Bathroom Design
5 Bathroom Remodeling Trends to Know in 2026
The latest Houzz research finds bigger showers, rising spending and more homeowners planning for future needs
Homeowners are planning their bathroom renovations around future needs and making room for larger showers, according to the just-released 2026 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study. At the same time, upgraded bathrooms are becoming spaces for self-care and relaxation, with half of renovating homeowners saying they spend more time in them after the work is done. Nearly 9 in 10 homeowners also hire at least one pro for their projects. Here’s more on those and other key findings from the study, based on a survey of more than 1,600 U.S. homeowners.
Among renovating homeowners addressing current special needs, 43% focus on aging household members. That share rises to 55% among those planning for future needs, up 6 percentage points from last year.
Household members with disabilities account for 8% of current needs and 12% of future needs. Young children account for 3% of both current and future needs, down 3 percentage points for current needs. Pets account for 6% of current needs and 4% of future needs, both unchanged from last year.
Household members with disabilities account for 8% of current needs and 12% of future needs. Young children account for 3% of both current and future needs, down 3 percentage points for current needs. Pets account for 6% of current needs and 4% of future needs, both unchanged from last year.
Homeowners renovating for aging in place most frequently choose grab bars (63%) and nonslip flooring (56%) for their bathrooms. A majority (55%) install low-curb showers, while 32% choose curbless showers.
Additional lighting (33%), ADA-compliant toilets (24%) and wheelchair-accessible doorways (19%) are also among the features homeowners add. Lower vanity heights (4%) and lower fixtures (2%) remain the least sought-after features.
Additional lighting (33%), ADA-compliant toilets (24%) and wheelchair-accessible doorways (19%) are also among the features homeowners add. Lower vanity heights (4%) and lower fixtures (2%) remain the least sought-after features.
This Minnetonka, Minnesota, bathroom by Amber Weekley Elioff of Crystal Kitchen + Bath incorporates several aging-in-place features, including a low-curb shower with multiple grab bars, nonslip flooring and ample lighting.
10 Aging-in-Place Features Pros Swear By
10 Aging-in-Place Features Pros Swear By
2. Larger Showers Are a Top Priority
Nearly half of all bathroom renovations enlarge the shower (49%), up 10 percentage points from last year. Improving ventilation, heating or plumbing remains the most widespread major change, at 60%.
Other major changes are common as well. Two in 5 homeowners (40%) rework the bathroom layout, while 38% modify the walls. Fewer than 1 in 10 change the ceiling (9%) or floor (8%), and just 5% move the bathroom to a different part of the home.
Nearly half of all bathroom renovations enlarge the shower (49%), up 10 percentage points from last year. Improving ventilation, heating or plumbing remains the most widespread major change, at 60%.
Other major changes are common as well. Two in 5 homeowners (40%) rework the bathroom layout, while 38% modify the walls. Fewer than 1 in 10 change the ceiling (9%) or floor (8%), and just 5% move the bathroom to a different part of the home.
More than half of renovating homeowners who upgrade their showers (58%) increase their size. Most expand by less than a quarter (23%). Another 19% increase the size by 25% to 50%, up 5 percentage points from last year, while 16% expand by more than 50%. The share keeping their shower at its original size fell 5 percentage points to 41%, meaning a majority of new or upgraded showers now change size. Just 2% end up with a smaller shower.
Meanwhile, when a bathtub comes out during a renovation, 79% of homeowners use the space to enlarge the shower.
Meanwhile, when a bathtub comes out during a renovation, 79% of homeowners use the space to enlarge the shower.
This Oklahoma lake house bathroom by Mel Bean Interiors features a spacious curbless shower with a high ceiling.
10 Tips for Designing the Perfect Shower
10 Tips for Designing the Perfect Shower
3. Bathroom Remodeling Spend Rebounds
Median spending on bathroom upgrades rebounded to $15,000 nationally in 2025, up from $13,000 in 2024 and back to its previous spend of $15,000 in 2023. Major remodels, defined as projects in which at least the shower was upgraded, had a median spend of $25,000, while the top 10% of projects reached $70,000.
Bathroom size also affected spending. Among major remodels, bathrooms 100 or more square feet had a median spend of $30,000, up 20% from the previous year, with the top 10% of projects reaching $75,000 or more. For bathrooms smaller than 100 square feet, the median spend was $18,000, while the top 10% of projects reached $44,000, down $1,000 year over year.
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.
Median spending on bathroom upgrades rebounded to $15,000 nationally in 2025, up from $13,000 in 2024 and back to its previous spend of $15,000 in 2023. Major remodels, defined as projects in which at least the shower was upgraded, had a median spend of $25,000, while the top 10% of projects reached $70,000.
