11 Big-Picture Bathroom Remodeling Trends

1. Overall Spend Rises, Minor Remodels See Uptick

First, let’s take a look at what’s often the first consideration when remodeling a bathroom: cost. As with many products and services, median spend on all bathroom remodels has risen — up 11%, from $13,500 in 2022 to $15,000 in 2023. The rise is due to an increase in the median spend for major remodels (in which at least the shower is upgraded) and minor remodels (those without a shower upgrade).

The median spend on major remodels rose 5%, from $20,000 in 2022 to $21,000 in 2023. Over the same period, the median spend on minor remodels increased from $8,000 to $8,500. For minor remodels of larger bathrooms (100 or more square feet), spend rose 15%, from $10,000 in 2022 to $11,500 in 2023. For minor remodels of smaller bathrooms (less than 100 square feet), spend rose 20% year over year, from $5,000 to $6,000.

Keep in mind, economists like to reference the median, or midpoint, figure rather than the average for this kind of data because the average can be skewed, can be volatile year over year and can be misleadingly high or low because of a single project that costs far more or less than others.

This spacious and luxurious Jacksonville Beach, Florida, bathroom by Shoreline Construction includes several of the features popular with homeowners right now, such as a wood vanity and lots of white and off-white finishes.

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2. Functionality Fuels Makeovers

The share of homeowners renovating to make their space more accommodating increased 4 points, to 27%, in 2024 compared with last year. Meanwhile, the share of people focused on resale value dropped 5 percentage points, from 31% in 2023 to 26% in 2024. “Can no longer stand the style” and “Old bathroom deteriorated or broke down” remain the top two reasons for tackling a bathroom remodeling project.

This Seattle bathroom by Design Harmony features many popular design finishes and elements, including a wood vanity, a curbless shower and white and off-white finishes.

3. Aging Is Top Special Need Addressed

To make their spaces more accommodating, nearly two-thirds of homeowners (64%) are addressing special needs during their bathroom renovations in 2024. Accommodating aging household members — for both now (37%) and in the future (46%) — continues to be the top priority, reflecting a strong need for aging-in-place solutions.

Among renovating homeowners addressing aging in place, 64% are incorporating grab bars, up from 58% in 2023. Nonslip flooring remains a popular choice, though the share of renovating homeowners choosing it decreased slightly, from 58% in 2023 to 57% in 2024. The incorporation of curbless showers also dipped, from 43% to 38% year over year.

The popularity of ADA-compliant toilets remains unchanged (26%), and the popularity of wheelchair-accessible doorways declined slightly, from 21% in 2023 to 19% in 2024.

“Consistent with past Houzz research, homeowners are renovating for the long term, making significant investments in functional spaces like primary bathrooms,” said Marine Sargsyan, Houzz staff economist. “While changes to layouts, shower area, flooring and plumbing may be unsurprising, what stands out is the growing trend toward future-proofing homes for personal use and the needs of loved ones. This shift has pushed resale value considerations further down the priority list, as homeowners focus on comfort and long-term living.”

Design-build firm EBCON included many aging-in-place features in this Los Altos, California, bathroom. A spacious floor plan and a curbless shower with a wide entry allow plenty of room to maneuver.

4. ‘Better Use of Space’ Is Main Reason for Adding a Wet Room

Wet rooms have become popular in recent years. The design typically combines a separate shower and tub in one space, often fully tiled and with a curbless or low-curb entry. More than 1 in 8 of upgraded bathrooms are now wet rooms (13%). The top reason homeowners say they chose a wet room is because it was a better use of space (66%). Other motivating factors are universal design (39%), aesthetics (33%) and ease of cleaning (29%).

Among styles of bathtubs in wet rooms, freestanding flat-bottom tubs are the top choice, selected by 36% of homeowners, followed closely by alcove bathtubs (35%). Deck-mounted styles account for 15%, while only 4% of the selections are freestanding claw-foot tubs.

This expansive Providence, Rhode Island, wet room by Desiree Burns Interiors sits completely open to the vanity area across from it. A tiled floor angles toward a long center drain. Handheld sprayers for the shower and the freestanding tub give the homeowners the ability to hose down the walls and flooring.

How to Design a Bathroom That’s Easy to Clean

5. White Hues Top Gray for Most Features

When it comes to color choice, white dominates all categories except vanities, where wood (26%) is preferred over white (22%).

Consistent with a recent trend in homeowners gravitating toward warm neutrals, off-white is the second-most popular color for most bathroom features. It surpasses gray in all categories except vanities, where gray leads by 1 percentage point.

For this stylish contemporary bathroom in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Insignia Homes incorporated a wood vanity with a white countertop and white tiled walls inside and outside the shower.

Shop for bathroom vanities on Houzz

6. Eclectic Style Gains Attention

Transitional (23%), contemporary (16%) and modern (15%) styles continue to be the top three styles for primary bathrooms. But eclectic style has gained popularity, increasing by 2 percentage points year over year, to 5%, now matching the steady popularity of farmhouse style, which has remained at 5% since 2019.

7. Sustainability Ranks High

More than 4 in 5 homeowners choose sustainable features during primary bathroom renovations (84%). While more than half of homeowners opt for sustainable design because of environmental friendliness (56%), the majority of homeowners are driven by long-term cost-effectiveness (69%).

LED lightbulbs top the list, chosen by 55% of renovators, followed by water-efficient fixtures (41%) and timeless design elements (35%). Light dimmers (29%) and energy-efficient fixtures (28%) are also popular. Some homeowners (6%) even hire an eco-focused pro for their bath remodel.

This Austin, Texas, bathroom by Dwell Interior Designs features LED ceiling lights and a timeless style.

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8. Alcove Bathtubs Surge in Popularity

Although homeowners still prefer freestanding flat-bottom tubs, the style’s popularity has decreased, from 55% to 42% year over year. Meanwhile, alcove bathtubs are quickly gaining traction, increasing by 15 percentage points year over year, to 39%.

A stylish alcove tub creates an efficient bathing spot in this Boston bathroom by Fresh Start Contracting.

9. Tile Reigns for Shower Walls and Floors

Tile is a cost-effective waterproofing material for bathrooms and is the most popular choice for shower flooring (87%) and shower walls (83%). The majority of renovating homeowners opt for rectangular tiles for their shower walls (82%), while trends for shower floor tiles vary, with rectangular (28%), hexagonal (23%) and square (22%) all being popular options.

10. Specialty Features Are in High Demand

Homeowners often choose to enhance their upgraded bathroom elements with specialty features. More than 2 in 5 install toilets that are powered by specialty features (41%). More than a third of renovating homeowners (35%) choose toilets with these features built in. Features include bidet seats (23%), bidet seats with water pressure (21%), self-cleaning functionality (19%), air dryers (17%) and heated seats (17%).

11. Majority Still Seek Pro Help

More than 4 in 5 homeowners (83%) rely on professionals to assist with their bathroom renovations. They hire general contractors most frequently (46%). They also seek help from cabinetmakers (17%), bathroom designers (11%), interior designers (9%), architects (7%) and design-build firms (6%).