Bath Or Shower? In 2020, We Want Both

Bathroom remodels are one of the biggest projects homeowners undertake. In 2020, they will likely be near the top of the list, according to a new bathroom design and remodel trends report.

It’s no wonder: the bathroom is arguably the most frequently used room in the home. If it is out-of-date, not functioning properly or beginning to show signs of wear, it may be time to remodel.

It is no small undertaking; the national average cost for a full remodel of a master bathroom, which includes flooring, vanity, tub, shower and accessories is $20,000. The cost is lower for powder rooms, which consist of just a toilet and a sink and do have the storage requirements of a master bath.

Why do we remodel? The single biggest reason is because a bathroom design is outdated. A whopping 84% of their customers remodel for that reason, said a collection of the country’s top bathroom design experts, including Vicente Wolf, Alene Workman, Linda Merrill and Tip Haenisch, among about 50 others located in all parts of the country.

“Bathrooms are uniquely personal spaces within the home, so homeowners and designers have big ideas for what constitutes the ideal space,” says Cristina Miguelez, remodeling specialist for Fixr.

Since trends last roughly 10 to 15 years, it’s safe to say that bathrooms older than that that are being updated the most. Remodeling the bathroom simply to increase enjoyment has been popular for a few years now. This is different from past bathroom remodels, which were usually spurred by functional issues.

So what do homeowners willing to spend $20,000 for a new bathroom want? For one thing, they want them bigger. The day of cramped master baths is gone: 41% of homeowners want bathrooms that measure 100 to 199 square feet, while 27% want them to come in at over 200 square feet. Only 2% of homeowners are willing to settle for the 30 to 50 square feet allocated to bathrooms in the past.

They want a separate tub and shower. Having a bathtub is important to resale value, and a tub that’s separate from the shower is considered a luxury layout. This layout requires more space than if the shower flows into the tub, and it allows for a more comfortable step-in shower stall design. It also can provide the freestanding tub that is favored by 80% of the respondents.

Storage is a big issue in any master bathroom, which explains why 62% of the experts polled prefer a floating vanity combined with a medicine cabinet. Consoles and open vanities favored in the past only garnered 11% of the votes, while the furniture style that was so stylish 15 years ago has fallen in popularity. While it provides the most storage space of any vanity type, the floating vanity has nearly as much space, but gives a cleaner, more spacious look.

Porcelain heads up the list of materials favored for the flooring, chosen it for its style possibilities and ease of maintenance.

As for the lighting, we love the classic elegance of sconces. Some things do not go out of style.