13 Bathroom Styles That Should Be Retired In California

California homes often lead design trends, but some bathroom styles have overstayed their welcome.

As water conservation becomes more important and modern aesthetics evolve, many once-popular bathroom features now look dated and function poorly.

Ready to update your space? Here are 13 bathroom styles Californians should consider retiring for fresher, more sustainable alternatives.

1. Overly Ornate Vanities

Those massive, intricately carved wooden vanities that dominated 90s luxury homes are energy vampires in your bathroom. Heavy scrollwork collects dust in California’s dry climate, requiring constant maintenance that nobody has time for.

Modern California living calls for cleaner lines and simpler maintenance. These bulky showpieces also waste valuable floor space in our notoriously tight urban homes.

If you’re still living with one of these behemoths, consider replacing it with something sleek and wall-mounted. Your cleaning routine will thank you, and you’ll gain precious square footage while achieving that airy, contemporary feel that better suits our relaxed West Coast lifestyle.

2. Bright Neon Tiles

Remember those electric blue or hot pink tiles that seemed so cutting-edge in the 80s? They’re now creating visual chaos in bathrooms across the state. Neon colors reflect harshly in our abundant California sunshine, making morning routines feel like stepping into a laser tag arena.

These bold tiles also date your home instantly to potential buyers. In our competitive real estate market, that’s a disadvantage you don’t need.

Swap these eye-straining surfaces for softer, nature-inspired tones that reflect our state’s beautiful landscapes. Sage greens, sandy beiges, or soft ocean blues create a more serene experience while still offering personality. Your bathroom should be a calming retreat, not a visual assault first thing in the morning.

3. Heavy Wallpaper Prints

Dark, busy wallpaper patterns are fighting against everything California design stands for. Our state celebrates light, space, and connection to nature not claustrophobic floral or damask prints that make small bathrooms feel like Victorian closets.

These heavy patterns also fare poorly in our humid coastal areas, where steam from showers can cause peeling and mold growth behind the paper. The maintenance headaches aren’t worth the dated look.

If you crave pattern, try removable wallpaper in lighter designs or focus pattern on just one accent wall. Many California designers are embracing subtle texture through materials like microcement or natural stone instead, which handle moisture better while creating visual interest that won’t look tired in a few years.

4. Plastic Fixtures

Flimsy plastic towel bars and toilet paper holders scream “builder-grade” and detract from your bathroom’s potential. In California’s eco-conscious culture, these petroleum-based products also send the wrong message about your environmental values.

Plastic fixtures yellow quickly in our sunny state, where UV exposure accelerates degradation even through bathroom windows. The constant replacement cycle creates unnecessary waste.

Making the switch to quality metal fixtures isn’t just about appearances it’s a practical upgrade. Solid brass, brushed nickel, or matte black options will withstand years of use without cracking or discoloring. This small change makes a surprisingly big impact on how premium your bathroom feels, especially important in our competitive housing market where details matter.

5. Gold-Colored Faucets

The shiny brass faucets that dominated 1980s California bathrooms have become visual relics. Their overly yellow tone and typically ornate designs clash with our state’s preference for relaxed, natural aesthetics.

Water quality in many California regions is particularly hard on these finishes, leaving water spots and accelerating tarnishing. What once looked luxurious quickly becomes high-maintenance and dated.

Homeowners are now embracing warmer metal tones in more sophisticated forms. Modern brushed brass, bronze, or champagne finishes offer warmth without the gaudy gleam. These updated options complement our state’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle and pair beautifully with the earthy palettes and natural materials that define California design today. The difference is subtle but transforms the entire feel of your bathroom.

6. Overcrowded Shelving

Walls of tiny glass shelves cluttered with decorative soaps and figurines create visual noise that’s particularly jarring in California’s clean-lined architectural styles. These dust-collecting displays feel out of step with our state’s embrace of mindful minimalism.

Open shelving quickly becomes a maintenance nightmare in our earthquake-prone state. One small tremor can send those carefully arranged tchotchkes flying into your sink or onto tile floors.

Storage solutions have evolved dramatically. Consider floating vanities with hidden storage, recessed medicine cabinets, or sleek drawer organizers that keep essentials accessible but out of sight. This approach not only creates a more serene space but also makes cleaning faster giving you more time to enjoy California’s outdoor lifestyle rather than dusting shelf displays that no longer reflect contemporary design sensibilities.

7. Dark Paneling

Dark wood paneling makes bathrooms feel like gloomy caves, especially problematic in California where we value our famous natural light. These somber surfaces absorb rather than reflect brightness, creating spaces that feel perpetually dingy despite our sunshine state advantages.

Moisture is the enemy of wood paneling, and California’s coastal regions face particular challenges with humidity. The resulting maintenance issues include warping, mold growth, and deteriorating finishes that require constant attention.

