Get the basics right with chemical-free water …
Lots of Irish companies are providing clean water solutions for homes, helping households access safer, better-tasting water and tackle issues like hard water, contaminants, and limescale.
Culligan Ireland offers a range of residential products including water softeners, under-sink reverse osmosis filters, drinking water systems, and boiling and chilled taps. These systems improve water quality and reduce reliance on bottled water.
AquaControl in Kerry supplies domestic water purification systems designed to remove iron, manganese, bacteria, sediments and hardness from private water supplies such as wells, ensuring homes benefit from cleaner potable water.
Smaller specialist companies like The Cleanwater Company install under-sink water filters, fluoride filters and water coolers that remove odours and impurities without wasteful processes, preserving essential minerals and reducing plastic bottle use. Hydrotech Water Services delivers tailored solutions including softeners and drinking water systems that address local water quality issues.
We spent last year slugging tap water from oversized Stanley cups, but for 2026, smart water filters and carbonators will transform how people drink water at home and on the go. Connected filters use sensors to track flow, filter life, and water quality, sending alerts to a phone when replacements are needed.
Smart carbonators add another layer of convenience by allowing users customise carbonation levels. Instead of buying bottled sparkling water, you can create fresh, fizzy drinks on demand, cutting plastic use and the need to store bulky bottles. Devices integrate with apps, voice assistants, and energy-saving modes, blending seamlessly into modern kitchens. Our favourite? The Aarke Carbonator Pro, at Brown Thomas or Harvey Norman.
This year, expect a decisive move away from clinical white bathrooms. Soft, muted shades – olive, tea rose and dusty blue – feel serene. This trend is aligned to a survey which revealed how Irish homeowners are designing bathrooms for feeling, not just function. The Flair Showers survey revealed 80 per cent of homeowners would invest more in their bathroom than any other room to boost wellbeing. As a result, bathrooms are also getting bigger – having a larger shower is more important than having a bathtub for most homeowners. These expanded spaces allow for spa-like features from steam options to saunas, aromatherapy and chromotherapy.
In terms of fittings, expect to see interesting vanity units (such as antique chests converted into vanities), basins with curtains concealing shelving beneath, and a return to the traditional pedestal sink. Vintage lighting, particularly Italian modernist cone lights, look stylish with classic bathroom finishes like Shaker cabinetry and marble. Spindle and turned legs add warmth and charm. Expect to see partially screened loos and tall tower cabinets which make use of vertical space. Eliminating grout lines on tiles is also a key trend. This year there will be fewer subway tiles and more supersized marble slabs. Less cleaning, less maintenance, and a greater sense of hotel-like luxury!
Does your shower water need a clean? Hard water can dry and irritate your skin and hair, and lead to heightened sensitivity and even eczema flare-ups (not to mention causing limescale in your bathroom).
The team at Wildflower hair salon in Ranelagh in Dublin 6 are advocates of GP-backed HelloKlean water filters which attach easily to your shower; clients notice a big difference. Corkwoman April McGrath’s Gaia filters claim to remove 99 per cent of chlorine and other metals from the water. Act+Acre’s Clarifying Hard Water Scalp and Hair Treatment helps to remove build-up.
SEE MORE: Tips For A Cleaner Life Inside and Out
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