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Bathroom Trends That Are Going Out of Style Fast

A practical Cape Town guide explaining bathroom trends that are dating quickly, what to choose instead, and how to make renovation choices that still work years from now.

5 min readPublished 2026-03-16Updated 2026-05-31

Why trend awareness matters before you renovate

Bathroom trends move quickly, but tiles and fixtures stay in your home for years. That is why it helps to know which bathroom trends are starting to look dated before you spend money on a renovation.

This guide looks at bathroom trends that are going out of style, what is replacing them, and how Cape Town homeowners can make better long - term choices.

If you are planning bathroom tiling, floor tiling, or broader tiling services, focus on choices that still look good after the trend cycle moves on.

Trend 1: Grey Everything

Cold all - grey bathrooms with grey tiles, grey walls, grey grout, chrome fixtures, and no warmth can now feel flat and dated.

Grey itself is not wrong. Warm grey, greige, and stone - look grey can still work well when balanced with timber, warm lighting, plants, and softer neutrals.

What to choose instead: Warm neutrals such as sand, cream, warm white, greige, taupe, and soft stone tones.

Tiling tip: Before deciding, compare options in - room and review bathroom colour trends for 2026 so colour and light are judged together.

Trend 2: Subway Tiles in Straight Stack

Subway tiles are not outdated on their own. The issue is the overused white straight - stack layout seen in many fast bathroom makeovers.

What to choose instead: Different proportions, vertical stacking, herringbone, offset bond, handmade - look finishes, or larger rectangular formats.

Tiling tip: If you like subway tiles, update layout, grout tone, tile size, or finish rather than rejecting the tile category completely.

Trend 3: Rose Gold Fixtures

Shiny rose gold had a strong trend moment, but it can make a bathroom feel tied to a specific period.

What to choose instead: Brushed brass, brushed nickel, matte black, chrome, or understated warm gold.

Tiling tip: Fixtures are easier and cheaper to update later than tiles, so prioritise timeless tile choices first.

Trend 4: Matching Tile Borders and Decorative Bands

Decorative border strips and fully matching tile sets can make bathrooms feel older, especially when a narrow patterned line runs around the room at one height.

What to choose instead: One or two tiles used consistently, with interest created through layout, niche design, texture, or a restrained feature element.

Tiling tip: If you are unsure where detail helps versus harms, compare against practical guidance in tiles to avoid in showers.

Trend 5: Pedestal Basins With Exposed Pipework

Pedestal basins are not always wrong, especially in very small guest toilets, but they often reduce storage and expose pipework in main bathrooms.

What to choose instead: Floating vanities, compact wall - hung vanities, concealed plumbing, or slimline storage units.

Tiling tip: If replacing a pedestal basin, confirm whether wall and floor tile patching will be required behind removed fittings.

Trend 6: Very Small Tiles on Main Surfaces

Small tiles are not bad, but using mosaics across all main walls and floors can feel visually busy and date faster.

What to choose instead: Larger formats on major wall and floor surfaces, with mosaics reserved for shower floors, niches, feature strips, or detail zones.

Tiling tip: For compact rooms, review small bathroom tile choices before committing to one tile size everywhere.

Trend 7: Busy Patterned Feature Tiles Everywhere

Not all patterned tiles are outdated. The fastest - dating approach is highly busy, multi - coloured patterning across large permanent surfaces.

What to choose instead: Understated geometric, terrazzo, handmade - look, or muted patterned tiles used in smaller, intentional zones.

Tiling tip: Pattern works best where the eye can rest between features, rather than on every wall at once.

Trend 8: The Cold Industrial Bathroom

The stripped - back industrial look with exposed brick, dark concrete, steel, and minimal warmth is becoming less popular in residential bathrooms.

What to choose instead: Warm concrete - look tiles, stone - look porcelain, timber - effect accents, brushed metals, warm lighting, and earthy neutrals.

Tiling tip: If using concrete - look finishes, warmer grey or greige tones usually age better than cold blue - grey.

Trend 9: Frameless Everything With No Warmth

Frameless glass is still valid. The issue is an overly sterile room with no texture, no warmth, and no visual softness.

