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Bathrooms and laundries are no longer treated as leftover service rooms. Current Australian design coverage shows them becoming deliberately planned interiors: bathrooms combine lower water use with comfort and spa cues, while laundries are being designed around the full cycle of garment care. For a painting project, that shift means choosing colours, coatings, substrates and sequencing at the same time as plumbing, waterproofing, ventilation and cabinetry—not after the room is built.
The change is real in design practice, but its scale should not be overstated. No independent, market-wide statistic establishes how quickly bathrooms or laundries are changing. The clearest evidence comes from recent trade features, a specific prefabricated housing project and commercial specification commentary.
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Three ideas now overlap in wet-area design. First, resource efficiency is being paired with a more comfortable, attractive experience. Second, open layouts such as walk-in showers require technical decisions much earlier than a conventional enclosed shower. Third, the laundry is being planned as an interior with storage, lighting and garment-care functions rather than as a room that merely hides a washer and dryer.
That is a different brief from the one implied by an inexpensive utility-room makeover. The visible finish still matters, but it has to follow the building science. Drainage falls, waterproofing, floor construction, wall substrates, exhaust and access for maintenance all influence which painted surfaces will remain sound.
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What the evidence does—and does not—show
The exact-title article published by Architecture & Design on 30 January 2019 is attributed to Stephanie Stefanovic, but the accessible page does not expose its full article body. Later coverage from 2024 to 2026 can therefore be used to update the subject, not to claim that the 2019 article contained those later examples.
The newer material is a set of reported themes and case studies, not a consumer survey. A product specification, a manufacturer-led statement about shower feel or a factory’s recycling figure should be read as that source’s claim. It should not be presented as an independently tested market average.
Bathrooms: from wet room to efficient, comfortable retreat
Recent bathroom coverage describes an “eco-luxury” vocabulary. Designers combine water-saving fixtures, considered materials and natural light with features associated with a spa: generous showering space, calm colours, tactile finishes and controls that make temperature easier to manage. Sustainability is being treated as part of comfort rather than as a sacrifice in appearance.
Water efficiency is now visible in the specification
Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) ratings and flow rates give a bathroom brief a measurable starting point. In an April 2025 feature, the Methven Kiri Low Flow shower was described as WELS 5 Star at 5 litres per minute. That is the specification reported by the article, not an independent performance test. The same feature presented low flow as compatible with a satisfying shower and quoted James Cocking, Senior Brand Manager, Portfolios at GWA Group: “There is increasing pressure for showers to have a higher WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards) that is achieved through lower flow rates.”
When comparing shower options, record the labelled rating, stated litres-per-minute figure, temperature-control arrangement and the conditions attached to the claim. A lower flow rate can affect the feel of the spray, the time needed to fill a bath and the sizing of hot-water equipment. Confirm the current label and local availability before ordering; specifications and models can change.
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Materials and colour support the comfort brief
Recycled or responsibly sourced materials, timber-look joinery, stone-like surfaces and daylight are often used to soften a highly technical room. Paint is the flexible layer in this palette. A restrained wall colour can let patterned tile or metalware carry the visual interest, while a deeper tone on a vanity wall can make a large room feel more settled. In a small bathroom, a consistent colour across walls and ceiling can reduce visual breaks; in a larger room, a contrasting ceiling or a painted nib can clarify zones.
Use a coating system intended for the substrate and the room’s moisture exposure. “Bathroom paint” is not a substitute for a waterproof membrane behind a shower or for correctly sealed junctions. Paint protects and decorates exposed surfaces; it does not make a wet-area construction compliant.
Walk-in showers: an open look with a technical dependency
Designers interviewed in the 2025 coverage reported a preference for open-plan or walk-in showers. The look is uncluttered and can improve access, but the absence of a raised tray or full-height enclosure removes tolerance for mistakes. A flush or open wet zone depends on drainage, waterproofing and floor construction being resolved together at design stage.
Coordinate the floor before choosing the finish
A walk-in shower needs a fall that directs water to the drain without creating a trip edge. The drain position, grate or channel, tile format, threshold and door swing must be considered as one drawing. July 2026 guidance on open integrated wet zones makes this coordination explicit and discusses drainage systems such as Stormtech as one type of solution. That reference is useful for planning questions, not as an independent product comparison.
- Map the wet zone. Mark the shower spray area, splash perimeter, basin, toilet and laundry-adjacent surfaces on the plan.
