What are top ten must-haves homeowners are specifying when remodeling their bathroom?

According to the 2015 bathroom design survey by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), homeowners are moving from a transitional design style with a furniture look, to a more contemporary style for a simple, clean, and spacious look.  The vanity cabinet is being hung up off the floor to make the room seem larger. Under cabinet lighting can accentuate this, and also provide a soft glow of lighting for nocturnal visits.

What is definitely in, is a walk- in shower. If there is room, a free standing tub is included in the design, but if not, as long as there is a bathtub in another bathroom, it can be eliminated from the master bathroom. People do not want a jetted tub, rather a soaking tub is preferred to relax—and for ease of keeping clean.

So the hot top ten trends in bathroom designs according to the NKBA survey are:

1. Clean lines, with white which evokes the feelings of, “clean”
2. Floating vanities and
3. Open shelving which gives depth of space
4. Electric heated floors for added warmth
5. Purple color accents
6. Trough sinks (make sure there is sufficient counter space for your needs)
7. Ease of use, accessibility, and low maintenance for improved user experience
8. Spa like amenities such as a steam shower, anti-fog mirror, and shower seating
9. Innovative storage to keep counters clear of items for hair care (including shavers) and dental hygiene
10. Walk-in shower and a separate freestanding soaking tub

The most popular color choices are white and gray, with a trend towards more choosing gray.  To add color, accents of purple, lavender, and lilac tones are being specified. Other popular items reported by the NKBA survey respondents include having water saving fixtures and toliet, decorative tiles, and granite or quartz vanity top.

(This article first appeared in Cook Remodeling’s blog.)

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11