INDUSTRY INDUSTRY VIEWS VIEWS
Rising expectations reshape the bathroom market
“We’re seeing bathrooms becoming increasingly valued as spaces that offer comfort, style and a sense of wellbeing, moving beyond their traditional functional role. This shift has sparked a focus on wellness-led designs that transform everyday routines into more indulgent, personal experiences. Smart sanitary solutions, such as shower toilets like the Geberit AquaClean range, are playing a key role in this evolution. With personalised washing and drying cycles, heated water, hands-free operation and intuitive controls, these products make hygiene effortless while adding a level of sophistication. Meanwhile, sleek, ergonomic designs further enhance the sense of luxury, turning a routine task into a spa-like moment.
We’re also seeing more sustainable products gaining importance in bathrooms, with water-efficient features ensuring high performance while supporting environmentally conscious practices. Innovative flush systems, such as the Geberit Sigma40, also contribute by combining water efficiency with quiet, reliable operation. Together, these innovations demonstrate how modern bathrooms can balance functionality, luxury and wellbeing, creating spaces that feel both practical and restorative.”
Comment by Sonia De Gioia, Sales Director (Showrooms), Geberit
Lighting as the bathroom mood-setter
We’re experiencing a clear shift in attitudes towards lighting in bathrooms. Because consumers can’t rely on lamps in bathrooms, integrated lighting is the simplest way to create ambience and depth. Mirrors and cabinets provide the perfect foundation, meaning they are no longer just functional, and have become a way for people to tune a bathroom to their mood. Consumers want lighting that flexes with them, which is why colour temperature control is gaining traction. Cool white supports morning tasks: a warmer tone softens everything for evening wind-down. Crucially, that single control adds layers without needing multiple fittings, and it avoids using the main light which can make a room feel extremely one dimensional. The aesthetic is evolving too. Diffused LEDs deliver a clean, dot-free glow from every angle, while integrated touch points keep the glass visually calm. We’re also seeing a demand in discreet, ghost-style illumination, so the mirror reads as pure glass, not a gadget.
The Rising Influence of Quiet Luxury, Sustainable Design and Accessibility
In 2026, evolving expectations around quiet luxury, sustainability and accessible bathing solutions are shaping the UK bathroom trade industry. For manufacturers like Trojan, our success depends on aligning product design with these priorities and maintaining strong trade partnerships. We are seeing the influence of the quiet luxury trend on commercial decisions across residential and hospitality projects. Merchants and installers are increasingly favouring refined, timeless products that provide quality through materials, durability and consistency rather than overt branding.
Sustainability has also
Comment by David Mosley, Managing Director, Trojan
Comment by Jasmine Rowe, Product Design Lead, hib
become a priority. With growing regulatory and ESG pressures alongside water efficiency, responsible sourcing and product longevity are key industry success factors. Manufacturers must deliver compliant, high-performing solutions that reduce environmental impact without compromising reliability. At the same time, changing lifestyles and the UK’s ageing population are accelerating demand for accessible, space-efficient showering. Durable, installer-friendly systems that support safe, adaptable bathrooms are critical. In this landscape, consistency, technical confidence and trusted partnerships will define long-term growth in the UK bathroom trade market.
4 BKU APRIL 2026
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