- Set levels and falls. Have the builder or designer establish finished floor heights, falls and transitions before waterproofing is installed.
- Confirm waterproofing details. Check membrane coverage, penetrations, corners, niches and the junction between floor and wall with the responsible licensed tradesperson.
- Choose compatible surfaces. Confirm that tile, grout, sealant and any painted edge or ceiling finish suit the expected moisture and cleaning regime.
- Paint after wet trades are complete. Allow substrates to dry, remove dust and protect finished fixtures before applying the specified coating system.
Painting around an open shower
Keep paint outside the direct spray wherever a more durable impervious finish is required by the design or local rules. On the ceiling and non-splash walls, use a moisture-tolerant system recommended for the actual substrate. Seal porous plasterboard or masonry as specified, reinforce repaired joints, and maintain a continuous bead of appropriate sealant at changes of plane. Do not paint over flexible movement joints or drainage components that need to remain serviceable.
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Ventilation matters as much as the coating. An exhaust fan that runs long enough to remove humid air reduces condensation stress on painted surfaces. Its capacity, duct route and discharge location are building-services decisions; confirm them before the ceiling is closed.
Prefabrication is changing how some bathrooms are delivered
Open layouts are not the only reported shift. The 2025 bathroom feature describes prefabricated bathroom pods as a route used in multi-residential projects. It cites the SYNC project for Nine by Mirvac, which used 769 pods across 28 types. SYNC also reported that 99% of factory materials were recycled. Those numbers belong to that development and are company-reported project or manufacturing figures, not an audited statistic for the whole market.
For a painter, factory production changes the handover sequence. Finishes may be applied under controlled conditions, then protected during transport and installation. On-site work can be limited to touch-ups, junctions and adjacent room surfaces, so colour matching, repair procedures and inspection lighting should be agreed before pods arrive. In a conventional renovation, by contrast, the painter often works around several trades in a compact room and must protect newly installed fixtures.
Laundries are becoming designed interiors
A May 2024 feature involving Fisher & Paykel and Boffi presents the laundry as an intentional architectural space and broadens the brief from washing to garment care. The example is a company and design-centre perspective, not independent consumer research, but it reflects a useful planning principle: the laundry serves sorting, treating, drying, folding and storing as well as machine operation.
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Plan the work sequence, not just the appliances
Before selecting colours or cabinetry, draw the path of a load of clothing. Provide a place to receive dirty items, a surface for pretreating stains, hanging or air-drying space, a folding bench and storage for detergents and cleaning tools. If the laundry opens to a hallway or kitchen, treat its sightline and acoustic separation as part of the interior design.
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Paint can distinguish these functions without making the room busy. A durable mid-tone on the lower wall can disguise everyday marks, while a lighter upper wall and ceiling help a narrow room feel brighter. Painting the back of open shelving or a recessed niche in a related but deeper colour gives depth without adding another material. Keep the palette compatible with adjoining rooms so the laundry reads as part of the home rather than a visual dead end.
Moisture, chemicals and cleaning
Washers, sinks and drying racks create intermittent humidity and splashes. Detergent, bleach and stain treatments can also attack an unsuitable film. Select the primer and topcoat as a system, follow the manufacturer’s recoat and curing instructions, and test the colour on the actual wall under the room’s artificial and natural light. Gloss level is a practical decision: a washable satin or low-sheen finish is easier to wipe than a flat finish, while a very high sheen can highlight every substrate defect.
Protect the wall behind a trough and taps with the splashback material specified for the project. Paint should terminate neatly at that junction, with a serviceable sealant joint where required. Do not rely on a painted wall to contain a failed hose, leaking trap or overflowing tub; include isolation valves, accessible connections and a floor-drain strategy in the plumbing design.
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An October 2026 trade article identifies sustainability, lead-free products, smart technologies, accessibility and whole-of-life value as themes in commercial plumbing specifications. These priorities apply specifically to commercial projects and should not be generalized to every domestic renovation. They do, however, affect a painter working in apartments, hotels, aged-care settings or other shared buildings.
Commercial briefs may require documented product data, low-emission materials, robust cleanability, access for maintenance and consistent finishes across many rooms. Accessibility can influence clearances, grab-rail backing and the placement of controls; resolve those details before painting so later drilling does not damage a finished waterproofed wall. Smart valves and sensors also need coordinated power, data and access panels.
