According to a new study by the influential architecture and interior design site Houzz, showers lead the way on bathroom remodeling projects, with many homeowners choosing to upgrade their units and make them bigger and more luxurious.
For its 2017 Bathroom Trends Study, Houzz surveyed more than 1,200 homeowners who are renovating their master bathroom, are planning to renovate, or have recently completed a renovation.
Showers continue to be a high priority: 81 percent of respondents report they are upgrading their master shower and more than 55 percent are increasing the shower’s size (with a quarter of them doing so by sacrificing the tub).
Showers also were ranked as the most likely splurge item, followed by cabinets and faucets. Three out of four homeowners are adding luxury features to their showers, such as rainfall showerheads, dual showers, and body sprays.
Not surprisingly, tech is seeing increasing interest, as well: 12 percent of respondents say they are implementing digital controls or mood lighting compared to 9 percent in 2016. The survey also revealed an increase in the number of homeowners upgrading to high-tech toilets.
“This year’s Bathroom Trends Study sheds light on two key trends in master bathrooms, showers as a focal point and the growing role of high-tech features in bathroom products,” says Nino Sitchinava, principal economist at Houzz. “Additionally, it is clear that today’s master bathroom renovations are marked by timeless and durable elements, from natural stone finishes to curbless shower entries, a benefit of having older generations in the driver’s seat. Still, the early wave of Millennial homeowners reveals their preferences for homes of the future, from larger master bathrooms to clean lines and white and gray color palettes.”
GENERATION GAPS
Baby Boomers appear to be coming around to aging-in-place features, with 73 percent of respondents in that group saying they are incorporating accessibility features into showers, 72 percent into toilets, and 40 percent into bathtubs. Three in five Boomers say they have no plans to move in the next decade.
Houzz also found color differences by generations, with Baby Boomers favoring medium-wood tones, Gen-Xers leaning toward dark woods, and minimalism-loving Millennials preferring white cabinets and countertops. Overall, whites and grays continue to thrive, accounting for 40 percent and 35 percent of countertops, respectively, and 19 percent and 14 percent of walls.
Spending varies, too. Among respondents, homeowners over 55 are spending more on average, $22,800 versus $12,500 by Millennials. On a regional basis, San Francisco homeowners lead in spending, reporting an average of $34,100 for a major remodel of a large bath versus $21,000 nationwide, followed by Boston ($29,000) and Philadelphia ($26,200). Those rankings held for small-bath remodels, as well.
And good news for remodelers and bath designers: 86 percent of respondents hired or plan to hire a pro to complete their renovation.
Among other finds in the survey:
- Among homeowners upgrading their toilet, comfort-height options are most popular (68%).
- Ceramic or porcelain tile led all other materials for shower and non-shower walls and shower and non-shower flooring.
- Contemporary styles were preferred by 25 percent of respondents, ahead of transitional (17 percent), modern (15 percent), and traditional (13 percent).
- Homeowners are increasingly using mobile devices while in the loo, with 64 percent reporting once-a-week usage versus 58 percent in 2016.
- Two in five homeowners upgrade their tub; among those 64 percent selected a soaking tub.
View the full survey results here.