Material and colour combinations for increasingly bespoke bathrooms

(February 2026) | According to colour designer Francesca Valan: “Everyone has a special, personal relationship with colour that must be understood and nurtured to promote wellbeing within a space.” Colour is not merely decorative, she continues. “It can create balance, modulate the perception of space and accompany our daily rituals. Materials, finishes and hues define the emotional comfort of the bathroom, a space experienced visually, tactually and sensorially.” In this respect, the choice of coherent and stimulating colour and material combinations is not just a matter of aesthetics but one of sustainability: spaces that communicate well-being have greater longevity as the people who live there remain satisfied with their choices for a much longer period of time.

From the general to the particular

The 2026 sanitaryware collections offer fresh potential for customisation by proposing colour and material combinations conceived as integral elements of the design process. Depending on spatial constraints and individual preferences, these combinations can be chosen according to three different approaches, from the simplicity of uniform colours through to more complex and visually striking designs.

The first approach involves selecting a sanitaryware collection in a single colour and pairing it with contrasting floor and wall finishes to create a balanced yet visually distinctive result. The second exploits the contrast between the washbasin and the vanity top: choosing two different colours or materials highlights the geometry of the basin and introduces a design cue that can be echoed by other accessories. The third and most sophisticated approach involves choosing washbasins or bathtubs that themselves feature combinations of colours or textures. In this case, each element acts as a focal point, contributing to the overall identity of the bathroom.

These three solutions demonstrate how a project can evolve from a general design concept to carefully design details, offering designers and users practical ideas for personalising a space with coherence, elegance and formal clarity.

Kerasan presents the Nolita collection with Ciotole washbasins, available in 60×40 cm and 55×35 cm sizes, shown here in a matt green finish. The Solid Surface Monroe bathtub, available in either a total colour or a two-tone version with a white interior and the exterior coordinated with the ceramic, completes the bathroom with harmony and style.

This compact bathroom from Ceramica Cielo is brought to life by the Anemone finish chosen for all the elements: the ceramic washbasin with lacquered vanity unit and Kanto 87 mirror (designed by Andrea Parisio and Giuseppe Pezzano) and the Enjoy wall-hung WC.

Ceramica Dolomite is refreshing its Mirto Round washbasin range, characterised by soft, harmonious lines available in wall-hung or back-to-wall versions. The colour palette extends from classic black and white to sophisticated shades such as beige, alpine brown and wine red, in both glossy and matt finishes.

Ceramica Flaminia presents the Falala washbasin, designed by Elena Salmistraro, featuring a dotted relief texture that enhances the sculptural quality of the ceramic. The soft, enveloping form, inspired by African straw bags, combined with the glossy, matt and special Crystal finishes, transforms the washbasin into a unique statement piece.

Foriù from Simas is a modular and customisable bathroom furniture collection featuring ceramic tops with a thickness of just 0.8 cm. Available in three sizes, the surfaces are pre-configured for the placement of four different washbasin shapes: round, oval, square and rectangular.

The Geberit iCon series includes floor-standing and wall-hung WCs and bidets with a clean and linear contemporary design. iCon WCs feature TurboFlush technology for a powerful, quiet and efficient flush, while removable seats facilitate cleaning and maintenance, combining aesthetics, hygiene and practicality.

 

Details that create an atmosphere

The sanitary fixtures themselves are complemented by a series of essential furnishing elements such as taps, vanity units, storage elements, towel rails, mirrors and shelves. Visual relationships, material continuity and controlled contrasts between these elements all play a vital role in defining the overall design.

Designers can opt for bold colour choices, such as furniture doors that coordinate or contrast with the sanitary fixtures, to create a coherent chromatic language. Alternatively, subtler pairings such as taps with handles and spouts made of different materials add a note of originality and personality without disrupting the overall harmony.

In this way, details help to create a balanced, functional and aesthetically refined bathroom, where even the smallest elements coordinate with the rest of the space and contribute to the overall sensory and architectural quality of the project.

Almond from Arbi Arredobagno, designed by Meneghello Paolelli, comprises wall-hung units, aluminium washbasin structures, consoles with integrated basins, countertop washbasins, mirrors and accessories. The soft, elegant design, characterised by almond-shaped profiles and curved doors, creates harmonious and refined bathrooms in which every element interacts seamlessly.

Ceramica Catalano presents the Ceramic Top collection, featuring lightweight ceramic surfaces available in four sizes and finishes, alongside the coordinating Tonalità washbasin range. These elements allow for refined, creative combinations with natural materials such as wood, stone and metal.

BOB from Ceramica Globo revolutionises bathroom decor, transforming it into an integrated system where ceramics, steel and storage units coexist in a balance of aesthetics and functionality. Inspired by Bauhaus principles, the modular platform offers flexible and harmonious compositions by adapting freely to contemporary spaces.

The Sense collection from Ideagroup has been expanded with the addition of the new Fenix finishes in warm, vibrant colours such as Namib Red, Shaba Blue and Kitami Green. The soft-touch, anti-fingerprint and easily repairable matt surfaces enhance material contrasts and lend the bathroom a sophisticated, enduring design.

The Castiglioni collection from Mamoli is based on Achille Castiglioni’s original drawings, sketches and maquettes made back in the 1980s. The tap defines the aesthetics of the entire collection and stands out for its combination of simple but visually-striking elements. The cylindrical base houses the spout and the two red and blue levers, ensuring immediate functional clarity.

Kea by Treemme Rubinetterie – designed by Marco Pisati and Giampiero Castagnoli – combines classical elegance with contemporary technology. The fluted spout and handles, inspired by Greek temple architecture, together with brass finishes and options in marble or LED-lit crystal, bring a distinctive touch to any bathroom.