Three 2024 Bathroom Trends In Latest Survey Enhance Wellness

Wellness is once again showing up as a dominant residential bathroom design trend set, according to home improvement platform Houzz. Its 2024 U.S. Bathroom Trends Report, conducted with 1,247 homeowner site users online between June 27 to July 30, 2024, sees them showing up in different ways, but all enhancing well-being, comfort and future-proofing one’s home.

I asked kitchen professionals what they’re seeing in their practices relative to Houzz’s findings. These responses were gathered via trade-only social media groups and represent markets across the country.

Aging In Place Trend

The Houzz survey reports that nearly half of homeowners are addressing future needs to include aging in place accommodations in their bathroom projects. The designers who responded to my questions in their groups all see this trend.

“Although most of our clients are young families and professionals, we have had clients who are preparing to live in their homes long-term and are planning to age in place,” comments Nishia Shubert, a Los Angeles-based interior designer. Their first step is to add a handshower. Second is to include grab bars or block the walls for future needs. Third is adding a bench or seat when space allows, she adds.

Washington State-based architect Andrew Mikhael sees this trend too. “Even if clients are fully mobile now, future proofing is what we are thinking about. We are designing walls that can withstand adding grab bars at a future time. That is invisible now, but it can be added without rebuilding (and retiling walls) because the reinforcement is already there. Another big one is the design of large curbless showers. It doesn’t have to be wheelchair centric. It could be big enough to hold a comfortable wooden bench, or have a bench built in, so that we maintain a luxurious feeling while making it easy to use with people of reduced mobility.”

Designer Shea Pumarejo takes the same approach with her San Antonio projects, she says. “We design with aging in place in mind for every bathroom remodel we do regardless of the clients current physical condition. It just makes sense to improve the safety of a space at the time of a remodel so that you don’t have to go to the expense of remodeling again down the road. We typically only install grab bars if a homeowner is in need of them currently, but we will add blocking in the framing now and provide photos so that clients can add them later if needed.” She also designs curbless showers in nearly every project to allow for easy future wheelchair or walker access, and to remove a trip hazard in the meantime.

Special Feature Toilet Trend

The Houzz survey says that more than 40% of homeowners are including toilets with special features, including bidet functionality, air dryers, heated seats and self-cleaning, the survey reported. The designers I asked report the same trend in their projects and further note that, even if they’re not installing the functionality today, they’re enabling it in the future by providing electrical outlets close to the toilet.

“Having grown up with parents of a South Asian background, the idea of a bidet is not a new one for me,” shares Nureed Saeed, a Berkeley-based interior designer serving California and New Jersey-based clients. “To me bidets are a functional and practical inclusion in any bathroom plan. Prices and functions vary of course, but the majority of my clients want multi option ones that include heated seats, multi function sprays, heated water, and auto close seats,” she adds.

Designer Shannon Ggem in Los Angeles comments, “We include an outlet by every ensuite bath toilet to accommodate Washlet seats,” referring to the TOTO branded bidet seat model, “whether the clients purchase them not or later, they have what’s needed.” (That’s an excellent suggestion for every bathroom remodeling project!)

Wet Room Layout Trend

Houzz reports that 13% of homeowners are choosing wet room layouts to enhance space usage and universal design. The designers I surveyed are seeing the benefits of these spaces as well.

“Wet rooms can make a lot of sense in the right space and have been very popular for us,” Pumarejo comments. “We currently have three wet rooms in the construction phase, all three were an ideal space saving solution and two of the three are designed for aging in place.”

Mikhael is also incorporating them, and points to their benefits for smaller spaces: “Absolutely, we made use of a wet room in a very tight space where a normal three piece bathroom would not have fit. The client got a full bathroom without dedicating precious square footage. Elder people can use it without having to fuss.”

Final Thoughts

There are some good reasons to consider the findings of trend surveys and reports. One is to get ideas for your own projects, including possible solutions you may not have known before. Another is for visual inspiration and current style cues. Last but not least is to see what you’d be competing against if you put your home on the market in the next 12 months.