With Elegance and Ease, Bathrooms Will Shine in 2017

From bathtubs with an artistic look and feel to showers that mimic a spring rain, bathrooms in 2017 take on an elegant, soothing vibe typically found in a high-end spa. At this year’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Orlando, FL, I spent time checking out the latest products and brands that will transform a staid bathroom into something spectacular.

Take a look at my Top Trend-Spotting below:

BRINGING NATURAL RELAXATION BACK TO BATHROOMS

Rain Showers Offer Back-to-Nature Appeal: The trend in at-home spa bathrooms emerges as consumers embrace shower experiences that feel like standing in a luxurious, soaking rain. Kohler “Real Rain” features a built-in random pattern of falling summer rain, yet you can turn up intensity when needed with an on-demand deluge feature. Moreover, it has a six-inch dry area to keep rain off of your face if you choose.

Delta Faucet’s HydroRain offers a more affordable version that features two connected showerheads and a pivoting rain can. It can be easily installed to the existing shower consumers have in place.

Re-Emergence of Freestanding Soaking Tubs: Today’s bathrooms have taken a definite spa-like turn – featuring user-friendly luxury punctuated by freestanding tubs so striking they can double as sculptural art pieces. KBIS 2017 showed a bevvy of beautiful tubs made out of everything from porcelain to bamboo to copper. Santorini showcased a Freestanding Copper Bathtub by Native Trails, while the show also featured other eye-catching bamboo and porcelain varieties.

SHINING A LIGHT ON BATHROOMS AND CLOSETS

Upending Décor Through Color and Light: LED Lighting from Häfele under a clear sink offers the ability to totally update a bathroom or kitchen color scheme.

Seeing a Closet in a Whole New Light: We’ve all been there – fumbling around on a darkened morning, trying to get dressed without turning on the overhead light. Now TaskLighting.com introduces an LED-lighted closet rod you can install to replace your old one. It creates direct light on each level of your hanging clothes and offers up a solution to the typical dim lighting found in closets.

PULLS AND KNOBS THAT SPARKLE AND SHINE

The Finishing Touch for Cabinetry: Love the look of flat cabinet fronts but worry that it may come off as too drab? The St. Vincent Handle Collection from Amerock offers up pulls and knobs with metallic, faceted edges in a geometric design that add real depth and texture to cabinetry. 

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SELF-CLEANING COMES TO THE HOME BATH

Scrubbing the Bathroom Just Got Easier: With the push of a button, one of the most thankless – and dreaded – household tasks virtually disappears. ActiClean Self-Cleaning Toilet by American Standard cleans itself due to two powerful flush valves in the: 1) jet area 2) rim area. In addition, it features a built-in cleaning solution dispenser in the top of the toilet tank, as well as two options of how long to leave the cleaner in the bowl – Quick Clean for one minute, or Deep Clean for 10 minutes. Moreover, it runs on batteries and while the cleaning features remain hidden, they’re easily accessible.

Curious about what’s trending in kitchens? Take a look at the Top Trends in kitchen design I expect will rise up in 2017.

And just for kids, we think these finds will trend for child-friendly design this year.

Photo Credits: * photo courtesy of Amerock St. Vincent; all other photos by Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.