Looking ahead to 2023, it's clear that sustainability will continue to be top of mind for homeowners as they seek to reduce their carbon footprint and save on power bills.
It’s part of an ongoing trend of homeowners in Australia being more proactive in their pursuit of adopting a sustainable lifestyle, a change that often starts at home.
While creating a home that is more sustainable takes in elements like design, building, buying and landscaping, a key focus is usually the bathroom given its big environmental impact.
Beyond saving water and switching out plastic materials, there’s heaps of on-trend ideas you can implement in the months ahead, whether you’re building, renovating, or updating.
Here are some sustainable bathroom trends coming in summer 2023.
Renewable materials
When it comes to materials, the trend to ditching the traditional ceramic bath and basin (destined to end up in landfill down the track) is set to continue, with sustainable materials such as concrete, crushed marble or polished stone increasingly being used instead.
Not only are these renewable materials much better for the environment, they also look modern and can be incorporated into a variety of design approaches. Without compromising on style, using recycled, re-used or even salvaged materials in your project, especially for bathroom statement pieces, is also a great outcome for the environment.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box on materials. For instance, you could go for a bespoke timber bath or basin crafted from recycled wood, or a basin made out of salvaged metal.
Timeless appliances
Adopting a ‘timeless’ approach to bathroom builds and renovations is another sustsinable bathroom trend 2022. Taking this approach refers to choosing long-lasting good-quality appliances (think shower, bath, basin and toilets) in your bathroom whether building, renovating or updating.
Timeless bathroom designs are also about the colour palette, including incorporating neutrals such as whites and greys, as well materials that never go out of fashion like timber and marble.
The sustainability win here is that it means you’re less likely to have to renovate or update appliances anytime soon, ensuring that you save on resource-use over the long run. This includes investing in new paints and the items needed to repaint your bathroom such as brushes, rollers and trays.
Environmental flooring
Installing more eco-friendly flooring is a 2022 sustainable design trend that is often planned for when heading into summer. There are now many sustainable bathroom flooring materials to choose from, like concrete, stone, recycled timber, linoleum, or cork, that not only look great but also help the planet.
There’s even bamboo flooring to consider. Many people confuse bamboo flooring with wood due to their close resemblance, except bamboo flooring is way more eco-friendly. Like wood, bamboo fits with many home décors and is increasingly seen in homes today. Due to its popularity in recent years, the cost of bamboo is making it a great alternative to other less-sustainable materials.
Natural light
There’s also a shift to maximising natural light. If orientation and privacy allows, installing large windows or a glass door will allow natural light to flood into your bathroom, reducing the need for artificial lights and reducing your power bill.
Beyond that, the switch out of compact fluorescent light bulbs with LED bulbs will also continue ahead. LED lights do less harm to the planet and also last much longer, reducing the need for frequent replacements and meaning lower carbon emissions.
You could go further on lighting, and for an extra eco-friendly bathroom, combine natural light with solar-powered lighting to further boost your bathroom’s environmental cred.
Eco-friendly paint
But it doesn’t stop there. Homeowners are also getting smarter about bathroom finishes, in particular using paints that are less harmful to the environment.
This is all about choosing paints low in Volatile Organic Compounds”, known as VOCs. VOCs contribute significantly to air pollution and are also bad if they get into soil and water.
With VOCs being toxic and so bad for the environment, more homeowners are choosing VOC-free paints, finishings, and coatings to bolster the sustainability of their bathrooms. Look out for paint tins labeled ‘non-toxic’ and check the product is made with mostly natural ingredients.