Copyright Forbes
Despite consumer uncertainty. Despite inflation. Despite labor challenges hitting the construction industry. Despite supply chain challenges. Homeowners are still bullish on remodeling their homes, and bathroom remodels are still high on their lists. That’s why I always pay attention when the National Kitchen & Bath Association, a trade organization comprising 55,000 designers, dealers, remodelers, installers, manufacturers and other industry pros, releases its annual studies. (In the interest of disclosure, I’ve been an NKBA member for close to two decades, but it’s merely one of several leading associations I source for research.) The 2026 Bath Trends Report (free to NKBA members and available for sale to others) was just released this morning. Here are six of its top trends worth considering for your own projects this year and next. 1. Technology Trend Not only are our homes getting smarter, but our bathrooms can too! You can program your shower preferences for yourself and your partner. You can program your lighting to energize or soothe, depending on time of day. You can program in-floor heat to start when you step out of the bath. You can automate privacy shades or window glass. There are also new health-oriented features tied to toilets, indicating potential internal issues. Even if you opt for none of these features, you can still use technology — as many young homeowners are doing — to help design the bathroom of your dreams. Artificial intelligence allows for far more engagement and visualization than the inspirational sites of years past. Worth noting: The report lists “smart technology integration” in the “Niche Appeal” category, rather than in the “Mass Appeal” category. That means these investments, while appealing to homeowners and users, may have less resale enhancement potential until they become more broadly desired. That can be tied to purpose, usability and affordability. It’s also worth noting that the generation most enthusiastic about technology is Gen Z, the youngest and least able to afford homeownership. Give them time! 2. Personalization Trend “Bath design is becoming deeply personal,” observes Bill Darcy, NKBA’s global president, adding, “Beyond considerations like resale value, designers are focusing on how spaces support a homeowner’s individual rituals, preferences, and self-care routines. This perspective encourages creativity, niche trends, and designs that truly reflect how people live today.” This has been a growing trend for several years, even more empowered now with technological features that enhance personalization. Worth noting: “Personalization” shows up in the report as a “mass appeal” trend, but that doesn’t mean that ‘anything goes.’ If you’re planning on selling your home in the next few years, personalize with an eye toward enhancing personal benefits and elevating the room’s design, rather than going with exotic, hard-to-change choices that may only appeal to you. MORE FOR YOU 3. Upsized Trend Primary bathrooms are getting larger, the report reveals. This can be credited to adding space for wellness, storage and universal design trends that support aging at home. Space allocation for primary bathrooms is a top priority, according to 89% of respondents and more than half (55%) say that having a larger shower is more important than having a bathtub. (When space is limited, homeowners choose to give up the tub for a larger shower. When there’s room for both, that signals luxury, the report observes.) These expanded bathroom spaces allow for more spa-like features and amenities, including steam options, saunas, aromatherapy, chromotherapy, and integrated seating and shelving. Worth noting: “Not too big—but the standard bath size feels a bit too small. You don’t need a ballroom, just enough space for two people to function comfortably,” the report comments. 4. Accessibility Trend As our population ages, so has the appeal of bathrooms that accommodate the needs of older users. Aging-in-place design, also called accessible design, adaptive design, longevity design or inclusive design, has gone mainstream and no longer serves just to enhance safety, independence and functionality. At its best, it’s designed to blend with the beauty of the room. After all, most homeowners want their primary bathroom to look and feel like a resort spa, not a rehab hospital room! Grab bars, curbless entries, integral drains, benches and wider doors (some with automatic openers and self-cleaning features) are essential features that make a primary bath look more luxurious and perform well for their owners. Worth noting: As the report observes, “Previously considered aging-specific, accessible design now serves everyone—from young families to those with temporary injuries to future-proofing for life changes.” 5. Hospitality Inspiration Trend One long-time trend is homeowners showing their vacation resort photos to their designers when they return and start their remodeling projects. More than three quarters of surveyed pros (77%) say that they’re still doing this! Bathrooms are moving from utilitarian spaces to sanctuaries dedicated to physical and mental well-being, the report observes. Hospitality designers show what can be done with massive resort budgets for five star properties. Visiting homeowners want those features for their own homes. Everyday should feel like a vacation! 6. Custom Storage Trend Primary bathrooms have long moved past cookie-cutter big box store vanity options, with increasing options for technology integration, as well as modular storage to accomplish a wide range of preferences. Item-specific storage includes built-in storage for hair tools, makeup, and medications, electrical integration, custom dividers and organizers to maximize drawer efficiency, and charging stations for electronic devices within vanity cabinetry, the report notes. “Coupled with personalized style inspiration, these considerations represent a deep shift towards bespoke living,” its authors share. Worth noting: The report highlights that customization is now expected, with an emphasis on personalizing to daily needs. Survey Methodology The survey was conducted online among 688 respondents, who are members of the NKBA community and targeted occupations including: designers (which make up 58% of responses), showrooms, dealers, specialists, manufacturers, kitchen and bath remodelers/contractors and architects.
