This week’s guest post comes from Andy Grigor, Head of Design & Innovation at Methven and he shares his 2021 Shower Trends. Over to you Andy…
After the trials of 2020, our homes are set to become a refuge from modern day stresses and nowhere is this more important than the bathroom. This year, these spaces will go from rooms to in-house resorts that connect us to nature and the way it makes us feel, through colours, materials and experiences of water.
Bathrooms are private spaces for relaxing showers or rejuvenating baths, so it makes sense that our interior design ideas shift from décor to destination. The mindset needs to move to how a room feels, as well as its looks.
Biophilia
Sheltering inside for much of the last year has left homeowners with a desire to connect with nature. Plants are a go-to here, with those that tolerate high humidity being best suited to bathrooms including peace lilies and ferns for rich green foliage, or orchids that have bright vibrant flowers.
Treated timbers and tiles that have the appearance of stone or are glazed in natural tones will ground the space in nature. Introducing metallic elements through taps, shower systems, hand rails and cabinetry hardware will add to this effect, while matte blacks can further embody deep rock hues. Methven’s range of taps and shower systems have been designed to mimic the New Zealand landscape, drawing inspiration from the white sand beaches of Maitai Bay in the North, to the powerful Clutha river which carves through the South Island from the Alps.
Light vs Dark
There are many ways to embrace nature, from light, bright coastal looks resplendent with jutes and soft sandy tones, through to cocooning forests in deep greens and browns that allow flickering candles to set the mood.
In lighter bathroom aesthetics, matte black finishes on taps, shower systems and fittings can add a dramatic contrast, without being garish or unnatural. Alternatively, chromes will blend more seamlessly while adding subtle interest. In darker designs, metallics will reflect task lighting, which can be used to create the illusion of added space in layouts where the shower or taps are across the room from the entrance as they will draw the eye across the room. Meanwhile dark, matte finished will blend into the background.
Experience of water
The bathroom is the space where engaging the senses has the biggest impact, from relaxing music to heady scents and most importantly the experience of water. Even the most beautiful bathroom will lose any sense of relaxation if the shower drips or its jets are too strong.
Thankfully shower technology has progressed to provide a range of water experiences. Methven’s Aio Aurajet has a halo shaped head that utilises hidden nozzles to create precisely angled jets of water that collide to create stunning softly swathing fans of water.
Alternatively, for those that want to change up their shower experience, the Satinjet uses twin jets to create over 300,000 droplets per second of the optimal size and pressure, with settings ranging from gentle and enveloping, through to powerful and invigorating.
Whatever your personal aesthetic, creating a bathroom with a focus on nature and how it feels will create a sanctuary for invigoration when you wake and relaxation at the end of the day.
Methven products are available through Bunnings Warehouse, Reece, and plumbing stores and showrooms nationwide. For more information, please visit methven.com
