The National Kitchen + Bath Association (NKBA) is the world’s leading authority in kitchen and bath design, always at the cutting edge of industry trends. Here’s a look at the winners from their 2025 Design Competition—and the design elements that caught our attention.
Here’s the top bath trends from the NKBA Design Awards that stood out to us.
Best Overall Bath & First Place Powder Room: “Knotty Potty”
Source: National Kitchen + Bath Association
A bold and unconventional design, but we can still appreciate the custom details inspired by the client’s love for burled wood and gemstones!
Bath features/trends that stood out to us:
- Custom quartz onyx sink
- Full-length mirror layered behind slabs
- Backlighting behind the vanity and mirror–this was a feature in almost every winning design!
Powder Room, Second Place: “Tranquillo Santuario”
Source: National Kitchen + Bath Association
- Teak panel tambour walls with hidden storage—See the tambour wall in our Fieldstone Project.
- Floor-to-ceiling tile and mirror
- Indirect lighting behind the mirror and vanity
- Floating vanity—you’ll see this feature in several of the winning designs.
Powder Room, Third Place: “Paradise Found”
Source: National Kitchen + Bath Association
- Large-scale wallpaper mural
- Scalloped backsplashes and curved cabinets—rounded edges are big this year.
- Note the “abstract floral line drawing in the sink basin”
Secondary Bath Winners
Secondary Bath, First Place: “Midsummer Night”
Source: National Kitchen + Bath Association
- Maximalism design—bold textures and patterns throughout
- Large-pattern wallcovering extends from the walls into the shower
- Another curved backsplash
- Indirect lighting in the shower—also known as cove lighting
Secondary Bath, Second Place: “Cenote Bathroom”
Source: National Kitchen + Bath Association
- Floating vanity and vessel basin
- Zero-entry or curbless shower
- In-wall toilet for a clean, sleek design—one of our clients just selected a similar style for their bathroom renovation
- (Another) backlit mirror
Secondary Bath, Third Place: “Sharing is Caring”
Source: National Kitchen + Bath Association
- All-black fixtures from lighting to plumbing
- Distinct tile design—we love this tile!
- Hidden linear drain in shower floor—do you see it?
Primary Bath Winners
Primary Bath, First Place: “Tranquillo Sanctuario”
Source: National Kitchen + Bath Association
- Partial shower walls or pony walls—provides a functional divider while keeping the space feeling open
- Flat slab-front cabinets (Compare to traditional cabinet doors, such as Shaker-style. This style gives a more modern look.)
- Tiled ceiling with rain head shower system—we love the ceiling design!
Primary Bath, Second Place: “TNAH 23”
Source: National Kitchen + Bath Association
- Glass-walled, cedar-clad sauna—Home saunas are increasing in popularity because of their health benefits
- Back-to-back dual floating vanities
- High narrow window in shower—brings in natural light but maintains privacy
- Additional luxury features: Heated floors and comfort-height smart toilets with music
Primary Bath, Third Place: “Scandi Retreat”
Source: National Kitchen + Bath Association
- Hidden closet door within tambour wall, this one made from white-oak slats
- More backlit mirrors—Five out of the eight winning designs feature backlit vanity mirrors!
The 2025 NKBA winners highlight the top bath trends like maximalist design, curved elements, and indirect lighting. Which of these trends are you loving?
All photos courtesy of NKBA. Submit a design request to start creating your dream bathroom with Kirkendall Design today.
