Top 5 Bathroom Trends for 2021

Top 5 bathroom trends for 2021. These are the most popular styles, features and finishes homeowners are using in bathroom renovations and remodels.

Millions of homeowners have spared no expense modernizing bathrooms to be more accessible, spa-like and high-tech in recent years. Between 2017 and 2019, an estimated 5.6 million homeowners spent about $37.3 billion on bathroom renovations, a median cost of $3,300 per remodel, according to research by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Why are homeowners choosing to remodel? Nearly 70 percent of homeowners were most annoyed that the space was old and outdated before they renovated, 34 percent cited insufficient storage, 34 percent said the shower was too small and 25 percent said counter space was too limited, according to the 2020 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study. After the renovations, more than half of homeowners say they spend more time in the bathroom.

The remodeling industry is expecting to see continued moderate growth into the next year, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released in mid-October by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

“The remodeling market is bouncing back from the initial shocks caused by the pandemic, as homeowners continue to spend significant time in their home and are adapting it for work, school, and leisure,” says Chris Herbert, Managing Director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies. “The surge in DIY and small project activity is lifting the remodeling market, but it remains to be seen if the strong sales market this summer translates into larger improvements that would drive even stronger growth in the coming quarters.”

“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,” said Liza Hausman, Houzz 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.”

These are the most sought after materials, fixtures and finishes sought after in bathroom renovations and remodels today:

1. Light and Bright Colors

White is still the go-to color for a bathroom with a clean, spa-like feel. It’s the color of choice for countertops for 51 percent of homeowners, with multicolored (15 percent), gray (14 percent) and beige (9 percent) trailing far behind. The same goes for shower walls, 45 percent of homeowners opt for white shower walls, 18 percent go with gray and 12 percent go with multicolored or beige. The trend holds for walls outside of the shower with 32 percent of homeowners choosing white walls, 28 percent going with gray, 14 percent selecting beige and 11 percent being bold with blue. Lastly, when it comes to vanities, 34 percent of homeowners choose white, 26 percent want a wood vanity, 18 percent like gray and 7 percent like brown.

2. The Rise of Floating Vanities

Nearly 75 percent of homeowners upgrade their vanity during a bathroom renovation and the majority choose to go with custom (36 percent) or semi-custom (21 percent) options. More than 55 percent of vanities are built-in and 28 percent are freestanding. Floating vanities are growing in popularity, up to 15 percent in 2020 from 11 percent in 2019. Floating vanities are a great option for homeowners who are worried about space or are going for a minimalist style.

3. Shine an LED Light on It – From the Mirror

Over 75 percent of homeowners install new mirrors during a master bathroom renovation, 62 percent of them install two or more mirrors and 10 percent install three or more. One in five homeowners now install LED lighting in their mirrors during bathroom renovations, a significant increase from just 14 percent in 2019.

4. Touch-Free Tech

More than 45 percent of new faucets and 34 percent of toilets installed during a bathroom renovation include high-tech features. Nearly 30 percent of faucets have water-efficient technology, but 5 percent now offer touch-only or touch-free activation, up from just 2 percent in 2019.

5. Accent Walls

Over 35 percent of homeowners add or upgrade an accent wall during a master bathroom renovation. More than half of homeowners use surface material to distinguish accent whiles, 45 percent use a standout color, 41 percent use an interesting pattern and 28 percent incorporate a texture. When it comes to choosing a color for the accent wall, 23 percent go with white, 21 percent pick gray and 19 percent choose blue.

For more insights into the latest bathroom trends download the full 2020 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study here.

Top 5 Bathroom Trends for 2021