Ditching the dreaded ‘big light’ could transform rushed evening showers into one of the most relaxing parts of the day.

Bathrooms are usually designed to be bright, white and practical.

But TikTok users are turning their backs on harsh spotlights and clinical-looking rooms in favour of ‘dark showering’.

The trend involves switching off the main bathroom light and showering using a much softer glow from a dimmed wall light, waterproof lamp or carefully positioned ambient lighting.

Rather than showering in pitch black, the idea is to create a calmer atmosphere that helps separate the working day from the evening.

It also ties into a much wider move towards dark, dramatic bathrooms filled with deep colours, warm wood and hotel-style finishes.

Bathroom expert Waleed Shahid of Royal Bathrooms said: “The bathroom is one of the few rooms where we can shut the door and have ten minutes completely to ourselves.

“People no longer want it to feel like a purely practical space. They want a room that helps them slow down, and softer lighting and darker finishes can completely change how an ordinary shower feels.”

From the tiles you choose to the floor beneath your feet, three experts have revealed how to bring the look home.

1. Banish the big light

Few things ruin a relaxing shower faster than a row of bright white spotlights shining directly overhead.

While strong lighting is useful when cleaning, shaving or getting ready for work, it can feel far too harsh when you are trying to unwind before bed.

The key is not to remove useful lighting altogether, but to give yourself more than one option.

Waleed said: “The best bathrooms have different layers of light rather than one powerful switch that floods the whole room.

“Keep your main lighting for practical jobs, but add a dimmable wall light, illuminated mirror or warm, low-level lighting that can be used on its own in the evening.

“You should never shower in total darkness, particularly on a slippery floor. The aim is to soften the room while still making sure you can clearly see the shower entrance, controls and anything beneath your feet.”

2. Pick colours that come alive after dark

Painting every surface black is not the only way to create a dark bathroom.

In fact, using one flat shade everywhere can leave the room looking cold and lifeless rather than calm and cocooning.

Deep green, navy, chocolate brown, burgundy and charcoal all create a moody feel while offering more warmth and character than solid black.

Abbas Youssefi, Managing Director of independent tile retailer Porcelain Superstore, said: “Dark bathrooms work best when the colour has some depth to it.

“A deep green or brown tile will look dramatic during the day, but it can appear much softer and warmer under low lighting at night.

“Tiles with slight variations in shade, texture or glaze are particularly effective because they catch small amounts of light rather than swallowing it completely.

“You do not have to tile the entire room either. Concentrating on the darkest finish inside the shower or behind the basin creates impact without making every wall feel enclosed.”

3. Stop a small bathroom feeling like a cave

Homeowners are often warned that dark colours will make a small room appear even smaller.

But covering a compact bathroom in several contrasting light shades can chop up the space and draw attention to every corner.

A more consistent dark scheme can sometimes make the edges of the room less obvious, creating a surprisingly snug and seamless effect.

Abbas said: “The mistake people make is adding too many sharp colour changes.

“If you use a dark tile in the shower, a completely different floor and then bright white paint above it, the eye notices every boundary and the room can feel busier.

“Repeating similar tones across the walls and floor creates a more continuous look. Large mirrors, clear shower glass and warm lighting will then bounce enough light around to stop the space feeling closed in.

“Dark does not automatically mean cramped. A simple, well-planned scheme can make a small bathroom feel far more polished.”

4. Warm it up with wood

A bathroom filled entirely with grey or black surfaces can quickly begin to feel hard and unwelcoming.

Adding wood brings warmth and stops the darker colours from making the room feel like an underground nightclub.

A wooden vanity unit, slatted bath panel, stool or shelf can break up all those solid surfaces, while a wood floor creates a softer foundation for the entire scheme.

Darwyn Ker, Managing Director of family-run wood floor specialists Woodpecker Flooring, said: “Dark bathrooms need something natural to prevent them from feeling too severe, and wood is one of the easiest ways to do that.

“The grain and changing tones bring movement into a room that might otherwise be dominated by flat, dark surfaces.

“In bathrooms, however, you need to choose a floor that is designed to cope with the conditions. An engineered wood floor is more stable than solid timber, but homeowners must still check that the specific product is suitable for bathroom use and follow the fitting and maintenance guidance carefully.

“Where real wood is not suitable, wood-effect flooring or tiles can provide a similar warmth without creating unnecessary worry around splashes and moisture.”

5. Use shine sparingly

Dark bathrooms need a little reflected light, but covering the room in highly polished finishes can destroy the relaxed atmosphere you are trying to create.

The simplest approach is to keep the largest surfaces matt or softly textured, then add smaller flashes of shine through mirrors, taps, handles and glazed tiles.

This allows the room to glow gently without becoming dazzling when the lights are switched on.

Waleed said: “You need contrast in a dark bathroom, but you do not need every surface fighting for attention.

“Matt furniture and darker walls create the calm background, while brushed brass, chrome or softly reflective tiles will pick up the warmer light.

“Even practical details such as an illuminated mirror or lighting beneath a wall-hung vanity can make the room easier to use while adding to that hotel-like feeling.

“The result should be a bathroom that still works perfectly in the morning but feels completely different when you turn down the lighting at night.”

Dark showering does not require a full bathroom renovation or a room painted from floor to ceiling in black.

Changing the type of light you use in the evening is the quickest way to test the trend, while deeper towels, a dark shower curtain or a richer wall colour can build the mood without a huge commitment.

For those planning a larger makeover, carrying warm dark tones through the tiles, furniture and flooring will create a more convincing sanctuary.

Just remember that atmosphere should never come at the expense of safety.

Keep pathways, steps and shower controls clearly visible, use suitable bathroom lighting and make sure every floor and electrical product is appropriate for a wet room.

Done properly, the big light can stay off – and an ordinary evening shower can feel like a genuine escape.