10 Bathroom Trends California Designers Are Ditching In 2025
Bathroom design is evolving faster than ever in the Golden State. California designers are known for setting trends that spread across the country, but they’re also quick to move on when styles become overdone. As we look ahead to 2025, these tastemakers are already saying goodbye to yesterday’s bathroom must-haves in favor of fresher approaches. Here’s what’s falling out of favor in California’s most stylish bathrooms.
1. All-White Everything
The clinical all-white bathroom is losing its appeal fast. California designers now view these spaces as cold and lacking personality.
Instead, they’re embracing warm neutrals, soft pastels, and natural materials that add character and dimension. Bathrooms are becoming more like sanctuaries than sterile spaces, with thoughtful color palettes that evoke calm and comfort.
2. Vessel Sinks
Once the darling of high-end bathroom renovations, vessel sinks are rapidly falling from grace. Their impractical design creates splashing issues and difficult-to-clean crevices where the basin meets the counter.
Modern California designers prefer sleek, integrated sink solutions that offer both visual appeal and practicality. Undermount and trough-style sinks provide the clean lines today’s homeowners crave.
3. Barn Door Bathrooms
Remember when sliding barn doors were everywhere? California designers certainly do, and they’re ready to move on. These doors never provided proper privacy or sound insulation for bathroom spaces.
Traditional swing doors with updated hardware or pocket doors that disappear into walls are making a comeback. Function is finally winning over farmhouse trend fatigue in bathroom entryways.
4. Busy Patterned Tile
Those Instagram-famous busy geometric and Moroccan-inspired tile patterns are losing their appeal. What once seemed bold and personal now reads as dated and visually overwhelming in smaller spaces.
Forward-thinking designers are embracing larger format tiles with subtle texture variations. This approach creates visual interest without the commitment to a pattern that quickly becomes tiresome or trendy.
5. Industrial Fixtures
Exposed pipes, factory-style lighting, and metal finishes meant to look unfinished are on their way out. This once-popular aesthetic now feels cold and uncomfortable in spaces meant for relaxation.
California designers are turning toward fixtures with softer profiles and warmer finishes. Brushed brass, bronze, and even ceramic fixtures with organic shapes create bathrooms that feel nurturing rather than utilitarian.
6. Word Art and Bathroom Signs
Those cutesy signs reminding you to “Wash Your Hands” or declaring a space “The Powder Room” are officially passé. California designers consider these items unnecessary clutter that cheapens the bathroom experience.
Art in bathrooms isn’t disappearing entirely. Instead, designers prefer meaningful pieces that enhance the space. Think small sculptures, framed abstract prints, or even preserved botanical elements that add sophistication.
7. Jetted Tubs
Large jetted tubs with multiple water features are falling out of favor fast. These water-guzzlers are maintenance nightmares with jets that harbor mold and bacteria if not regularly cleaned.
Freestanding soaking tubs with clean lines are the preferred relaxation option. They use less water, require simpler maintenance, and create a more spa-like atmosphere that California designers and homeowners appreciate for both form and function.
8. Medicine Cabinet Mirrors
Recessed medicine cabinets with mirrored doors are rapidly disappearing from designer bathrooms. Their bulky appearance and limited storage capacity make them impractical for modern needs.
Statement mirrors paired with more thoughtful storage solutions are taking their place. Designers are creating custom vanities with organized drawers or incorporating sleek floor-to-ceiling cabinets that offer more storage without compromising style.
9. Short Shower Curtains
Standard-length shower curtains that hover above the tub are considered a design mistake by California professionals. This outdated approach creates an awkward visual line and makes bathrooms feel smaller than they are.
Floor-to-ceiling shower curtains or custom glass enclosures have become the preferred options. These choices create a sense of height and spaciousness while offering a more polished, intentional look that elevates the entire bathroom.
10. Over-the-Toilet Storage
Those space-saving shelving units that sit over toilets are firmly on the out list. California designers view these as cluttered-looking afterthoughts that collect dust and draw attention to the toilet.
Smart recessed storage, floating shelves placed strategically away from the toilet, or built-in cabinetry elsewhere in the bathroom provide more elegant solutions. The goal is to create bathrooms that feel intentionally designed rather than pieced together with convenience furniture.
