Bathroom spaces in homes are increasingly becoming a personal refuge for owners, a place to relax away from the chaos of excessively busy lifestyles. Hydrotherapy products, from soaking tubs to jetted tubs, steam showers to sauna rooms, play a large role in the spa-like ambiance created in these sanctuaries.
Relaxation means different things to different people, and the ability to customize the experiences as well as soak up the benefits of a variety of therapies is at the top of the priority list for these products.
Often, bathtubs in particular play a large part in the overall design of the bath. “The bathtub is the heart of the bathroom, and everything else is designed around it,” says Mark Wolinsky, president of Wetstyle, based in Montreal, Canada. “The tub is truly the focal point, and the other accents like vanities and linen cabinets are often designed around the tub.”
Dawn Jastrow, product manager for Kohler bathing products in Kohler, WI says, “The bathtub can fill very different roles in a bathroom design, from one of an inconspicuous nature all the way to a strong, sculptural design focal point like we see in freestanding baths.”
Design-wise, top trends in tubs include a soft organic style, smaller models and a move toward freestanding tubs. From a practical standpoint, combination therapies are on the rise, as are soaking tubs and gentler therapeutic experiences. Custom options are in demand, and accessibility is a rising concern for the market. That’s according to manufacturers recently surveyed by Kitchen & Bath Design News.
STAND ALONE
Over the past few years, there has been a steady increase in demand for freestanding tubs that can serve as a decorative focal point and be positioned in unique ways in the bathroom space.
“We are seeing the greatest interest in freestanding tub styles, particularly those designed to offer a roomy bathing space in a smaller footprint,” says Jean-Jacques L’Henaff, v.p. of design, LIXIL Water Technology Americas, American Standard and DXV in Piscataway, NJ. This movement, he says, is driven by a trend toward simplification and a desire for easier cleaning and maintenance.
Gary Pember, v.p./marketing at Mansfield Plumbing Products, LLC, located in Perrysville, OH, agrees that freestanding tubs are gaining in popularity. “These are the kinds of tubs often featured on shows on HGTV and seen in other design referential resources,” he says.
The desire for simplification impacts the faucets and accessories chosen with a freestanding tub. “A lot of people are looking for freestanding tubs that have provisions built in for using Roman faucets,” says Michael Kornowa, director of marketing at MTI Baths in Sugar Hill, GA. “If there is an integrated deck surface for mounting the faucets, then they don’t have to go out and spend a lot more money on the freestanding decorative faucet. It’s also easier to match styles and finishes to other components in the bathroom,” he adds.
Phil Reyes, business development director at Aquatic in Anaheim, CA, says, “People are still talking about freestanding models and it’s still a trend in the industry.” He adds that this may shift as he is beginning to see builders moving toward freestanding models. When showrooms begin to see builders picking up on a trend, they often look to do something different, he explains.
SERENE STYLE
Design trends for tubs reflect the need for a calm atmosphere, with neutral color tones and soft, organic lines. White is leading the way, according to manufacturers, with neutral beiges and greys also showing up.
“White has been – and continues to be – the number one color for tubs. And it keeps growing in popularity,” says Pember. He adds that another trend is the use of natural materials such as granite, marble and slate in the construction of the product or as a covering for drop-in tubs.
“Many consumers like the pure, clean and timeless aesthetic of white,” Jastrow notes. “Consumers who are designing a very personal bathroom space, following a specific design style, are more open to choosing a colored bath, mostly from the neutral family,” she says.
Along with the neutral color palette, styling often leans toward softer curved shapes and organic lines, manufacturers say.
Particularly in freestanding tubs, there’s a lot of interest in very fluid shapes and soft lines, according to Kornowa.
Reyes notes that lines are more organic than they were five years ago. While the straight lines are still there, manufacturers have created lines that work at a price point for builders, and again he emphasizes that showrooms want to do something different than what builders are doing. This inspires products with a smoother feel, and a nice clean look that isn’t super angular, he says.
Other manufacturers say that the overall design style of the bathroom will impact the shapes of tub desired. “We’re seeing a shift toward clean, simple lines and contemporary styling,” says L’Henaff. “There is a lot of demand for both soft, curved shapes and for more angular, geometric forms, depending on the design and architecture of the bathroom.”
In steam and saunas, one of the key style trends is to have different colors or tints of wood within the same room, says John Gunderson, national sales manager for Woodinville, WA-based Amerec. Additionally, he says, custom designed benches and backrests are in high demand.
DIVERSE THERAPIES
Hydrotherapy covers a wide range of options that help homeowners to create the experience they crave. Health and wellness are important in today’s society, and products must tie into those, manufacturers say. “The natural health benefits of heat bathing is a big topic,” says Gunderson.
A big aspect of health and wellness is the ability to let go of everyday stress, but not everyone gets rid of stress the same way. “Relaxation is most consumers’ primary motivator for bathing. For some people, this means sitting in a quiet soak, for others a direct targeted massage, and for many others, there is a cross between the experiences,” says Jastrow. Integrating multiple technologies into one bath to customize the experience is on the rise. This might include sound, lighting, heated surfaces and a combination of water and air jets.
