Leave those bland ceramic tiles on the shelf and go for something a little less manmade next time you redecorate your bathroom if you want to keep up with the latest trends.

Tanya Macpherson, assistant editor at Essential Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom, believes natural materials are definitely becoming more popular in the bathroom.

"People are embracing a lot more stone and they are bringing the luxury elements in, but in an understated way," she explained. "They are looking at tactile finished and nice materials, such as wood."

With this in mind, why not opt for stone tiles on the floor or around your shower and basin areas?

Bring in wood with some sophisticated panelling or hardwood units for storing all those towels, toilet rolls and health and beauty essentials.

For a real touch of luxury, fit out your bathroom with marble and a chrome towel rail radiator. You'll feel as though you're in a hotel once you sink into your tub surrounded by all that shiny metamorphosed limestone.

And you don't need to stick to just one type of material. Mix it up a little and experiment, especially when it comes to tiling, which Tanya reckons is a very easy way to change the look of your bathroom.

"It is a good way to add interest or colour or different finishes," she remarked. "Tiles are no longer just available in ceramic; you can get them in different finishes of stone.

"You can get them carved in different ways and different angles so that they bounce the light around. You can get glare and mosaics, so there are a big variety of tiles available."

Try a tile mosaic to add interest to your backsplash or the inside of your shower. Paint or paper the other walls in a neutral colour and it will really stand out.