Every room in your home tells a story, but none more intimately than your bathroom.
What KBIS 2025 Design Experts Want You to Know
At KBIS 2025, a panel of design experts explored how bathrooms are shifting from purely functional spaces to deeply personal expressions of comfort, style, and wellness.
The session, “Shaping the Future of Bathrooms: A Discussion on Design Innovation and Consumer Tastes,” featured interior design industry leaders Alena Capra and Wendy Glaister and leading Global Hospitality designer Allan DallaTorre.
In this blog, we’ll break down the key themes from the conversation and explore how innovations like TOTO’s latest WASHLET models, vibrant color lavatories, and matte product finishes are helping define the bathroom of the future.
How Can Bathroom Design Reflect Your Personality?
Capra spoke about a growing desire among clients to design bathrooms that reflect personality—not just trends. From colorful lavatories in bold hues to matte finishes inviting touch, every design choice becomes emotional.
Wendy Glaister called this design movement “individuation”—where materials, colors, and layout reflect who someone is and how they want to feel. It’s not about following a design playbook. It’s about feeling grounded, inspired, and relaxed in a space that reflects your identity.
Designers are opting for colorful lavatory basins in rich blues, greens, and earthy tones—an evolution inspired by biophilic design principles. Capra’s observation that even small spaces, like water closets, deserve visual interest has resonated across the design community.
Glaister also spoke of her recent experience at a luxury spa where natural textures, Moroccan lighting, and limestone walkways created a powerful sensory experience. “Quiet,” she said, “means something new to us all today.” This emphasis on mood and texture is fueling a move toward custom bathroom experiences that elevate emotion, not just aesthetics.
TOTO’s new matte finishes and vibrant lavatory color options respond directly to this shift, giving designers the tools to bring depth, contrast, and personality into bathroom spaces.
How Do I Create a Spa-Like Bathroom at Home?
Bathroom wellness trends aren't about pampering. They're about daily restoration. The panelists shared stories of clients using design to manage chronic conditions, aging, or even just stressful jobs.
Glaister’s example of a client who chose a WASHLET bidet seat was part of her post-retirement plan struck a chord. “It helped her stay in her home,” she said, “and feel good about herself while doing it.” As she noted, choosing wellness features like the heated seats and warm water cleansing a WASHLET offers is an “act of love.”
That one decision supported both her physical comfort and her emotional well-being—reminding us that wellness doesn’t need to be elaborate. It can be built into the routines we already have.
WASHLET bidet seats support wellness through heated cleansing, gentle drying, and hands-free operation—transforming basic hygiene into a restorative experience.
Capra added that wellness is now more accessible than ever. Whether through ergonomic design elements, soothing textures, or elegant shower fixtures, creating a personal spa experience is no longer out of reach.
What Colors and Finishes Are Trending in Luxury Bathrooms?
DallaTorre made an important point: color in the bathroom isn’t just aesthetic—it’s emotional. More boutique hotels are incorporating playful tones and signature lavatories to evoke mood and create memorable guest experiences.
That approach is translating into homes, too. Colorful lavatories are becoming a central design feature, allowing homeowners to build a narrative through contrast, tone, and material.
“We’re still seeing spa-like serenity,” said Capra, “but now with color, texture, and personality. These aren’t mutually exclusive.”
Matte black finishes remain one of the standout bathroom design trends for 2025. Combined with richer hues and natural materials, these finishes offer both depth and warmth.
TOTO’s expanded matte fixture lineup helps bring those statements to life without compromising elegance while giving homeowners and designers more creative flexibility.
In this way, color becomes a form of care—a soft rebellion against cold environments that feel sterile. However, this does not mean that the beauty and elegance of clean white fixtures are a thing of the past. When paired with natural light and finish combinations, it creates a space that energizes by day and soothes by night. You can find the delicate design balance that merges clean, hygienic, and sleek with warmth, comfort, and personality.
What Is Inclusive Bathroom Design, and Why Is It Important?
The conversation at KBIS 2025 wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was also about longevity and dignity. Both Capra and Glaister emphasized the importance of incorporating universal and inclusive bathroom design principles as a way to future-proof the home.
What does this mean in practice? It might look like choosing a wall-hung toilet that’s easier to access and clean around. Or installing an outlet behind the toilet now, so a WASHLET bidet seat can be added later without renovation.
Glaister shared emotional stories of clients forced to leave their homes because their bathrooms no longer worked for them. The goal, she said, is to avoid that disruption through smart planning today.