Brighten your bathroom by removing or painting over dark paneling with light, moisture-resistant finishes. If you love wood’s warmth, consider lighter species like white oak in more modern applications perhaps as a floating vanity or accent feature. This approach maintains natural texture while allowing California’s glorious light to bounce around your space instead of disappearing into dark surfaces.

8. Excessive Marble Use

Wall-to-wall marble once signaled luxury in high-end California homes, but this excessive use now reads as wasteful and environmentally tone-deaf. Our state’s focus on sustainability makes this resource-intensive choice increasingly out of step with current values.

Marble’s porous nature is particularly problematic in California’s hard water areas. The constant etching and staining create maintenance headaches that contradict our state’s laid-back lifestyle.

Today’s sophisticated California bathrooms use marble more judiciously perhaps as a single statement wall or vanity top combined with more sustainable materials. This restrained approach actually highlights marble’s beauty while acknowledging environmental concerns. Consider incorporating recycled glass surfaces, locally-quarried stone, or high-quality porcelain tiles that mimic natural materials without the ecological footprint or maintenance demands.

9. Outdated Corner Tubs

Those massive triangular jetted tubs that dominated 90s master bathrooms have become white elephants in California homes. They waste tremendous amounts of water a serious concern in our drought-prone state where conservation is increasingly important.

These space-hogging fixtures often go unused while taking up valuable square footage. Most California homeowners report using these tubs rarely, if ever, making them expensive decorative items rather than functional features.

Forward-thinking renovations are replacing these water-wasters with luxurious walk-in showers or smaller, more efficient soaking tubs. This approach aligns with our state’s environmental consciousness while creating more usable bathroom space. If you do love bathing, consider a modern freestanding tub with clean lines and efficient water usage it creates the same sense of luxury without the dated look or excessive resource consumption.

10. Floral Shower Curtains

Heavy floral shower curtains with ruffled edges have somehow survived in California bathrooms despite our state’s reputation for setting fresh design trends. These busy patterns create visual clutter that fights against the serene, spa-like atmosphere most homeowners now desire.

Fabric curtains are particularly problematic in our coastal areas, where humidity can lead to mildew growth. The resulting musty smell contradicts the clean, fresh feeling bathrooms should provide.

Sleek glass shower doors have become the California standard, creating an open feeling while showcasing beautiful tile work. If a curtain is necessary, opt for simple, solid colors or subtle patterns in water-repellent materials. This minimalist approach feels more intentional and contemporary while being more practical for our climate. The difference is remarkable suddenly your bathroom feels years newer without major renovation.

11. Clashing Color Schemes

Bathrooms featuring competing bold colors think burgundy and hunter green combinations from the 90s create visual tension that’s the opposite of the calming sanctuary most Californians seek. These high-contrast schemes feel particularly jarring in our state’s abundant natural light.

These dated color combinations instantly reveal when a bathroom was last updated. In California’s competitive real estate market, this visual time stamp can negatively impact property values.

Today’s California bathrooms embrace more harmonious palettes inspired by our natural landscapes. Coastal blues, desert neutrals, and forest-inspired greens create cohesive, timeless spaces that feel connected to our surroundings. When using color, consider the whole room rather than creating competing focal points. This coordinated approach feels intentional and current while creating the relaxing atmosphere a bathroom should provide.

12. Tiny Sinks

Those diminutive powder room sinks that barely fit your hands are frustrating relics in California homes. They create constant splashing on countertops and floors, wasting water and creating cleaning headaches in our drought-conscious state.

Functionality matters tremendously in our busy California lifestyle. Struggling with inadequate sink space during morning routines adds unnecessary stress to already packed days.

Modern California bathrooms are embracing more generously sized sinks with deeper basins that contain splashing. Trough-style sinks, vessel designs, or integrated countertop models all offer more practical alternatives. This simple upgrade significantly improves daily functionality while creating a more current aesthetic. As California homes increasingly serve multiple family members with varying schedules, bathroom efficiency becomes even more important and properly sized sinks are a fundamental part of that equation.

13. Frosted Plastic Accessories

Those frosted plastic soap dispensers, toothbrush holders, and tissue boxes that dominated big box stores in the early 2000s now look decidedly budget-conscious rather than intentionally designed. Their cloudy appearance has become a bathroom cliché in California homes.

These matching sets quickly show wear in our sunshine state, where UV exposure through bathroom windows accelerates yellowing and brittleness. The resulting dingy appearance contradicts California’s bright, fresh aesthetic.

Thoughtfully selected bathroom accessories can transform your space without major renovation. Consider natural materials like wood, ceramic, or stone that age gracefully and connect to California’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Mixing complementary materials rather than matching sets creates a more curated, sophisticated look. Even budget-friendly options in matte black metal or textured glass offer a more current aesthetic than those dated frosted plastic sets.