Featured Story / November 2023

Primary Bathrooms Get Bigger During Renovations

Story courtesy Houzz.com

Showers get premium improvements; median spend on primary bathroom projects jumps 50%.

Houzz Inc., the leading platform for home remodeling and design, including the all-in-one software solution for industry professionals, recently released the 2023 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study*. The survey of nearly 2,000 respondents found that 1 in 5 homeowners enlarge their primary, or en suite, bathrooms during renovations (22%). Closets, bedrooms and hallways are the most common areas for homeowners to draw square footage from for their bathroom expansion (44%, 24% and 7%, respectively). One in 6 homeowners created a larger footprint for their bathrooms via an addition (17%). Following renovations, nearly 3 in 5 bathrooms measure 100 square feet or more (59%).

With the added space, it’s no surprise that more than 3 in 5 homeowners also increase the size of their shower (61%), with 20% going significantly larger (more than a 50% increase in size). Common styles include low curb, alcove, curbless and corner showers (43%, 42%, 24% and 21%, respectively). More than two-thirds of homeowners also incorporate premium features in their upgraded showers (67%), including rainfall shower heads, dual showers, body sprayers and thermostatic mixers (54%, 20%,16% and 14%, respectively). Some showers even include a freestanding tub (3%).

The national median spend for primary bathroom remodels jumped 50% to $13,500, from $9,000 in 2022. For those doing “major” renovations, which include shower upgrades, median spend grew 33% year over year to $20,000. The median spend for primary bathrooms that are 100 square feet or larger is $25,000, compared with $15,000 for bathrooms smaller than 100 square feet.

“We’ve seen homeowners work with home professionals to find new ways to maximize their existing space and better meet their needs since the beginning of the pandemic. Now, they’re finding ways to reconfigure rooms to expand bathrooms and showers,” said Marine Sargsyan, Houzz staff economist. “This is the fourth consecutive year in which median spend has increased for primary bathrooms, likely driven in part by supply chain disruptions and inflation. Nevertheless, bathrooms are a consistent focus for homeowners who want to update the room’s style and functionality. They continue to invest in improvements out of necessity and future needs.”

The majority of homeowners rely on professionals to help with bathroom renovations (86%). While cabinetmakers, interior designers, bathroom designers and architects were all hired more frequently this year (23%, 14%, 14% and 10%, respectively), general contractors saw the most significant increase (53%, compared with 48% in 2022).

Additional trends from the study include:

Sustainability Abounds: The overwhelming majority of homeowners choose sustainable options for their renovated bathrooms (87%). The most popular are LED lightbulbs, water-efficient fixtures, a timeless design, energy-efficient features and light dimmers (62%, 46%, 44%, 34% and 34%, respectively). Cost-effectiveness in the long run and environmental friendliness are the reasons cited most frequently for sustainable choices (69% and 54%, respectively).
Homeowners Plan Ahead With Universal Design: Two-thirds of homeowners address special needs during primary bathroom renovations (66%), up from 54% in 2021. The current and future needs of aging household members are the top priority (38% and 50%, respectively).
Wood Is the New White for Vanities: Wood is now the color of choice for upgraded vanities (33%), followed by white, gray and blue (29%, 13% and 8%, respectively). White continues to dominate as the most popular color for countertops and walls, both inside and outside of the shower.
Homeowners Step Up Safety With Premium Flooring: More than 4 in 5 homeowners upgrade flooring during a bathroom remodel (83%) and one-third of those opt for nonslip floors outside of the shower (33%, up 6 percentage points from 2022). Other premium flooring features include waterproof material and radiant heating (31% and 29%, respectively).
Medicine Cabinets’ Hidden Features: Homeowners use medicine cabinets to hide a variety of features including mirrors, plugs and lighting (37%, 24% and 23%, respectively). The vast majority of homeowners opt for a clean look, with more than two-thirds choosing a recessed mounting style for their upgraded medicine cabinets (67%). While only half of those who prefer recessed mounting opt for surface mounting (30%), the latter option has gained 5 percentage points since last year.

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing an all-in-one software solution for industry professionals and tools for homeowners to update their homes from start to finish. Using Houzz, people can find ideas and inspiration, hire professionals and shop for products.

*The 2023 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study is a report of homeowners who are in the midst of, are planning or recently completed a bathroom renovation. The online survey was fielded to U.S. Houzz users in July 2023. n=1,921.

**Major bathroom remodel refers to a remodel in which at least the shower is upgraded. Minor bathroom remodel refers to remodels without a shower upgrade.