New Galena Marble Stands Out in Bathroom Trends 2023
Jan 04, 2024While two classic colors vie for the top spot, Galena Becomes the New 2023 Bathroom Color Trends Favorite
The results are in, and our annual look at bathroom design trends saw a lot of movement in 2023. White has reclaimed the top spot as the most popular shower wall color after dropping to #2 last year, behind Calcutta marble. Both colors remain popular selections, but with several new colors introduced in 2023, new favorites are emerging.
Galena & Tuscany Lead 2023 Bathroom Color Trends
Historically popular colors Silver White marble and Brecchia are nowhere to be found in the top five 2023 bathroom color trends. Instead, new colors Galena and Tuscany, while not in the top five, gained so much attention in their first year that they’ve changed how homeowners design their bath and shower surrounds.
“Galena has some blue in it, and when homeowners tell me they’re interested in something with a little blue, I immediately suggest Galena or Basket Weave,” says veteran Improveit Design Consultant Dave Smith. “Galena is also really popular with folks that see marble patterns with deep veining but want something a little more subtle.”
Smith says both Galena and Tuscany (shown below) are popular selections homeowners he works with, noting that many homeowners choose Tuscany to complement warm-toned wood trim or flooring already in the bathroom. Combined, the two new colors were featured in 8% of Improveit projects in 2023. Galena was used in 4.6% of projects alone.
Bathroom Trends 2023 Stay in a "gray area"
While white and cool gray Calcutta marble kept their heavy popularity in 2023, last year’s top five was rounded out by much warmer tones. Not so for 2023 bathroom color trends. Travertine inched up to the third spot among most popular shower colors, but only appeared in 5.2% of projects in 2023, compared to 7% in 2022.
Instead, Galena and Tuscany pulled interest away from warm color options like Travertine, Silver White marble, and Brecchia. This left space for cooler colors to take the top spots.
This year, gray-and-white and black-and-white trends showed their true colors. Othello, Grayline, and Lightning complete this year’s top 5, with the latter two tied for #5 at 4.9% of projects each. While some in the design community have mentioned that gray design trends may be on their way out, it’s clear that these classic combinations aren’t going anywhere.
Bathroom Design Trends 2023 Deep Dive: Focus on Fixtures & Finishes
The Improveit team knows that every bathroom our customers design is unique thanks to the combination of accessories they choose. For our 2023 bathroom trends coverage, we’re taking a closer look at the most popular fixtures and accessories selected this year.
Grab Bars Remain the Most Popular Shower Accessory
Shower grab bars are the most frequently requested bathroom accessory because they make bathrooms accessible for everyone.
Safety Tips: Proper Shower Grab Bar Placement for Your Family
Most Improveit bathroom remodels include at least one grab bar, and many feature two or more, including some installed outside the bathing area.
Middle-length grab bars of 18 inches are the most popular selection, followed by 12-inch and 24-inch options.
The best part is that grab bars help bolster your design style while improving safety. In 2023, the Brantford grab bar style in brushed nickel (shown below) was the most popular style/finish combination.
Most Popular Shower Fixture Collections of 2023
Transitional design retained the top spot among homeowner selections for bath and shower fixtures in 2023. Brantford showerheads were used in 41.1% of projects, up more than 5 points from the year before, while the Eva collection nearly doubled its share of projects from 6.7% in 2022 to 12.3% in 2023!
The term “transitional design” comes from the fixtures’ styling to bridge the gap between traditional and modern styles and work well in either setting.
Meanwhile, the more modern Gibson collection lost some traction in 2023. While Gibson’s sleek geometric design remained the second-most popular fixture collection this year, its use dropped four points to just 30% in 2023.
Brushed Nickel Finishes Keep Their Cool in 2023
From shower fixtures and sink faucets to grab bars and lighting, homeowners were consistent in their finish selections for bathroom accessories over the past year. Brushed nickel was the most popular finish across all accessory categories in 2023. Chrome, matte black, and oil-rubbed bronze took spots two through four, respecitvely, in every category but one: Lighting.
#1
Brushed Nickel
#2
Chrome
#3*
Matte Black
#4*
Oil-Rubbed Bronze
After brushed nickel, which was selected for 46% of light fixutres, homeowners favored darker finishes for bathroom lighting in 2023. Matte black was the second-most popular finish at 27%, followed by oil-rubbed bronze at 12.5%. Chrome was selected for only 10.7% of projects.
Three-light fixtures were by far the most popular type of fixture selected in 2023. Used in 62.5% of projects, these fixtures fit well over most bathroom vanities or mirrors.
Bright Ideas!: Learn more about bathroom lighting solutions.
These Bathroom Trends are just the beginning!
Our annual recap of bathroom design trends is a great place to start when you’re looking for bath remodeling inspiration. Keep the ideas flowing by connecting with our trained design consultants! During a free design consultation with our creative staff, ou’ll be able to share your ideas, ask questions, and see your bath design ideas come together before your eyes. Schedule an appointment today!
