In Quebec, bathroom design will remain very contemporary for 2022. For more than ten years, the materials, furniture and sanitary facilities design has clearly favored the choice of pure lines and stripped of ornamentation.
Consumers demand large ceramic tiles, rectangular countertop sinks, full glass showers, and one-piece tubs. The shades of white, gray and black remain the favorites to which it’s sometimes added touches of color.
Italian showers are growing in popularity
With the Italian shower concept, showers are no longer seen as stand-alone “furniture” or “sanitary facilities” that are connected to a drain in the corner of the bathroom. It becomes an architectural space integrated into the design and fitting naturally into the bathroom layout without a specific access door and in continuity with the floor.
By eliminating the shower door and threshold, this concept visually enlarges the bathroom and invites people to go in the shower. It also facilitates access to the shower for people with limited mobility. However, it must be well designed and well executed to avoid damage from water infiltration. Choosing a non-slip floor tile also reduces the risk of falls when the floor is wet.
Glass and acrylic base showers
Ideally, glass panels should be laid on a ceramic base. These panels are very heavy, and acrylic shower bases are not always stiff enough to support the weight of the glass and the user without sagging slightly. Their use should be limited to small panels.
Glass panel and ceramic wall
Glass panels require some maintenance to appear clean and maintain their good appearance. A large glass surface increases the maintenance required. Sometimes it is better to reduce the glass surface by building a ceramic wall that further delimits the shower space. Using frosted glass is also a low-maintenance choice that maintains more privacy in the shower while still letting in light.
Faucets
Still in this year, matt black and gold faucets are becoming more and more popular. We also see more and more white taps appearing. Although surprising at first, this choice turns out to be sensible since it is much easier to maintain than the other colors. Indeed, the famous water and lime stains appear much less.
A waterproof floor
Ceramic floors are laid in a layer of adhesive that forms a waterproof and continuous membrane under the ceramic. This type of membrane has been used for over 15 years and has been proven to waterproof floors. However, you must also give the ceramic a slight slope so that the floor drains well and is less slippery.
For a shower without a threshold this may involve cutting into the structure of the floor to slightly lower the floor thus reinforcing the structure of the floor. To keep costs down, a slightly raised ceramic threshold could be created.
And non-slipery
Consumers appreciate large ceramic tiles because they have few joints and are easy to maintain. They can also be a visual extension of the tiles in the rest of the bathroom, which unifies the appearance of the floor and creates a contemporary design.
However, large tiles can be slippery when wet. Choosing smaller ceramic tiles for the shower floor is one option that makes it more slip resistant. Maintenance can be greatly reduced by using epoxy-cement joints which are more waterproof and less dirty. Colored grouts also require less maintenance.
LED lighting
LED lighting is highly recommended for all recessed lighting in ceilings as it gives off very little heat and can be installed in little space. LED recessed luminaires do not need a special housing for fire protection.
In the shower, sealed ceiling lights are used which are waterproof. In the rest of the bathroom, you can use adjustable ceiling lights to create tailor-made and adaptable lighting.