Kornowa says the combination of water and air bath therapies tends to be used when people are looking to establish their master bath as a true in-house spa and sanctuary. When different users have different needs, they will order a tub that can be used in a wide range of ways, he notes.
Sometimes, bathers want a simple soaking experience. “Customers are looking for a clean design and natural, simplistic beauty in their soaking tubs,” says Wolinsky.
Along with increased interest in soaking tubs, there are some options emerging that cater to the need for quieter, more soothing therapy. Last year, MTI launched its Stream Bath, which offers a gentle experience completely unlike a whirlpool or air bath, Kornowa says. Rather than using jets, the Stream Bath uses vents to move water without a direct impact on the body. “The whole thing is designed to replicate the serenity that you would experience sitting in a forest stream,” says Kornowa.
Reyes says that Aquatic is having success with systems that eliminate the typical noise associated with a whirlpool or air bath. The firm’s Drift Bath uses a pump that has water flow through the motor, buffering the sound and using the heat energy generated to maintain temperature.
Some newer technologies are emerging as well, such as microbubble technology, which Pember says brings a cosmetic therapy that was not possible until recently. This technology, like Mansfield’s MicroDerm Therapeutic Bath, infuses millions of microbubbles into the bath water to help soften and exfoliate skin as the bather relaxes. Heat is also released as the microbubbles burst, helping to keep the bath water warmer longer.
CUSTOM ENHANCEMENTS
Along with achieving exactly the right therapeutic balance, a wide range of features must be available to enhance the bath, steam or sauna. The biggest trend in this area is allowing for the ability to pick and choose exactly what will bring the user the most personal comfort and relaxation.
“What leads this category is the ability to tailor the bathing experience to what you as the bather want to feel, smell, see, experience. Bathing is very personal. It is important for consumers to customize their experiences for the ultimate enjoyment,” says Jastrow. Comfort is also a factor, and adding integrated lumbar support, molded arm rests and pillows, and heated bathing surfaces are all options that have seen increased interest.
Chromatherapy is pretty standard now, according to Reyes, as it’s one of the best ways to provide the “Zen experience” people crave. The LED lights used are now more dense than before, creating more intense light experiences.
In steam, options are equally as important, according to Martha Orellana, v.p. of marketing & sales at Mr.Steam in Long Island City, NY. “One of the top trends in steam right now is aromatherapy. Aromatherapy essential oils can help awake and stimulate, or relax and promote better sleep. By merging oil and steam, a full sensory experience is created that transforms a traditional steam shower session.” Additionally, she says, music and light are gaining popularity right now. “Steam shower audio systems give you the ability to play your favorite music wirelessly from your smartphone or tablet device. Chromatherapy systems imbue a steam shower session with rich color, helping to set the mood one desires.”
MAXIMIZING SPACE
Space is at a premium, and as bathrooms trend toward smaller sizes, tubs are following suit. “Homeowners are looking for tubs that maximize soaking space in a compact size,” says L’Henaff. Curved alcove tubs that provide more bathing room in a standard 5′ footprint are a popular way to create a more comfortable bathing experience, he says.
Wolinsky adds, “Soaking tubs have traditionally been the domain of the large master bathroom. Today, people with smaller spaces and somewhat more modest budgets are looking for well-designed solutions. We are seeing consumers trying to do more with less space.” Kornowa says that even in freestanding models, they are getting more requests for the 60″ or 66″ tubs. In response, they are releasing smaller versions of tubs that were originally designed at the 72″ size.
While Reyes sees the demand for smaller sizes increase, he adds that they are also seeing some demand for in-between sizes, particularly in remodels where a tub has been pulled out, but the space can’t accommodate a traditional size. As such, Aquatic has created tubs in non-traditional sizes, like a 63″ tub for a 66″ footprint, or a 69″ tub to fit in a 72″ space.
ACCESS FOR ALL
Offering up solutions that work for everyone in the household is essential. Kornowa says that the principles of Universal Design are important for both multi-generational households and homes with people who are aging and preparing to live safely in their own home as long as possible.
As the population ages, there is increased demand for easily accessible or walk-in tubs. “Walk-in and low-threshold tubs are growing in popularity as the Baby Boomers continue to get older and have different needs,” says Pember.
L’Henaff agrees, noting that this demand is likely to grow. “Accessible tubs offer a real solution that has as much to do with the user’s comfort as it does with safety,” he says.
Reyes adds, “If you’re designing a tub today, you want to make sure you’re factoring accessibility into it.” While deep tubs were more common in the past, as accessibility features are infused into more contemporary looking tubs, there’s a move toward more shallow tubs, as well as using linear overflows to get a deeper depth without a deeper bathing wall, says Reyes.
Find more bathtub products in our Product Guide.