10 Bathroom Trends Homeowners Are Loving This Year
Bathrooms have quietly become one of the most requested remodels we see. Homeowners want more than a clean space. They want something that works well and looks good doing it. Here are ten trends we're seeing a lot of right now, from small updates to full gut jobs. Some are practical. Some are just nice. Most are both.
Freestanding Tubs Are Still Going Strong
Freestanding tubs peaked a few years back and never really slowed down. They work in larger master bathrooms and in smaller spaces when you pick the right size. Homeowners like them because they read as a design statement without needing much else around them. White and matte black are the two finishes we see most.
Walk-In Showers Without the Door
Doorless walk-in showers keep showing up on every remodel wish list. A curbless entry is easier to clean and easier to step into. That matters for everyday use. It also makes the shower feel bigger than it is. Large-format tiles on the walls and a linear drain on the floor are the typical combo. If you're considering an accessible bathroom remodel, a curbless shower is usually the first thing we talk about.
Warm Tones Are Replacing the All-Gray Bathroom
Gray dominated bathrooms for about a decade. That's shifting. Warm whites, creamy beiges, and soft terracotta tones are taking over. We're also seeing a lot of warm wood-look tile on floors and even on accent walls. It reads warmer than gray without going so bold that it feels trendy and disposable.
Paired with matte brass or brushed gold fixtures, the whole room feels different than it did five years ago.
Double Vanities in Smaller Bathrooms
People used to think double vanities were only for big master bathrooms. That's changed. We're fitting double vanities into bathrooms that are tighter than you'd expect. It comes down to the right bathroom vanity size and a smart layout. Floating vanities help here because the open floor space underneath makes the room feel less cramped. Couples who share a bathroom ask about this more than almost anything else.
Statement Tile Is Back
Plain white subway tile had a long run. Homeowners are ready for something with more personality now. Zellige tile, handmade-look ceramics, and bold geometric patterns are all showing up. The approach that works well is keeping the rest of the room neutral and letting one wall or the floor be the focal point. tile installation decisions drive the whole look of a bathroom, so it's worth spending time on the selection before anything gets ordered.
Niches, Built-Ins, and Smarter Storage
Storage is a complaint we hear constantly. Countertops get cluttered. Medicine cabinets run out of room. The fix is usually building storage into the walls. Shower niches are the most common request. Recessed medicine cabinets with mirrors are making a comeback too. Some homeowners want full built-in cabinetry, which gives you a lot more flexibility than a stock vanity ever will.
In older homes in the NW Suburbs of Chicago, the walls sometimes surprise you once we open them up. But a good contractor plans for that and builds it into the timeline.
Better Lighting Without the Hollywood Bulbs
Bathroom lighting used to mean a bar of globe bulbs above the mirror. Homeowners want layered lighting now. That means a ceiling fixture for general light, sconces at eye level beside the mirror for task lighting, and sometimes a small accent light inside a niche or under a floating vanity. LED technology has made all of this affordable. It also lets you dial in a warmer color temperature so the bathroom doesn't feel like a doctor's office.
Heated Floors Are a Real Upgrade
Once you've had a heated tile floor, you don't want to go back. Electric radiant heat mats go under the tile and connect to a thermostat. They're not expensive to install when you're already pulling up the floor during a remodel. Running cost is low too since most people only heat the floor for an hour or two in the morning. This is one of those upgrades that feels like a luxury but doesn't cost like one.
Matte Black Fixtures Everywhere
Matte black hardware and fixtures have moved from trend to standard. Faucets, shower heads, towel bars, toilet paper holders. Mixing matte black with warm wood tones or natural stone looks sharp and holds up well over time. Chrome still has its place, but matte black gives a bathroom a more finished look with less effort.
Aging-in-Place Features That Don't Look Institutional
More homeowners are thinking long-term when they remodel. Grab bars used to look like something from a hospital. That's not true anymore. Designers make them to blend right in. Curbless showers, comfort-height toilets, and wider doorways are all aging in place remodeling features that also just make a bathroom more comfortable for everyone. If you're planning to stay in your home for another 20 years, building these in now is smarter than retrofitting them later.
If a few of these trends caught your eye, the next step is figuring out what actually fits your bathroom and your budget. B&C Remodeling has been doing bathroom remodels in the northwest suburbs for over 20 years. We're happy to walk through your space, talk through what's realistic, and give you a free estimate with no obligation.