Capra added that accessibility doesn’t have to look institutional. Modern grab bars blend seamlessly with other hardware, and floating fixtures offer extra clearance without sacrificing design.
As a Global Hospitality designer working on luxury projects for Hilton, Four Seasons, and others, Allan DallaTorre has seen firsthand how accessibility and wellness are converging in hotel design.
“In high-end hotels, bathrooms are no longer closed off. They flow into the room with open layouts and integrated lighting,” DallaTorre said.
assistance. The most common accessibility feature? Simple handheld showerheads for flexibility and mobility assistance redefine the showering experience without requiring advanced smart devices.
DallaTorre also noted a recent code update in Washington that now requires GFCI outlets near all water closets in new construction—a direct result of the rising demand for WASHLET-style bidet seats.
Designing with care means designing for everyone—whether preparing to Live in Place, recovering from an injury, or even future-proofing the commercial hospitality industry.
How Is Sustainability Shaping Bathroom Preferences?
Sustainability has become a non-negotiable for many homeowners and commercial developers. From eco-friendly lavatory solutions to water-saving toilets, the panelists noted that consumers expect their products to reflect their values.
Glaister discussed how quartz is losing popularity due to its high silica content, with materials like Neolith and natural stone gaining traction. She also praised TOTO’s flush performance and WASHLET bidet seats as essential tools in reducing water and toilet paper waste.
But it’s not just about what consumers want—it’s also about what projects require. DallaTorre explained that in global hospitality, product selection is increasingly dictated by third-party sustainability benchmarks. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) offer a verified look at a product’s environmental impact—from raw material sourcing to end-of-life disposal. These certifications aren’t just “nice to have”—they’re often mandatory for projects pursuing LEED certification or other green building standards.
TOTO’s leadership in this area is clear. The brand continues to invest in eco-forward innovation, offering products that deliver both sustainability and performance. From water and energy conserving faucets to self-cleaning bidet seats that minimize chemical use, the company’s commitment to the planet is built into the user experience.
And as more builders, designers, and homeowners aim to meet evolving environmental standards, products that balance efficiency, comfort, and sustainability will move from being trendsetters to becoming the baseline.
Why Are More Homeowners Switching to Smart Bathrooms?
For many, smart technology can feel overwhelming, but the truth is that it’s becoming more intuitive than ever. The panelists emphasized that smart bathroom technology should simplify life, not complicate it.
Allan DallaTorre explained how luxury hotels around the world now expect intelligent fixtures in their in-suite bathroom design. High-tech innovations like IoT-connected faucets and usage tracking through apps are beginning to enter commercial spaces and will likely migrate to residential bathrooms soon. With connected systems monitoring water use, soap levels, and error diagnostics, the future of the bathroom is increasingly responsive.
As smart home adoption grows, TOTO is leading the charge with user-centric bathroom technology that balances convenience, hygiene, and environmental responsibility.
These once-exclusive features are becoming standard in high-end residential projects, as TOTO brings this same convenience home. Whether you're managing arthritis, recovering from surgery, or simply want a more elevated experience, smart toilet technology can transform how you interact with your space. DallaTorre predicted that the smart home technology now seen as a residential luxury bathroom feature will soon be an expected component of all bathroom remodels.
Capra noted that designers are increasingly prioritizing simple tech—like motion-activated lighting, nightlight features, remote controls, and touchless flush options—as clients grow more familiar and comfortable with integrated smart design.
As IoT bathroom systems evolve, the possibilities will continue to expand. In the near future, your fixtures might sync to your daily routine, reduce water use automatically, or notify you of maintenance needs—all while blending seamlessly into your aesthetic.
Where Is Bathroom Design Heading in the Future?
The ultimate message from TOTO’s KBIS 2025? Personalized bathroom design is about more than beauty. It’s about wellness, dignity, and long-term connection.
Whether you're drawn to vibrant color, smart features, or simply a bathroom that allows you to age in place, there’s one thing tying these priorities together: you.
And that’s exactly what design should do—reflect your story.
“We’re seeing people ask for spaces that feel like them,” Glaister said. “Whether that’s through layered finishes, lighting, or layout—it’s about how they want to live.”
Capra echoed this, highlighting the importance of interface simplicity in smart products. Some clients want dynamic, customizable controls, while others want just one button. The goal: make smart technology inclusive and useful for everyday life.
With thoughtful products like WASHLET bidet seats, elegant color lavatories, and finish options that speak to your taste, TOTO is helping create spaces that are not only functional but meaningful.