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A practical planning sequence for a bathroom or laundry repaint
- Define the room’s use. List showering, bathing, washing, drying, storage and accessibility needs. Decide which walls are splash zones and which are merely humid.
- Freeze the wet-area layout. Confirm drainage, falls, waterproofing boundaries, penetrations, ventilation and service access with the relevant licensed trades.
- Audit the substrate. Identify plasterboard, fibre-cement sheet, masonry, tile, timber trim and previously painted surfaces. Check for salts, mould, flaking, swelling or movement before specifying primer.
- Choose the finish schedule. Record primer, number of coats, sheen, colour, sealants and areas that will receive tile or another impervious finish. Keep the schedule with the renovation documents.
- Prepare methodically. Remove loose film, clean residues, repair joints, sand only where appropriate and control dust. Treat mould or moisture causes rather than coating over them.
- Sequence the trades. Complete dusty demolition first, then substrate repairs, waterproofing and tiling. Paint once wet trades have cured and heavy installation is finished, leaving protected touch-up work for the end.
- Inspect under real light. Check corners, ceiling lines, penetrations, cabinetry interfaces and the transition to splashbacks with the room lights on. Correct defects before silicone, mirrors and final accessories conceal them.
- Document maintenance. Leave the owner the colour names, product data, batch information and cleaning guidance. Note which surfaces are painted and which are waterproofed so future repairs do not use the wrong material.
Decisions that should not be combined or confused
| Decision | What to compare | What the available coverage establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Shower fixture | WELS rating, stated flow rate, spray pattern, temperature control and local availability | The 2025 example describes Methven Kiri Low Flow as WELS 5 Star at 5 L/min; no independent comparative test is supplied. |
| Open wet zone | Drain location, floor falls, threshold, membrane detailing, grate or channel and cleaning access | July 2026 guidance says drainage, waterproofing and floor construction should be resolved together at design stage. |
| Bathroom finish | Substrate, splash exposure, cleanability, sheen, colour and ventilation | Trend coverage links water efficiency with comfort and considered materials but does not establish a universal paint specification. |
| Laundry layout | Sorting, pretreatment, drying, folding, storage, sightlines and appliance servicing | The 2024 Fisher & Paykel/Boffi feature presents garment care as a broader design brief; it is not independent consumer research. |
| Prefabricated delivery | Factory finish, transport protection, installation tolerances, touch-up process and colour matching | The SYNC example reports 769 pods in 28 types and 99% factory-material recycling for that project. |
Common failures and how to avoid them
Painting before the room is dry
Condensation, trapped construction moisture or uncured waterproofing can cause blistering, poor adhesion and lingering odour. Establish who verifies dryness and curing before the painter starts; do not use a fan or heater as a substitute for a completed drying period.
Using paint to solve a waterproofing defect
Peeling at a shower corner, swollen board or recurring stain usually signals water entry, movement or inadequate ventilation. Find and repair the source, replace damaged material where necessary, then rebuild the coating system. A thicker or glossier coat will not compensate for a failed membrane or leaking fitting.
Ignoring access and future repairs
Concealed valves, filters, pumps and smart controls still need service access. Paint around removable panels cleanly, keep spare colour and product information, and avoid sealing a panel permanently with finishes intended for fixed joints.
Choosing a colour from a screen
White and pale neutrals shift noticeably between daylight, warm lamps and LED strips. Sample the colour beside tile, stone, cabinetry and metalware at different times of day. The final appearance is a property of the whole room, not the paint chip alone.
How to make a durable brief
Write the brief in layers. Start with the room’s tasks and the wet-zone plan. Add the water-efficiency information and fixture requirements. Then specify substrates, waterproofed areas, ventilation, painted areas, sheen and colour. For a renovation, include protection and handover requirements; for a multi-residential project, add documentation, repeatability and maintenance access.
Ask every supplier or contractor to identify what is measured, what is manufacturer-reported and what depends on installation. That discipline is especially important for low-flow performance claims, recycled-content figures and prefabricated production statistics. Confirm current product data and any applicable Australian state or territory requirements before work begins.
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The most useful change is not a particular colour, showerhead or drain. It is the expectation that bathrooms and laundries deserve an integrated design decision. A bathroom can be economical with water and still feel generous; a laundry can support garment care and still look at home beside living spaces. Both outcomes depend on resolving the hidden construction early and using paint as one coordinated finish rather than as a last-minute disguise.
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