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Renovating one or all of the most functional rooms in your home? The latest design trends for these spaces are both adaptable and interesting, and some updates can be integrated in small tweaks or big projects. Renters can also get in on the action! Here’s how.
Everything from the sourcing of original materials to the environmental practices of the manufacturer is important to today’s consumer, says Bunnings trend and design manager Jane Wright. “Lower-impact and more considered solutions are no longer a trend, but a fundamental principle woven into the fabric of households,” she says. New tech is driving change in the bathroom, says Andy Grigor at GWA Group (which distributes Caroma, Methven and Dorf). “Technology is playing a crucial role, by optimising both water and energy consumption through the integration of smart thermostats and water sensors,” he says.
Look to: Energy-efficient and water-wise appliances, and responsibly sourced timber for cabinetry. Select tapware, showers, toilets and a washing machine that score four stars or more in the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS).
Colour is now key to a home we love. While there’ll always be a place for white kitchens, using colour is definitely on the rise, according to Giorgia Manenti at Kaboodle Kitchen. “Greens and blues are now neutral colourways in kitchens – they have timeless appeal but add vibrancy,” she says. Decorating with colour is part of the personality-plus trend. Across bathroom and powder rooms, there’s an influx of saturated colours, says Jane. “Like a monochromatic fantasy, the colour-drenching trend is about a single-hued explosion across all surfaces in a room,” she explains.
Look to: Accessories such as benchtop appliances can add easy colour. And with a free weekend, a tin of paint and a roller – plus permission from your landlord if renting – you could update paintable surfaces like timber cabinets and/or plain walls. For bathrooms, choose a specialist paint that copes with moisture and a colour to suit existing tiles.
The home-centric habits from the pandemic – and recent cost of living challenges – have driven the personalisation of interiors. “We’re now seeing unconventional kitchens that celebrate individualism and personal expression,” says Jane. Displaying favourite pieces is part of this trend. “Instead of concealing everything, we’re hiding larger, less attractive appliances and displaying personal items,” says Giorgia. In the bathroom, individuality reigns. “Your choice of vanity, mirror, tiling or tapware can steal the spotlight,” explains Jane. “These bathrooms are about self-expression and boundless possibilities.” Look to: Create vignettes in glazed cabinets or on open shelves, and source beautiful bathroom accessories like a vintage mirror or pretty soap dish. Swap out old for new (or new for old!) tapware (a job for a licensed plumber).
Health and wellbeing is growing in focus, especially in the kitchen and bathroom – or ‘spa-throom’. “The bathroom is regarded as a place to unwind and wash away stress,” says Jane. There’s been growth in the use of biophilic design principles, notes Andy. “These incorporate elements such as living green walls, natural light and views of nature into bathrooms,” he says. And, since the pandemic, the use of natural materials has also increased, says Jane. “They have a rich aesthetic quality and are increasingly being recognised for their health benefits (reducing the amount of chemically treated items in the home),” she explains.
Look to: Natural materials, and hygienic, easy-clean surfaces and products such as rimless toilets. Temporary updates may include extra storage to keep surfaces clear, pot plants and comfort items like plug-in heated towel rails.
Metals, timber and natural stone are increasingly the go-to materials. “We’re seeing lots of dark woodgrains in cabinetry,” says Giorgia. “Cool metals and metallics are on the rise as well.” With its myriad tones and patterns, marble is also popular. “It’s the time of strongly veined marble, the busier the better for unmissable luxury and next-level style,” says Jane. In tapware, chrome continues to reign as the top colour choice, says Andy. “Matt black is now firmly established in our standard palette, brushed nickel and brushed brass remain popular choices and bronze is gaining momentum.” Also growing in popularity, he notes, is matt white in tapware, basins and toilets.
Look to: Timber and marble is a match made in design heaven. For a quick and cost-effective style tweak, add marble accessories to the kitchen, and warmth to a bathroom or laundry with a timber shelf or storage unit.
Check out the full range of bathroom products, from taps to toilets.
Photo credit: Kaboodle Kitchen, Reuben Looi
