How To Get In on the Antique-Style Fixtures Trend (and Revamp Your Tired Bathroom)

Vintage looks are everywhere right now, including home interiors. It’s a natural response to mass production, says interior designer and Smac Studio founder Shona McElroy. “People are craving something that feels individual and exclusive.”

Driven by this appetite, and a wider return to nostalgia, aged metals continue to rival perfectly polished finishes across the home, increasingly in bathrooms. One way to achieve the look is antique or vintage-inspired fixtures.

“There’s something inherently timeless about an antique fixture that grounds the space and gives it history, even if everything else is new,” McElroy says. “It’s that one element that makes the whole vanity feel considered and collected over time rather than bought all at once.”

Sourcing true vintage fixtures takes time and a little luck. A quicker, and sometimes more affordable, option is to find new pieces that capture the patina and texture of aged material, like ABI Interiors’ new Antiques collection. The Queensland-based hardware maker has given tapware, cabinet handles, shower heads, sinks and accessories subtly distressed finishes that echo the look of time-worn pieces that have lived in a home for decades. It’s a look that an increasing number of tapware companies are moving into.

Switching out hardware is also a relatively low-lift way to refresh your bathroom without a full renovation. Sometimes, swapping simple details like towel rails, light fixtures and tap handles is enough to completely shift the feel of a space.

What are 2026’s dominant bathroom design trends?

“We’re seeing a lot of polished nickel tapware, two-tone hardware and statement stone. Colour blocking is still having a moment – particularly led by a colourful stone – and people are being much more considered with lighting. Art deco-inspired profiles are showing up everywhere – in lighting, hardware, and tapware. Plus, wallpaper is back in bathrooms in a big way,” McElroy says.

Why antique-style fixtures?

Antique-style fittings tend to feel more like heirloom pieces rather than just functional hardware. They add personality and style to a part of the house that can often feel unremarkable.

It’s also an easy way to introduce warmth and depth to more contemporary-looking spaces without feeling too decorative,” McElroy says. “They add a layer of interest that makes you actually look.”

How do you choose between finishes?

Popular aged finishes include brass, bronze, copper, nickel and gunmetal. McElroy suggests first deciding “if you want a patina look or something that’ll stay stable over time”. For example, ABI’s tumbled aged brass offers a more raw finish that patinas over time, as opposed to its Antique Steel, which gives a more industrial look.

“Think about the overall vibe you’re after,” McElroy says. Do you want glam? Moody? Impact?  “Look at references and see what you’re drawn to – that’ll usually tell you what’s right for the space.”

What materials and colours pair well with different finishes?

“Nickel tapware pairs well with almost everything,” McElroy says. “It can feel like the safer choice if you’re wanting to play it safe.” The same goes for bronze hardware, she says.

If you’re leaning towards gunmetal finishes, McElroy recommends working with a lighter, softer palette: grey stone, pale timber and cooler tones to balance the darker hardware. Brass, on the other hand, works best with colour. Pairing it with richer hues or more playful shades can offset its naturally glamorous feel, which can feel overly ritzy against an all-neutral palette.

For someone not undertaking a full renovation, which fixture upgrades offer the most impact?

If you’re only changing a few things, McElroy recommends starting with tapware and cabinetry handles. “And maybe pop on a marble benchtop.”

“A great tile will sit well with stone too, particularly if you pull out a colour from the stone’s veining,” she says.

abiinteriors.com.au

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