When it comes to decorating our homes, bathrooms are often the last priority. But we’re calling it now: 2026 is the year that changes. We’ll be playing with tile, experimenting with color, and even adding more patterns to the mix. Care to join us? We talked to three interior designers, and they said that these are the trends to try.
Picture-Frame Tile Molding
Picture-frame molding has been back for a few years, and now it’s making its way into the bathroom, adding an architectural, tailored touch. “It’s a great way to frame a vanity wall, highlight a shower niche, or create definition in a space without relying on heavy trim,” explain Haddy House Interiors’ founder, Ashley Hunt, and design partner, Savannah McPartland, in Houston, Texas.
Stained Cabinetry
One of the trends Meg Lonergan, founder of Meg Lonergan Interiors in both Houston and Austin, Texas, is most excited about is the use of stained cabinetry in bathrooms. The reason, she explains, is two-fold: “Not only are stained cabinets more durable than painted, the texture and tone provide an additional layer of warmth to the space that makes a bathroom feel rich and timeless.”
Creative Tile Play
In 2026, Emily “Bird” Lambert, founder and principal designer of Bird’s Eye Design in Atlanta, Georgia, is convinced that designers will be having fun with tile shapes, trims, and layouts. “Even the very same material can create subtle but striking details,” she says. “It’s a clever way to achieve a custom look without the commitment of bold colors or the risk of clashing finishes.” Imagine playful stripes in a kids’ bath or a shower door framed with tile trim for a polished, bespoke finish.
Alison Gootee; Styling: Page Mullins
Wallpaper
“Wallpaper is making a big return in bathrooms, offering the perfect chance to add personality and pattern,” Hunt and McPartland insist. The best thing about it? There’s something for every style, whether you want to make a dramatic powder bath statement or prefer subtle texture in a primary suite.
Bold Statements
Lambert is saying goodbye to all-white baths—though she admits that classic Carrara and subway tile will never disappear!—and hello to color, texture, and pattern. “Clients are asking for moody colors paired with dark woods, warm metals, and stones full of movement,” she describes. “They want to create spaces that feel cozy, intimate, and a little bit sexy.”
While a standout tile can impress, Lambert says that the easiest entry point to this trend is paint. For instant drama, she recommends Milkshake or Barberry by Benjamin Moore on the walls, trim, and even ceilings.
Higher Backsplashes
According to Hunt and McPartland, backsplashes are moving well beyond the standard four inches, extending much higher up the wall. According to the design duo, this trend “not only offers better protection but also creates a striking design element, especially when paired with bold tile or stone.”
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