Pardon the potty talk, but we’re discussing bathrooms today. These are on my mind because, not to sound too la-di-da, I just spent a week bicycling around France’s Loire Valley and touring the excessively lavish castles of beheaded royals and other aristocracy. It clarified for me both why the French commoners revolted and just how far bathrooms have come.
While I walked through dozens of palatial bedrooms and parlors in luxurious French chateaux, I did not see one bathroom. Because. They. Didn’t. Exist.
Today, of course, French bathrooms are commonplace, but whenever I return from any foreign country, I thank heaven for American plumbing.
Coincidentally, I came home to find that Houzz Inc., the online home-design platform, had just released its 2022 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study, which crunched data from more than 2,500 homeowners who had recently completed or were in the middle of a bathroom remodel.
The juxtaposition of Houzz tallying how many homeowners are installing antifog mirror systems and dual shower heads, while I’d just witnessed how the richest French kings and queens took weekly baths from buckets was not lost on me. I’ll take a bedroom with an ensuite bathroom over a bathroom-less castle any day.
The report also confirmed that U.S. bathrooms are getting even better. If you’re looking to improve yours, the trend data matter. Anytime you embark on a home improvement project, you want it to not only make your life better, but also boost your home’s value.
I looked over the 32-page report, then called Houzz economist Marine Sargsyan to talk me through the findings. But first, I had to ask: “What is up with the bathrooms abroad?”
“In other parts of the world, people tend to view bathrooms as purely functional, while Americans think they’re a place to destress and relax,” Sargsyan said.
If you’re looking to remodel, here’s what you should know:
Biggest surprise: “Wood is replacing white,” Sargsyan said. “For the longest time, white has been the dominant color in bathroom and kitchen cabinets, so we were super excited to see, for the second year in row, wood-tone cabinetry trending up, as well as other colors.” While 32% of respondents still chose white vanities, 30% chose wood (mostly midtone), followed by gray (14%), blue (7%), black (5%) and green (2%). “We’re still seeing white in showers and on walls, giving that look of cleanliness people want.”
Main motivation: The number one reason homeowners renovate bathrooms is they’re tired of their outdated style (48%). The second biggest driver (33%) is that the old room is breaking down.
Average cost: The national median spend for bath remodels jumped 13% over last year to $9,000, according to the report. The cost of the top 10% of projects increased 17% to $35,000 or more.
Popular moves: More than 80% of remodelers replaced faucets, flooring, showers, light fixtures and wall finishes. More than three-quarters (76%) replaced their vanities. Most (59%) opted for white counters. The majority (53%) chose natural stone such as quartzite, marble or granite, while 40% chose engineered quartz, a manmade, less expensive quartz lookalike.
Style trend: This year, transitional style (a hybrid of traditional and contemporary or modern) overtook modern and contemporary styles as the design style favored by 25%. Modern and contemporary styles slid to 16% each. Traditional came in at 11%, and farmhouse looks held steady at 5%.
Touchless technologies: Motion-activated toilets and hands-free faucets are not just for airports anymore, Sargsyan said. Half of respondents installed one or more high-tech features in their remodeled baths. Nearly two in five added a high-tech toilet feature, with notable increases in bidets (24%), self-cleaning elements (17%), heated seats (15%) and built-in night lights (13%). Many also installed tankless water heaters, radiant heated floors and antifog mirrors.
Pro help: Recognizing that bathrooms are complex spaces, 85% of homeowners hired a building professional, and 13% hired a designer.
Most essential upgrade: If you can’t afford an entire bathroom remodel, start with the systems. “The average U.S. home is 40 years old, which is why our survey shows that 62% of homeowners upgraded their bathroom’s plumbing and ventilation,” Sargsyan said. “If the systems aren’t functioning, no amount of design will help you enjoy the space.”
Marni Jameson is the author of six home and lifestyle books, including “Downsizing the Blended Home.” Reach her at www.marnijameson.com.
