A top pet peeve of homeowners: an old or outdated space in the owner’s suite bathroom. It has sparked a wave of renovations of the space, according to the 2020 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study, reflecting nearly 1,600 homeowners in the midst of or planning a remodeling project for an owner’s suite bathroom .
Nearly 90% of homeowners renovating an owner’s suite bathroom say they are changing the style as a way to bring it up to date, the study says. Insufficient storage, small showers, poor lighting, and limited counter space were the chief complaints about the spaces.
That’s likely why the main areas upgraded in an owner’s suite bathroom renovation tend to be showers, light fixtures, countertops, and vanity cabinets, the Houzz survey shows. Homeowners are seeking larger spaces. They’re increasing the size of their showers (54% of bathroom renovators), and 20% are increasing their bathroom’s overall size.
“We’re seeing that spending so much time at home is bringing a functional, beautiful bathroom to the top of the priority list for many homeowners,” says Liza Hausman, Houzz’s vice president of industry marketing. “They’re enlisting home professionals to bring bathrooms up to date with more current styles, and upgraded features like storage and lighting.”
Bathroom renovations aren’t cheap. The national median spend on a remodel is $8,000. Homeowners undergoing a major remodel of the space—including a shower update—are spending three times more than those doing minor remodels and leaving the shower as is, according to Houzz. (The median spend is $14,000 versus $4,500.) The size of the bathroom being upgraded is also affecting the budget. An owner’s suite bathroom that is larger than 100 square feet has a median spend of $7,000 more than a bathroom smaller than 100 square feet ($17,000 versus $10,000), according to Houzz.
Some overall trends emerging from the Houzz study:
White continues to be the top choice in bathroom colors, complete with white countertops and white walls.
Wall lights and recessed lights remain favorite lighting choices for bathroom remodels.
Installing a new mirror is a popular upgrade for remodeling homeowners, with most homeowners installing two or more mirrors. One in five homeowners also installed LED lighting in the mirrors, which has been a growing trend over the past year.
More than a third of homeowners added or upgraded an accent wall during their bathroom renovation. The top colors include white, gray, and blue. Fifty-one percent are using surface material to distinguish the accent walls.
Nearly half of all new faucets include high-tech features. A growing percentage of faucets offer one-touch-only or touch-free activation.
