Bathroom trends

Bigger showers, fewer tubs. Increasing shower size is the second-most-common bathroom project, chosen by 39% of renovating homeowners. Over half enlarge the shower during a remodel; 18% enlarge it by more than 50%. Among tub decisions, 34% upgrade, 26% keep, and 25% remove.

Accessibility is mainstream, not niche. 68% of homeowners consider special needs, up 4 points year over year, and 49% are planning ahead for aging household members. The features chosen are grab bars (61%), non-slip flooring (55%), low-curb showers (52%), extra lighting (31%), and curbless showers (28%). This is the trend most likely to still look right in fifteen years.

Systems over cosmetics. 61% of homeowners upgrade ventilation, heating, or plumbing systems during a bathroom renovation — more than the 36% who change layout. That is a sensible order of priorities and a good filter on a contractor's proposal.

Color and finish. White still leads shower walls at 36% and non-shower walls at 25%, though white on shower walls slipped 5 points. Off-white follows at 18% and 21%. Paint remains the dominant non-shower wall finish at 71%, with porcelain gaining to 13%. Frameless glass doors hold 75% among those choosing a shower door.

How to choose

Follow the accessibility trend, ignore the color trends

Grab-bar blocking and a low curb age well. Wall color is a weekend and $60.

A bigger shower usually beats a nicer tub

If the tub goes unused, the space is worth more as shower. Just keep one tub somewhere in the house.

Wellness features are mostly lighting

36% of renovated bathrooms include wellness features and lighting is the most common at 30%. Steam showers are 4%. Spend accordingly.

Trend-proof the expensive layer

Waterproofing, valves, and ventilation never go out of style and are the parts you cannot redo cheaply.