our products have WELS star rating, so people can be aware what their water efficiency is.

Mico bathroom design tip

Louise’s recipe for success: Planning. “It can take time but planning is easy enough to do, and that side of things is free with our team. Our staff love getting creative and making it work for you. Our 3D Design Planner also means they can really help you visualise the possibilities. From there, we can understand your needs/requirements, access products to fit these requirements, recommend plumbers in the area, help with budgets, and support through the project as much as possible.”