Homeowners are spending more time in their bathrooms following renovations and focusing on self-care, according to the latest survey from Houzz Inc. The 2026 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study of 1,619 U.S. homeowners found that half of all renovating homeowners (50%) spend more time in their bathroom following an upgrade, most often for beauty and pampering routines (28%) and rest and relaxation (23%). Smaller shares turn to steaming (4%), while cold plunges, red light therapy, sauna sessions and even recording beauty tutorials each are enjoyed by 1% of homeowners.
More than three-quarters of homeowners (76%) say the most relaxing feature of a renovated bathroom is its cleanliness, followed by a spacious shower (71%) and organized storage (67%). Natural light and dimmable lighting (40% and 39%, respectively) help homeowners unwind and more than a quarter of homeowners seek relaxation in the form of a comfortable bathtub (26%). Water features, such as waterfall faucets and rainfall showerheads, rose by 6 percentage points from the previous year to 19%. Greenery and music were most relaxing for 12% and 6%, respectively.
“Homeowners want their bathrooms to work harder for them to support both daily routines and self-care,” said Marine Sargsyan, Houzz head of economic research. “That’s showing up in the numbers, with median spend rebounding to $15,000 and nearly half of homeowners making their showers bigger. Pros are helping their clients to reconfigure layouts and make more room for the features that elevate everyday comfort.”
While the majority of bathrooms (82%) keep the same overall footprint after a renovation, those that do go bigger typically expand through an addition (32%). Among homeowners who expand into an existing space, more than a quarter choose to reduce or lose a closet (27%), while more than a fifth of homeowners (22%) absorb part of a bedroom. Bathroom projects include multiple structural changes, with 40% of homeowners reworking the layout and 38% modifying the walls, but shower enlargements were the fastest-growing major change this year. Nearly half of renovating homeowners (49%) increased the size of their shower, up 10 percentage points year over year. In fact, the majority of the 26% of renovating homeowners who removed a bathtub used the reclaimed space to enlarge the shower (79%) and 24% relocated the shower entirely.
Along with significant structural work, more homeowners are bringing in professional help. Nearly 9 in 10 renovating homeowners (89%) hired at least one pro for their bathroom project, up 5 percentage points year over year, with general contractors the most sought after (52%), followed by bathroom remodelers and cabinetmakers (23% each). To help pros plan and visualize these more personal, multipurpose spaces with clients, tools like Houzz Pro, the all-in-one AI software for construction and design professionals, offers tools such as the 3D Floor Planner, Selections and Mood Boards, giving homeowners a clearer picture of their finished space and helping pros collaborate with clients and run their businesses more efficiently.
This 3D render was created using Houzz Pro to showcase key trends from the 2026 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study. Credit: Houzz Pro
Median spend on bathroom projects rebounded to $15,000 nationally in 2025, after falling to $13,000 in 2024. Spending on major remodels, those in which at least the shower was upgraded, also rose. The overall median reached $25,000, while the top 10% of projects were nearly three times as much at $70,000. Larger bathrooms (100 or more square feet) commanded even larger budgets, with a higher median spend of $30,000, up 20% from 2024, and the top 10% of projects reaching $75,000 or higher.
Additional trends from the study include:
Pattern Edges Out Color on Accent Walls: About a third of renovating homeowners (34%) upgraded an accent wall, and pattern (53%) has overtaken color (48%) as the top way to make one stand out, followed by surface material (45%) and texture (25%). Blue and white tie as the most popular accent wall colors at 19% each.
Wet Rooms Keep Rising, Particularly for Accessibility: Wet rooms now account for 18% of renovated bathrooms, up from 13% two years ago. Better use of space (41%) and accessibility or universal design (40%, up 14 percentage points) are the top motivations.
Vanities Go Wider with More Built-in Features: Vanities larger than 72 inches, the widest option, rose 7 percentage points to 21%, and are now more popular than 60-in. (18%) or 72-in. (17%) models. Soft-close hardware remains a favorite feature on drawers (83%) and doors (76%). Built-in features are less common, though electrical outlets (32%) and hair tool organizers (19%) each rose by 7 percentage points. Drawer organizers (25%) sit between them.
Double Sinks Become the Standard: Along with the larger vanities, installations of double sinks jumped 17 percentage points year over year (64%, up from 47% in 2025). The most popular style is undermount basins (68%), which also saw a substantial increase in popularity this year, up 11 percentage points.
Bidets Take a Seat at the Top of Specialty Toilet Features: Nearly half of renovating homeowners now include specialty features in new or upgraded toilets (47%), up 9 percentage points. Bidet toilet seats (31%), adjustable water pressure (30%) and air dryers (28%) each rose 10 percentage points, followed by heated seats (27%), up 8 percentage points. Convenience features gained as well. Self-cleaning functions (22%) and nightlights (20%) each rose 6 percentage points, with self-deodorizers (14%) up 5 points.
You can download the full 2026 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study here.