Bathroom size also affected spending. Among major remodels, bathrooms 100 or more square feet had a median spend of $30,000, up 20% from the previous year, with the top 10% of projects reaching $75,000 or more. For bathrooms smaller than 100 square feet, the median spend was $18,000, while the top 10% of projects reached $44,000, down $1,000 year over year.
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.
Minor bathroom renovations also saw higher spending in 2025. The national median reached $9,000, up from $7,500 the year before, while the top 10% of projects came in at $35,000 or more.
For bathrooms 100 or more square feet, the median rose 18% to $10,000, while the top 10% of projects reached $39,000. Among smaller bathrooms, median spending held at $5,000, but the top 10% rose 14% to $24,000.
For bathrooms 100 or more square feet, the median rose 18% to $10,000, while the top 10% of projects reached $39,000. Among smaller bathrooms, median spending held at $5,000, but the top 10% rose 14% to $24,000.
Treasure in the Detail created this spacious Phoenix bathroom with a curbless shower, freestanding tub and double vanity.
4 Rookie Bathroom-Remodeling Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
4 Rookie Bathroom-Remodeling Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
4. Upgraded Bathrooms Make Room for Self-Care
Half of renovating homeowners (50%) say they spend more time in the bathroom after upgrades. More than a quarter (28%) use the space for beauty and pampering routines, while 23% use it for rest and relaxation.
Other practices are far less common: steaming (4%), cold plunges, red light therapy, sauna sessions and recording beauty tutorials (1% each).
Half of renovating homeowners (50%) say they spend more time in the bathroom after upgrades. More than a quarter (28%) use the space for beauty and pampering routines, while 23% use it for rest and relaxation.
Other practices are far less common: steaming (4%), cold plunges, red light therapy, sauna sessions and recording beauty tutorials (1% each).
Cleanliness is the most frequently cited feature for relaxation, at 76%, followed by a spacious shower (71%) and organized storage (67%). Natural light helps 40% of homeowners unwind, followed by dimmable lighting (39%) and a comfortable tub (26%). Water features follow at 19%, up 6 percentage points from last year. Greenery (12%) and music (6%) rank lower on the list.
Margali & Flynn Designs created this roomy New York bathroom with a clean look and organized storage. Moody stone tile flooring in a herringbone pattern, reeded cabinet fronts and ombre wallpaper add texture and visual interest.
5 Home Design Trends Pros Say Have Staying Power in 2026
5 Home Design Trends Pros Say Have Staying Power in 2026
5. Almost All Homeowners Hire Pros for Bathroom Projects
The vast majority of homeowners (89%) hire at least one professional for their bathroom renovation, up 5 percentage points from last year. General contractors are the most frequently hired pros, at 52% of projects. Bathroom remodelers and cabinetmakers are each hired by 23% of renovating homeowners.
Bathroom designers are next at 14%, followed by interior designers at 12%. Architects and design-build pros account for 7% each, while lighting designers remain a niche choice at 2%.
Find home design and remodeling pros on Houzz
The vast majority of homeowners (89%) hire at least one professional for their bathroom renovation, up 5 percentage points from last year. General contractors are the most frequently hired pros, at 52% of projects. Bathroom remodelers and cabinetmakers are each hired by 23% of renovating homeowners.
Bathroom designers are next at 14%, followed by interior designers at 12%. Architects and design-build pros account for 7% each, while lighting designers remain a niche choice at 2%.
Find home design and remodeling pros on Houzz
This spacious Chico, California, bathroom by PMS Remodeling features a built-in tub, large low-curb shower and ample vanity storage.
This photorealistic rendering, created with Houzz Pro’s 3D Floor Planner, highlights key trends from the 2026 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study, including a relaxing, clean look, a large shower with a low-curb entry and nonslip flooring.
The 2026 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study gathered information from 1,619 Houzz users who reported being 18 or older, being homeowners and having completed a primary bathroom or full guest/family bathroom remodel or addition project in the past 12 months or to be currently working on one or planning to start one in the next three months. The survey was fielded in August 2026.
Read more and download the full study here
More on Houzz
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The 2026 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study gathered information from 1,619 Houzz users who reported being 18 or older, being homeowners and having completed a primary bathroom or full guest/family bathroom remodel or addition project in the past 12 months or to be currently working on one or planning to start one in the next three months. The survey was fielded in August 2026.
Read more and download the full study here
More on Houzz
Read more stories
Browse photos for ideas
Find home professionals
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More than 7 in 10 renovating homeowners (71%) address special needs in their bathroom projects. For a majority of those homeowners, those needs are still several years away: 55% expect them to arise five or more years from now, up 8 percentage points from last year. By comparison, 25% expect special needs within the next 12 months, down 6 percentage points. Another 10% expect needs to arise within the next one to two years, while 11% anticipate them in three to four years.
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