BRAVE BATHROOMS

Designer Will Engelbrecht, owner and creative head of WillDesign Solutions gives us top bathroom trends for the year

THE KIT KAT TILES

Skinny vertical tiles are all the rage. You can create the look with subway tiles – last year the trend was to lay them horizontally but this year we are going vertical and stacking them to create a “Kit Kat” effect. This adds a hint of art deco glamour and intrigue to a bathroom. Stephen Pellerade of Pellerade Design House adds that full-wall cladding in artificial stone or resin is also a trend.

EMBRACE BLOOMS

Having a big statement wall with wallpaper printed with huge over-the-top blooms and foliage in your smallest room will make a bold impact. This is not the year to be scared to explore colour and design and it’s certainly a good time to add a touch of quirkiness to the bathroom.

THE GUEST BATHROOM

This is your splash-out room. Use your guest loo to fulfil your biggest decor fantasies – do something you may be too nervous to try elsewhere. Think flowered tiles, all-black walls or walls that are all mirrors. These powder rooms have become secret pocket rooms that give your guests a thrill when they discover them.

SEE THE LIGHT

Layered lighting is important. Think high-hats, sconces and decorative fixtures all in the same room. A chandelier in the bathroom might be an oldie but it’s still a goldie. Think different textile shades juxtaposed beside each other. Get the lights on separate switches and always-on dimmers to create an atmosphere of allure.

FLOOR FANTASY

Accent tiles with geometric patterns work well on the floor. There is also a trend to replace traditional rectangles with other geometric shapes, such as hexagonal tiles. Ceramic tiles that are printed with wooden grain can seem warm and natural without the problems of water stains on a real wooden floor. Another biggie for the adventurous is 3D flooring.