5 Traditional Bathroom Features Making a Comeback – and How Designers are Making Them Work in 2026
From flooring to decor, these revived features work beautifully in traditional and modern schemes
Bathrooms are changing. The focus on utility is giving way to softer, more decorative designs, and it's sparking the revival of a few traditional bathroom features that are set to bring life and personality to schemes of every style.
There are elements of a traditional bathroom that feel right at home in the style and atmosphere we are all craving from these spaces. They encourage characterful details and designs that are about more than streamlined storage and water-tight features.
1. Built-In Bath Nooks
The pink tiled bath nook in this design instantly creates an architectural feature of an awkward corner.
There's something about a freestanding bath that always appeals, but it's not the only way to create a sense of luxury with your tub. In 2026, it's time to reintroduce built-in bath nooks to the equation.
'I’m loving built-in baths. The Victorians often used them with panelled sides, and we’ve taken that idea and elevated it into clever nooks and genuinely luxurious spaces. A built-in bath becomes a strong visual focal point and adds architectural interest to the space,' says interior designer Uns Hobbs.
'I’m particularly drawn to designs with a stone surround as it instantly feels special and creates generous ledge space for candles, plants, bath products, and even an iPad to watch or read something while you soak. It gives the bathroom a true spa-like feel,' she explains.
These bath nooks are not just a striking architectural feature in a bathroom, but they are incredibly practical, too. The tiled surfaces make them incredibly water-tight, and they can be designed to hide shower fixtures for a more seamless design. It's the opposite of a freestanding bath, but one that is equally as striking.
2. Traditional Washstands
A washstand instantly creates a more elegant look in this powder room and creates the illusion of greater proportions.
Bathroom vanities are a staple in any space, but in 2026, the traditional washstand is making a comeback in designs of every style. It means losing some hidden storage, but designers deem it a worthy sacrifice.
'I would love to see the traditional console sink make a comeback. The white porcelain, the metal legs and frame – it conjures up sentimentality and heirloom values. While I prefer the more ornamental to the prosaic, in either case, the negative space that either silhouette provides allows for a graceful framing of all the materials chosen for a powder room,' says Elaine Bauer Brooks of Bauer Brooks Interior Design Studio.
It's a look that has evolved, bringing traditional bathroom style in a less literal way. Materials can vary from classic metal to a more modest wood design, like in this scheme, featuring deVOL's Victorian Washstand.
'deVOL has always loved traditional furniture and cupboards and takes most of its design influence from Georgian, Victorian, and mid-century pieces. So, the washstand fits right in with that, along with the same colors as our kitchen cupboards and our beloved aged brass taps; it feels right at home,' says Helen Parker, creative director of the brand.
A washstand can often mean less surface space than a traditional vanity, but you can introduce wall-mounted storage and decor for the essentials that would usually live on your bathroom countertops. This Starck T Toothbrush Holder from Duravit is a perfect example, as is this Wall-Mounted Bathroom Caddy from Anthropologie.
3. Ornate Wall Lights
This charming bathroom has been given a characterful rethink with vintage-inspired wall lights and a traditional-style washstand vanity.
Bathroom lighting can easily feel a bit stark and sterile, especially if you are relying on a bright overhead light. But designers are reintroducing decorative ambient lighting to bathrooms that brings equal parts style and function to designs.
We've talked a lot about the power of layered lighting in kitchens, but it can be just as impactful in bathrooms. It's a space that really lends itself to more decorative, ornate wall lights, whether it's around a vanity mirror or a more unexpected wall placement.
It's a lighting approach that not only creates a more inviting atmosphere, but it doubles as wall decor with a truly traditional feel. It's also a much more flattering light than using the ceiling light alone.
Pooky's Long Roddy Wall Sconce adds a charming vintage feel to bathrooms, while a more unexpected design like McGee & Co's Danica Single Wall Light or the Cloud Organic Glass Sconce Wall Light from Anthropologie creates a more sculptural look.
4. Traditional Tiles to Ground the Bathroom
This moody, colorful bathroom balances the jewel tones of the walls with the neutral tones in the traditional floor tiles
When it comes to bathroom flooring, more traditional floor tiles inspired by the Victorian, Edwardian, and even Georgian periods are enjoying a revival, infusing schemes with a classic yet infinitely more interesting look.
The checkerboard design has been back in the trends and our spaces lately, and it's just one of many more traditional styles making a comeback. But it doesn't have to mean busy, colorful, or even maximalist in style – even the most contemporary-adjacent decorators can get involved with traditional flooring designs.
'In terms of design impact, patterned Victorian-style floors fundamentally change how a bathroom is seen. They introduce a strong horizontal plane that grounds the room, balancing the curves of baths and basins while lending a sense of visual discipline,' says Grazzie Wilson, head of creative at Ca’ Pietra.
Take this bathroom, for example. The flooring is really quite simple, with a classic black and white color scheme. But the simple addition of the black triangular corners on each white tile really brings the floor design to life, taking it from basic to something entirely more decorative. It's simple, yet instantly becomes the focal point of the design.
5. Two Single Vanities in Place of a Double
Whether your bathroom is modern or vintage in style, this space proves that the symmetry of two vanities is worth considering.
It's become the norm to install a double vanity where space permits. A long countertop, ample storage space, and an easy way to fill a space. But there's something a bit more curated about two single vanities, the more traditional way to add two sinks, and more versatility with the design.
'I think we will start seeing two single vanities in primary bathrooms versus one long vanity with double sinks. Functionally, the separation of space opens up so many possibilities and also feels more formal. In 2026, people are really valuing space and thoughtful details, both of which are achieved with the two vanity concept' says Mary Beth Sullivan of MB Sullivan Design.
'A shift to two vanities ultimately changes the floorplan of bathrooms. The single long vanity almost always gets shoved into a corner where there is a long run of space. By breaking up the counter space, you have so many more options in terms of layout.'
This approach opens up the bathroom layout opportunities, but Mary advises against having the two vanities back to back 'to avoid the effect of the infinity mirror'. Instead, consider layouts that create a sense of symmetry. 'The vanities could be flanking the entrance to the bathroom or even to the entrance of the shower,' she suggests.
Shop Traditional Bathroom Features
If you love the more traditional washstand look, this is a very chic take on the more old-fashioned design. Featuring a marble top and a brass base, it feels perfectly poised to suit modern and traditional bathrooms.
This traditional bathroom floor tile is a classic for a reason. It's simple and sophisticated, yet adds so much style to schemes. Lay it diagonally for maximum impact and an elongating effect.
Sconces in a bathroom are going to add a layered softness that this space can often lack. This design comes in a few finishes, and they look so elegant flanking a bath or shower door.
Blending design styles is a proven way to create schemes that feel layered and curated in an authentic way, rather than a showroom approach. And mixing in these traditional bathroom features is a great place to start, bringing personality and timeless appeal to your space.
