Raw, Earthy Colours and Textures in the Bathroom

In an age of amazing technological capabilities, where we can design just about any shade we want of virtually any material, why has one of the biggest interior design trends of 2020 been designing our luxury bathrooms in the colours, textures and raw materials found in nature?

Rusty reds, autumnal browns, aquatic greens and rugged, rocky textures

That’s right, as the year has gone on, we’ve seen more and more people choosing colours and textures that act as a visual reminder of the world outside. Tiles and even washbasins, bathtubs and cabinets in warm earth tones have been all the rage as homeowners have looked to create tropically-inspired idylls reminiscent of indoor rainforests, caves and waterfalls.

(I mean, who wouldn’t want to shower under a waterfall every morning? It’d be like living in a Timotei advert. – showing my age, Ed.)

What’s more, as the year has gone on, collections like the Corian® Verano Collection in the earthy shades of Verdant, Neutral Aggregate and Pebble Terrazzo have delivered to that growing customer need with perfectionist composites that allow the best of both worlds. Meanwhile, the natural stone industry has thrived thanks to the popularity of bold, rugged textures in our bathrooms.

Peace - Corian® Colour Wall Mounted Washbasin

We may have had enough futurism for one year

The thing is, maybe a little bit of back-to-nature is exactly what the world’s bathrooms need in 2020.

Many of us have been confined to our indoor spaces for much of the year, as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps making our bathrooms look that little bit more like rugged outdoor landscapes is the best way to help us feel like we have somewhere to which we can escape, which is, of course, one of the key functions of a luxury bathroom, anyway.

Now, though, it’s arguably more important than ever that our homes deliver to both our need for cosy, indoor security and a sense that we’re nevertheless connected to the wider landscape.

First Image: YARRA VALLEY HOUSE by Chelsea Hing - Second Image: Corian® Colour Toronto - DuPont™ Wall Mounted Double Washbasin

Mixing and matching chic with rustic

There’s also something very unpretentious about a space that incorporates natural materials, tones and textures. It doesn’t matter how high-end and luxurious the space, nor how well-built the fixtures and fittings, the warmth of rustic colours and organic elements – wood, wool, linen, stone – brings an honesty and a sense of effortlessness to our spaces simply by appearing to let mother nature take control.

Plus, there’s little more confident a move when designing a bathroom than allowing the architectural elements to bare themselves – timber beams, original slate flooring, stone walls. It’s the sign of a truly discerning interior designer to be able to leave areas untouched by the fruits of mass production to their aesthetic benefit.

Zurich - Grey Ara Marble Freestanding Bathtub

Opulent luxury or humble dignity?

Whether it’s a beautiful, hand-carved marble bathtub that takes your breath away the moment you lay eyes on it or a solid piece of oceanic driftwood repurposed as a vanity top, there are a multitude of ways to achieve that earthy, raw sense of nature in the home. It all depends on your own personal taste and style.

Here at Riluxa, we, of course, soak in the sleek-lined bathtub of Minimalist luxury and we’re well known for it. Just because we’re Modernist aesthetes, though, that doesn’t mean we can’t comfortably be a bit more at-one with nature. Letting spaces speak for themselves is our thing, so we very much welcome the inclusion of natural, earthy elements to the bathscape of 2020. It’s as welcome a trend as we can imagine in this very indoorsy year.

Want to read more? Check out our article on architecture that fuses outdoor and indoor spaces.