Among 2026 bathroom trends, the biggest may be that homeowners are treating the room less like a pit stop and more like a personal retreat. According to the 2026 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study, half of renovating homeowners say they spend more time in the bathroom after upgrading it. Of the 1,619 homeowners surveyed, 28% use the space for beauty and pampering routines and 23% for rest and relaxation. The top relaxation boosters aren’t exactly spa-brochure material: Cleanliness led at 76%, followed by a spacious shower (71%) and organized storage (67%). Natural light (40%) and dimmable lighting (39%) also help people wind down.
So what gets people to pick up a sledgehammer? Mostly, they’re sick of looking at their old bathroom. Nearly half (47%) said they couldn’t stand its look, while 35% cited deterioration and 29% said they were finally financially ready. Resale value motivated 27%, and 21% renovated after buying a home, up 4 percentage points from last year. Storage (15%), lighting (7%) and ventilation (7%) were less common triggers. The price of a fresh start is climbing back up: Median spending rebounded to $15,000 in 2025 from $13,000 in 2024. Major remodels, in which at least the shower was upgraded, had a median of $25,000, and the top 10% of projects hit $70,000. Bigger bathrooms mean bigger budgets, with spaces of 100 square feet or more drawing a median of $30,000, up 20%.
The tub is having a moment, and not always a good one. While 38% of renovators upgraded their tub, 26% removed it entirely. Of those who ditched the tub, 79% gave the space to a roomier shower, and more of them claimed it for storage, with enlarged cabinetry up 5 points to 14% and bigger vanities up 5 points to 11%. Those who did add or replace a tub overwhelmingly went for a soaking model (72%, up 10 points), leaving standard tubs at 19%. Vanities are getting bigger and smarter, too. Models larger than 72 inches (21%) are now more popular than 60-inch (18%) or 72-inch (17%) versions, and built-in outlets (32%) and hair tool organizers (19%) each gained 7 points.
Few homeowners go it alone. Nearly nine in 10 (89%) hired at least one professional, up 5 points from the previous year.
