Interest in bath remodels is on the rise, particularly the master bath, with tubs waning, glass shower enclosures gaining and new lighting options in high demand. Additionally, more than half (58%) of those renovating their bathroom are gutting the old bath and starting from scratch, with that number rising to 61% for master bath remodels.
That’s according to a recent HOUZZ survey, which polled more than 7,600 consumers across the U.S and Canada who use HOUZZ and who are either currently planning, or in the midst of, a bathroom remodel. The survey looked at everything from why consumers remodel their bath and which amenities they most desire to how age impacts their preferred design and product choices.
DRIVING FACTORS
When the economy was at its worst, functional changes seem to be the biggest driver for bath remodeling. Not surprisingly, there’s an immediacy to bath remodeling when it’s brought about by broken fixtures or fittings, a hurricane or other natural disaster, or the need to accommodate changing lifestyles (addition of children, a family member’s disability, an elderly relative moving in). However, as the economy continues to recover, it appears that functionality is no longer the only driver of bath remodels,
Indeed, according to the survey results, while there are many reasons for remodeling the bath, the majority of those polled (49%) cited the desire to upgrade features and fixtures as their primary reason for remodeling (see Graph 1). The second most commonly cited reason for remodeling was to increase functionality in the bath (37%), followed by the desire to increase home value (31%), the need to address changing lifestyle or family needs (22%) and the desire to improve organization or storage (19%).
Consumers are also interested in adding both luxury and functional amenities to their bath spaces, with light (both natural and artificial) a high priority among those surveyed. In fact, when asked about their most desired bath amenities, new light sources took four of the top 12 spots (see Graph 2), with a new window being the most desired addition, cited by 48% of those polled. The next most desired amenity was a shower seat, noted by 42% of survey respondents, followed by a lighted vanity mirror (41%), radiant heat flooring (28%), a dual-flush toilet (23%) and towel warmers (19%).
TRENDING RIGHT NOW
Another trend cited by the study is a waning interest in tubs in the master bathroom. More than four in 10 surveyed homeowners are forgoing a bathtub in the master bath, according to the survey, with glass shower enclosures continuing to grow in demand. In fact, some 79% of those polled are choosing glass for their master bath shower enclosure, with 54% of those favoring frameless glass. Glass block, by contrast, has fallen out of vogue, the survey showed.
Interestingly, while tubs are generally viewed as part of the “traditional” bath – and while older people tend to skew more traditional in their design tastes – the percentages of people forgoing a tub in the master bath go up significantly with the age of the homeowner, rather than down. Indeed, only 36% of survey respondents age 25-34 were willing to give up their tub, while a whopping 59% of those 65+ were opting out of having a tub in their master bath (see Graph 3).
Of course the majority of consumers still do want a tub in their master bath, but the type of tub also varies widely. Some 33% favor a freestanding tub, 24% prefer a drop-in tub, 23% want a spa or jetted tub, and 10% each desire or corner tub and an undermount tub.
Consumers surveyed also favor white cabinetry (32%) compared to dark wood (21%), medium wood (21%) or light wood (6%). As far as wood specie (see Graph 4), cherry (31%) and maple (24%) were top picks for vanities, followed by oak (20%), walnut (16%), birch (6%) and hickory (2%).
In terms of finishes for faucets and fittings, brushed nickel and polished chrome were the most commonly selected options, winning 24% and 22% of consumers’ votes respectively. Brushed stainless was chosen by 15% of those polled, followed by polished stainless (12%), oil-rubbed bronze (7%) brushed chrome and polished nickel (3% each) and brushed bronze (2%),
DESIGN BY NUMBERS
Consumers’ age plays a key role in their design and product choices, according to the survey, with marked differences in design preferences and features showing up between younger and older consumers. One example of this is seen in how consumers choose to rethink their space, with older consumers more likely to remodel their bath in the existing footprint, while younger consumers are more likely to enlarge the room’s size.
Likewise, rain showerheads and multiple showerheads are more popular with the 25-44-year-old crowd (45% and 24% respectively) compared to those over 55 (38% and 14% respectively), while handshowers and sliding bar showers are favored by those over 55 years of age (50% and 20% respectively) compared to those 25-44 (35% and 10% respectively).
Double sinks were also more popular among consumers over 45, with 58% of 45+ survey respondents saying they are choosing double sinks for their master bath, compared to only 45% of those in the 25-44-year-old range.
Privacy, too, seems to be a higher priority for older consumers, with 52% of those 45 and up choosing an exposed toilet, compared to 68% of those in the 25-34-year-old bracket. Of those who prefer to hide the toilet, 54% selected a separate room with a door compared to 46% who chose to go with a simple partition.
Tankless and wall-mounted toilets are also more popular with younger consumers, with 29% of those in the 25-34 age bracket choosing this option compared to 16% of those 35+. However, high-efficiency toilets seem to be popular with everyone, with 91% of those polled saying they are opting for a high-efficiency toilet model.
Most popular toilet choices, overall, are the two-piece model (47%), the one-piece model (36%) the wall-mounted model (14%) and the tankless (3%).
GRAPHS
(BAR GRAPH NOT TOTALING 100%)
1. Who Consumers Are Remodeling the Bath
49% To upgrade features and fixtures
37% To make the space more functional
31% To increase home value
22% To address changing lifestyle or family needs
19% To improve organization or storage
Source: HOUZZ
(BAR GRAPH NOT TOTALING 100%)
Consumers Desired Bath Amenities
48% New Window
42% Shower Seat
41% Lighted Vanity Mirror
28% Radiant Heat Flooring
23% Double-Flush Toilet
19% Towel Warmers
16% Curbless Shower
12% Skylight
11% Tankless Water Heater
10% Shower Footrest
10% Built-in Clothes Hamper
7% LED Lights from Showerhead
Source: HOUZZ
(BAR GRAPH NOT TOTALING 100%)
3. Percent of Homeowners Forgoing a Tub in the Master Bath
36% 25-34 years
39% 35-44 years
40% 45-54 years
49% 55-64 years
59% 65+ years
Source: HOUZZ
(Pie Chart Totaling 100%)
4. Consumers’ Preferred Wood Specie for Vanities
31% Cherry
24% Maple
20% Oak
16% Walnut
6% Birch
2% Hickory
1% Other
Source: HOUZZ