The Houzz 2018 U.S. Bathroom Trends Study found that 56 percent of Baby Boomers are renovating master baths to address future or current needs of aging residents.
According to the report, the Boomer demographic represents 52 percent of renovating homeowners, giving their move towards accessibility added weight in the remodeling industry. Bathroom elements like shower seats, grab bars, and low- or no-curb showers are rising in popularity for homeowners who are planning to age in place.
Houzz found that 30 percent of renovating homeowners aged 25-54 are also addressing potential future accessibility needs. In additon renovations were less likely to be motivated by pent-up demand as they were in previous years. Instead, 26 percent of homeowners cited a desire to personalize a recently purchased home as their driving motivator, up from 24 percent in 2017.
When it comes to decor choices, 89 percent of homeowners report changing the style of their bathroom. Twenty percent of this group chose a contemporary style, followed by transitional (16 percent), modern (15 percent), and traditional (14 percent). But the popularity of contemporary has lagged over the years, down from 26 percent in 2016, while interest in farmhouse style has nearly doubled over the same period, from 3 percent to 7 percent today.
Popular upgrades include changes in faucets (92 percent), wall finishes (89 percent), flooring (88 percent), lighting fixtures (85 percent), showers and countertops (84 percent each), and sinks and vanities (83 percent each). Nearly half of respondents (44 percent) changed the layout of their bathroom, and 46 percent of respondents paired a master bath renovation with the renovation of a master bedroom.
The majority (58 percent) of respondents said they use the same metal finishes throughout a space, as opposed to mixing and matching. Thirty-eight percent of this group chose matte nickel looks, such as brushed or satin, followed by polished chrome (28 percent). Gray finishes also dominated: They make up 32 percent of wall choices and 29 percent of flooring choices. Though white and wood still dominate cabinetry (34 and 32 percent, respectively), gray has made in-roads, jumping to 16 percent from 10 percent in 2016.
Other product trends included subway- or brick-style tile installations (66 percent of those installing new tile), undermount sinks (63 percent of respondents), double sinks (66 percent), and custom or semi-custom vanities (55 percent). Premium upgrades were also popular, with 73 percent of those who updated their showers going for premium features such as rainfall showerheads (57 percent) or dual showers (28 percent). Similar trends were seen in toilets and bathtubs.
See the full results of the 2018 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trend Survey here.