Wet rooms are fast becoming a must-have, offering a touch of luxury, smart use of space, and easy access. You would agree that bathrooms have become a place to recharge, a calming retreat. And the wet rooms are leading to this change. But what were the hot wet room trends in 2025, and what exciting new directions are they taking for 2026? In this blog, we will explore how the use of wet room screens are changing the aesthetics and functionality of bathrooms.
1. Simple to Soft & Soothing
2025 is all about ultra-minimalist design. This meant invisible drains, hidden storage (like push-to-open doors on your vanity units), and super thin or completely frameless glass. The idea was to create wide-open, tidy spaces that felt effortlessly clean.
In 2026,we’ will be taking that clean look and making it softer. The big shift is towards monochromatic pastel colours. Instead of just white, imagine your whole wet room, from floor to ceiling, in one calming shade like a soft pistachio green, gentle blue, or even a dusty pink. This makes the space feel wonderfully cosy and serene.
So, you canexpect walls, floors, and even your basin to share the same soft colour. The texture will add interest, not bright patterns. Additionally, semi-frameless or thin glass screens are still key to keeping that open, flowing feel.
In 2025, we focused on making bathrooms perfectly neat. For 2026, we’re adding warmth by wrapping the whole room in one soft colour,” explains a top UK interior designer. “It’s about creating a peaceful bathing space where gentle colours and subtle textures do all the talking.”
2. Back to Nature
In 2025, we are seeing designers and homeowners loving nature inspired colours like sage green and terracotta. Natural materials such as stone-effect tiles and lighter wood tones were very popular. We also see fluted finishes on vanity units and panels, adding a subtle touch.
However, during 2026, we’re going even deeper into nature’s palette. Think richer, more grounding earthy colours like deep terracotta, warm browns, and even hints of bold natural stone colours like vibrant pinks or dark greens. A big trend is stone-drenching using one continuous stone (or realistic stone-effect) material across walls, floors, and even the shower base for a truly luxurious feel.
Wet rooms in 2026 will be less about small wood touches, more about feature walls in real stone or large, richly textured tiles. Recycled materials are also gaining popularity, telling a sustainable story.
*Sage green has been a big trend in 2025, and pistachio green is also being talked about as the next must have bathroom colour for 2026.
3. Smart Tech & Your Home Spa
In 2025, smart showers with exact temperature control and LED bathroom mirrors that don’t steam up were common. Automated fans that dealt with humidity were also becoming popular for a truly “smart” wet room..
By 2026, there will be a gradual adoption of technology use in bathrooms. Technology is getting even smarter and more focused on your wellbeing. We’re seeing home spa features go beyond just steam showers, moving into things like advanced water therapies and even personal light treatments.
Your wet room is going to be even smarter. Imagine smart toilets with heated seats, automatic lids, and even self-cleaning functions. Lights that turn on with movement, and shower systems that offer built-in aromatherapy or colour therapy for a full sensory experience.
4. Stand Out Taps & Bold Details
In 2025, Matte black taps and brushed brass shower accessories are still very popular, giving either a modern edge or a warm, subtle glow. Hidden shower controls were a must for a tidy look.
The new in 2026 for wet room bathroom is bringing a rather more adventurous option. Look out for “living finishes“ like aged bronze or unlacquered brass that naturally change colour and character over time. We’re also seeing more coloured taps in bolder shades, or even mixes of different metals for a unique look
So, overall, It’s going to be less about matching everything perfectly and more about mixing and matching with a purpose. Think a striking bronze showerhead paired with subtle gold accents on a fluted vanity unit.
5. Flexible Spaces & Smart Zoning
In 2025, we witnessed the emphasis on clever ways to split up the space, sometimes even putting a freestanding bath inside the wet room area, was popular. Built-in shelves and slimline bathroom furniture helped keep things tidy.
The new thing for 2026 is the idea that broken plan bathrooms are really taking off. This means creating separate, clear areas within a bigger room using subtle dividers, screens, or different materials, rather than making it completely open-plan.
In 2026, wet room bathrooms, you will see half-walls or elegant glass screens that don’t fully enclose areas. This creates more private zones for your shower, toilet, or bath, but still keeps the spacious feel of a wet room.
To future proof your wet room you should focus on picking classic main materials that can easily be updated to change the look with new bathroom trends.
