Kim Kardashian's 'Invisible' Shower is the New Benchmark for Modern Minimalist Bathrooms in 2027
A wet room transforms the entrepreneur's Hidden Hills bathroom into a pared-back paradise – designers explain why her look is increasingly popular
In 2027, maximalism has gotten louder, bolder, and more colorful, and minimalism is also becoming more extreme. Rather than the simple white and gray spaces that once passed for calming displays, homeowners are craving minimalist interiors that feature more interesting architectural details and eye-catching stand-alone accents.
A great example of this can be found in Kim Kardashian's bathroom. Kim's Hidden Hills mansion is known for its extreme take on minimalism, featuring spartan, almost monastery-like spaces. As recently shared on her Instagram, the bathroom is no exception, including a walk-in 'invisible' shower against the back wall, fronted by a gray, quarry-like bathtub.
Axel Vervoordt, the designer who ideated the life-as-art home, explained that the wabi-sabi look allows the architecture to speak for itself. In his own words: 'Simplicity and proportion are the only decoration.'
As homeowners scramble to create minimalist bathrooms that exude true luxury in a crowded market, spaces like Kim's are set to become increasingly common in 2027.
So, why does Kim's look cut through the noise? To dive in more deeply, Homes & Gardens spoke with bathroom expert Mike Whitfield about the rising 'invisible' bathroom trend and why it works. We explore the benefits of the Skims mogul's space and how to recreate it in any home.
We also curated an edit of our favorite minimalist, avant-garde bathroom accessories to help you emulate her style.
Recreate Kim's Look at Home
Artisan-made and exclusively designed with Sarah Sherman Samuel, these mini wood bowls bring warmth and versatility to the bathroom. I love the idea of arranging them with bath salts, small soaps, and washcloths in an avent-garde fashion that would be right at home in Kim's bathroom.
Not everyone can build Kim's rectangular shower in their bathoom, but everyone can emulate a touch of its marble magic. This pretty gray piece is perfect for bringing the look effortlesly into your bathroom.
This matte black ceramic soap dispenser has a sleek, modern feel to echo the design of a contemporary bathroom like Kim's. When arranged as an accent among white walls and floors, it will stand out as we see in her space.
This black matte lazy susan is perfect for organizing cosmetics or soaps, either in the cabinets or on the countertop. The rounded shape helps to add a cool, modern minimalist to the space.
This 100% cotton towel brings a serene, spa-like touch to the bathroom with its crisp white finish and contrasting black stitched border. A built-in hanging loop adds effortless functionality for displaying it on any hook or towel rack.
This beautiful matte set is perfect for recreating an invisible shower like Kim's. It would be absolutely gorgeous against a pure white background.
Rather than a completely new style, invisible bathrooms like Kim's are a contemporary iteration on an already beloved look. Mike Whitfield, interiors expert at Lusso explains: 'Minimalism has long been popular, but the concept of invisible bathrooms takes it to the next level, aiming to hide away as many of your toiletries and fixtures as possible to achieve a sleek and uncluttered hotel-style look. With a focus on discretion, invisible bathroom designs prioritize concealing conventional elements to allow the standout features to take centre stage.'
As we see in Kim's home, a nearly invisible wet room is one of the hallmarks of this look. In opposition to a traditional shower, it allows light to flow through, lets hardware shine, and minimizes crowding. 'If you have the space, eliminate visual clutter by opting for a wet room or walk-in shower,' advises Mike.
Luckily, Kim's style can be adapted for any size of home. Mike recommends: 'If you have a smaller bathroom, consider installing a walk-in shower with a glass partition. Rather than using a whole shower enclosure, this minimalist design will create the illusion of a larger space and allow light to pass through, making the bathroom feel more open and airy. A low-profile shower tray will further help it blend seamlessly with the rest of the room.'
Hardware that extends seamlessly from the wall, as we see of the matte black hardware in Kim's bathroom, is another way to tap into this modern form of minimalism. Mike states: 'Wall-mounted taps will keep your basin or vanity unit free from unnecessary accessories. The invisible bathroom trend is all about creating a sleek and streamlined aesthetic which taps can interrupt. By mounting them onto the walls, you can hide as much of the plumbing as possible leaving countertops free, maximizing space. This works for vanity units with basins but also for baths too.'
Recreating Kim's bathroom is also about selecting one color palette and sticking with it. In this case, she uses white walls with black hardware and a gray tub, but you can easily accomplish a similar look with silver or gold hardware. The secret is cohesion.
'Matching all of the hardware in your bathroom is one of the simpler design choices you can make to achieve the invisible bathroom aesthetic,' says Mike. 'The room should feel as cohesive as possible so coordinate your taps, door handles, shower enclosures, waste covers and plugs if you can. Whether you go for matte black, distressed silver, aged bronze or brushed gold, consider carefully how it will pair with the rest of the bathroom.'
If you're a minimalist lover, Kim Kardashian's invisible approach to design is one to keep on your radar. Though not everyone will go as spartan as she has, it highlights a shift in how people view this style of decorating.
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