Yesterday, we spoke at the NOEL Day of Design on trends in glass and mirrors. Not what we are seeing in magazines and on Pinterest, we talked about what clients are actually asking for. We covered what our team is actually installing. Trends that are coming in, trends that are on their way out, and trends that are flying under most people’s radar.
The era of bigger is better is over. For about a decade, the definition of luxury was maximum everything. We’re talking mirrors wall-to-wall, showers to the ceiling, 15 water sources, and yes, wet rooms. That was the language of high-end. Now, that’s changed.
Now the conversation is about design intention. Smaller but more special. More decorative, more layered, more textured. The focus has shifted from square footage to beauty. And honestly, it’s a much more interesting space to work in.
Traditional design is making a real comeback across the board. We’re seeing it in mirrors, in frames, and in hardware. Contemporary is still very much alive, but sleek and minimal as the default- that’s fading.
Smaller, More Special, More Intentional
Frames are having a serious moment. And we’re not talking about thin metal frames, were talking ornate, textured, shaped, whimsical frames. Carved wood, leather, linen, bamboo, exotic grains. Clients are asking for shapes in their mirrors. If you haven’t been specifying decorative frames lately, that’s the direction we’re headed.
Beveled mirrors are something we don’t think enough designers take advantage of. They work in traditional spaces and contemporary spaces, and are genuinely versatile. And they can be done in really cool ways that most client’s dont even think of as options.
Antique mirror is still very much in demand, but the scale has shifted. We’re not doing whole bathroom walls in antique mirror anymore. Now its the pocket bar, the under-stair powder room, panels inset into millwork. It’s smaller, more curated application and in our opinion, it works better that way.
Layered looks are huge right now. We’re talking mirror-on-mirror. Hanging a decorative mirror in front of an antique mirror tile wall. That’s the look that is getting a lot of attention right now, especially in small spaces like powder rooms and bar alcoves. Think of it as a statement piece in a tight footprint.
Some of the most striking work we are seeing right now is mirror in unexpected places. We’re talking under the stairs, mirror trim paired with wallpaper, mirror panels inset inside paneling. These are applications that generate strong client reactions and are worth thinking about beyond the vanity wall.
What’s fading? Wall-to-wall, ceiling-height mirror installations are on their way out. Lighted mirrors are very specific, they read as contemporary-only and aren’t for every space. And the TV-in-mirror trend has really run its course. Clients want a luxurious bathroom experience, not a gadget.
Human-Scaled, Beautiful, Thoughtful
Shower glass is becoming more thoughtful, more human-scaled, and even more beautiful. Clear glass is still the right answer 90% of the time. It is the default for shower glass and always works, no matter the application.
One of the strongest shower trends we are seeing right now is arched glass. Arched tops on shower enclosures, paired with beautiful hardware and tile. When its done right, it reads as a true design moment, not just a shower, but an intentional focal point in the room.
Wet rooms made sense when space was the constraint, but if you have the room to separate the tub and the shower, clients want that. The era of combining everything into one giant wet room is over for the most part.
Steam showers will always be in style for the clients that want them. What’s changed is the context. Its not about having the biggest show stopper anymore. Its about function. The health concious client wants steam for actual wellness reasons. Saunas are making a comeback for the same reason.
At every budget level, clients want glass in the bathroom. That’s one of the clearest, most consistent things we hear. No one wants a shower curtain anymore. And there are a lot of good applications for glass on a tub that most client’s do not think about until someone shows them. This is not your grandmothers tub shower.
Authentic Always Looks Rich
The rule we operate by is this: if you stick to authentic options, it will always look rich. Finishes that fake the look of living metal, your satin brasses, your flat coated, they look cheap next to the real thing. The clients who invest in authentic finishes dont regret it.
Polished nickel is a true classic, it will never be wrong. Unlacquered brass ages beautifully (its a living finish), it develops patina and clients love the way it evolves. Natural bronze does the same thing. Gold is still very popular and isn’t going anywhere.
Whats fading? Matte black is on its way out. It had a long run, but it’s fading. Satin brass is similar because it reads as the budget friendly option to unlaquered brass and the difference is immediately visible when you put them next to one another.
Hardware is trending more decorative overall, but also more human scaled. We were doing a lot of oversized handles for a while, not those are really only appropriate for wine rooms or specific statement pieces. Everywhere else, decorative but appropriately sized is in.
Glass as a Design Element, Not Just a Material
When it comes to cabinets, shelving, and wine rooms, clear glass is the right call. The whole point of glass in a cabinet is to see whats inside. Reeded glass is a good second option because it adds texture without fully obscuring the contents. Antique mirror is for when you actually want to conceal what’s inside (like a master bath cabinet or dining room built-in).
One application we love and don’t think gets enough attention: if you have a cabinet or a built-in with no window nearby, putting mirror inside the cabinet is a great way to bounce light. It makes a real difference in how the room feels.
Frosted glass is dated. It had its moment, but now it’s done. The one exception to this is the water closet. There, frosted glass makes sense.
Brass hardware with glass shelves is one of those combinations that has been going strong for a while and shows no sign of slowing down. Bar mirror backsplashes are popular but can be tricky. They require the right framing and lighting to work well, so always verify application before committing. Shower niche shelving with gold clips is an emerging detail that adds a small hit of glamour without a big price tag.
We’re seeing wine rooms across the full spectrum right now, from full custom build outs to hidden installs under the stairs. Both are popular. The speakeasy-style hidden wine room is a strong conversation starter with clients and generates a lot of excitement.
Beyond the Bathroom
On the commercial side were seeing a lot of demand for minimal hardware office enclosure with clean sightlines and frameless or near frameless glass. Oversized pivot doors are making a statement in high-end office buildings and in both commercial and residential home offices.
Glass railings are still very popular where the architecture supports it. The thing to remember here is that the hardware is the entire design decision. The same glass can read contemporary or traditional based entierly on what hardware you choose. There’s a lot of flexibility and its worth exploring with clients.
Home gym mirrors are a steady, growing category along with the home wellness movement. Full-wall mirrors for dedicated gym spaces are in consistent demand. Steam showers and saunas are both benefiting from the same wellness trend. These clients are doing it for actual health reasons now, not just because its a luxury amenity. That shifts how you design the space, it becomes more purposeful and function focused.
Pattern glass is still a premium option that works in the right context. The important thing is scale. A single reeded door with an arched top, not a full three-sided enclosure. It’s a selective accent, not a whole-room statement.
The things we are confident that are in right now: arched glass, ornate and textured frames, beveled mirrors, antique mirrors at small scale, gold and polished nickel hardware, clear cabinet glass, glass shelving everywhere, and wine rooms of all sizes. These are safe, strong recommendations for projects right now.
Trends that are out include wall-to-wall mirrors, wet rooms, matte black, frosted glass outside of the water closet, satin brass, sleek featureless lines. If a client comes asking for any of these, it’s worth a conversation about whetheer or not that’s really the direction they want to go.
Let’s Build Something Beautiful
We’ve been doing this in South Louisiana since 1982. We have the fabrication capabilities, the installation expertise, and the regional knowledge to make whatever you’re designing actually work in the real world. When you bring us in early on a project, you get better outcomes. The best projects we work on are ones where the designer and our team are talking from the beginning. We can solve a lot of problems in the design phase that become expensive problems during installation.