Product watch: Octagon and Artis from Villeroy & Boch set a new standard in hotel bathroom design

Hotel bathrooms have become one of the most expressive spaces in modern hospitality design. Long gone are the days when they were purely functional. Today, hotels use bathrooms to immerse guests in comfort, luxury and a sense of considered indulgence. Within these spaces, the washbasin has quietly become one of the most defining elements – a piece that can introduce personality without overwhelming the design. Villeroy & Boch’s Octagon and Artis collections show just how much impact a well‑designed basin can have.

Octagon is a true example of how simplicity on the outside can reveal something unexpected within. The basin’s exterior is clean and minimal, yet inside it opens into a faceted, crystal‑like shape crafted from ceramic. This level of refinement reflects Villeroy & Boch’s long heritage in ceramic artistry, where the craftsmanship is just as important as the final look.

Originally created for luxury hotel settings, the Octagon has evolved into a standout choice for a wide range of hospitality spaces. Its compact 42 cm diameter makes it ideal for guest bathrooms or smaller suites, where designers often want something eye‑catching without sacrificing space. The matt finishes, Stone White and Pure Black, help it slot naturally into almost any scheme – whether that’s a calm, spa‑like setting or something bolder and more glamorous. Beyond aesthetics, Octagon owes its sharp lines and durability to TitanCeram, a ceramic material engineered for slim edges and long‑lasting strength, making it well suited to high‑traffic hotel environments.

Alongside Octagon, Villeroy & Boch’s Artis collection brings another layer of design versatility to hotel bathrooms. Artis has recently been expanded with new full‑surface matt colours – Pure Black, Almond, Nightfall and Teal – offering designers a wider palette to work with. These colours were developed as part of an enduring trend toward deeper, richer tones that create a subtle statement in bathroom spaces. Nightfall (a deep blue), Almond (a warm neutral), Pure Black and Teal (a vibrant blue‑green) each offer a distinct mood, giving hotels plenty of freedom to shape the atmosphere they want guests to feel the moment they step inside.

Artis also comes in a wide choice of shapes – round, oval, square and rectangular – and includes smaller guest‑bathroom versions designed to bring strong design impact to compact spaces. The basins are made from TitanCeram, the same high‑performance material behind Octagon, giving them thin, refined edges and a durability that suits both boutique and high‑turnover hotel environments. For designers, this means they can experiment with colour and form without compromising on practicality.

One of the strengths of both collections is their ability to work across different design styles. Octagon pairs beautifully with Villeroy & Boch’s Finion furniture range but also looks striking on natural stone or timber countertops. Artis, with its wide colour and shape options, is equally as flexible – ideal for hotels that want to create a signature bathroom look across different room types while still maintaining a consistent design language.

Villeroy & Boch / Ideal Standard is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Villeroy & Boch