What to choose instead: Keep clean lines but add warmth through textured tiles, timber vanities, warmer lighting, softer grout, and natural - looking surfaces.

Tiling tip: A balanced bathroom often feels more premium than an ultra - minimal room that ignores day - to - day comfort.

Trend 10: Poor Quality Luxury-Look Laminate Vanities

Low - quality laminate vanities can swell, peel, and degrade quickly in humid bathrooms, especially around basin edges and splash zones.

What to choose instead: Better sealed moisture - resistant cabinetry, solid - colour painted finishes, timber accents, or properly specified high - quality laminate.

Tiling tip: Good sealing and finishing around vanities helps protect cabinetry lifespan in wet environments.

What This Means for Your Bathroom Renovation

You do not always need to rip out an entire bathroom to modernise it.

If tiles are sound and wet - area performance is stable, updates to fixtures, mirrors, lighting, grout refreshes, silicone replacement, accessories, and paint can make a major difference.

Full retiling makes more sense when tiles are cracked, hollow, lifting, leaking, badly installed, or no longer practical for the room.

For project planning, review bathroom renovation challenges and bathroom waterproofing before tiling before finalising scope.

Practical Advice Before You Choose New Bathroom Tiles

Choose permanent finishes for long - term living, not only short trend cycles.

Start with floor tile, then wall tile, grout, fixtures, lighting, and paint.

Test real samples in your bathroom daylight and evening lighting.

Think about cleaning and maintenance, not only look.

Keep long - life finishes more neutral if resale flexibility matters.

Use accessories for stronger trend colours if unsure.

Make sure waterproofing, falls, adhesive, grout, and silicone are planned correctly.

Ask for technical advice before buying expensive tiles.

Conclusion

Bathroom trends change, but a well - planned bathroom should still feel good years after installation.

Trends moving out fastest include cold all - grey rooms, shiny rose gold fixtures, busy decorative borders, poor - quality vanities, and overused layout choices.

A safer long - term direction is warmer, calmer, more natural, and easier to maintain.

Need help planning your update?

Planning a bathroom update in Cape Town? Send Excellence Tilers your suburb, a few photos of the space, and the look you want to achieve. We can help you choose tile options that feel current, practical, and easier to live with long after the trend has passed.

When you are ready, use Request a Quote, WhatsApp Us, message us through Contact, or explore Bathroom Tiling Services.

Author

Excellence Tilers Editorial Team

Tiling and Flooring Specialists

Our team shares practical guidance based on real residential and commercial installation work in Cape Town and surrounding suburbs.

Frequently asked questions

Clear answers to common project questions.

What bathroom trends are going out of style?

Cold all - grey bathrooms, shiny rose gold fixtures, decorative border tiles, overused straight - stack subway tiles, busy patterned tiles across large areas, and poor - quality luxury - look vanities are starting to feel dated.

Are grey bathroom tiles outdated?

Grey tiles are not automatically outdated. Cold blue - grey tiles used everywhere can feel dated, but warm grey, greige, and stone - look grey tiles can still work well when balanced with timber, warm lighting, and softer finishes.

Are subway tiles still a good choice for bathrooms?

Subway tiles can still work well. The tile itself is not the problem. The overused straight horizontal stack in plain white can feel tired, so consider different sizes, handmade - look finishes, vertical layouts, herringbone, or softer grout choices.

What bathroom tile colours are safer for long - term use?

Warm white, cream, beige, greige, soft stone tones, muted greens, and natural earthy colours are usually safer long - term choices than very bright or highly specific trend colours.

Should I remove outdated bathroom tiles?

Not always. If the tiles are sound, waterproofing is not failing, and the bathroom still works, smaller updates such as new fixtures, mirrors, lighting, grout refreshes, silicone replacement, and paint may be enough.

When is full bathroom retiling worth it?

Full retiling is worth considering when tiles are cracked, hollow, lifting, badly installed, leaking, difficult to clean, or no longer suit the way the bathroom is used.

Can Excellence Tilers help me choose bathroom tiles?

Yes. Excellence Tilers helps Cape Town homeowners choose practical bathroom tile options and install them properly for floors, walls, showers, and renovation projects.

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