SPA APPEAL
Many homeowners are updating baths with high-end amenities, bold colors
Most homeowners remodel a bathroom because it feels old and outdated, a new survey shows. h That notion might seem obvious, but the survey released in October by home design and decorating site Houzz.com offers hard evidence that a fresh look is the biggest motivator for a bathroom remodel. h In the survey, 69% of homeowners who had just completed or were in the planning stages of a master bathroom remodel cited an old, outdated space as a reason for the project. h A few specific desires also top the list, the survey shows.
One-third of those surveyed cited insufficient storage space, and the same amount cited a too-small shower as factors motivating the renovation.
“Homeowners are investing in the features that will bring their master bathrooms up to date and improve functionality, with a focus on larger showers, more lighting, workspace and storage,” said Liza Hausman, Houzz vice president of Industry Marketing.
The same factors motivating bath renovations nationwide also seem to be driving projects locally, Columbus designers said.
“The No. 1 reason people are coming to us is that they are staying in their homes and updating,” said Ricka Crozier, an interior designer at Dave Fox Design/build Remodelers.
One way that many homeowners are giving their bathroom a fresher feel is with bolder colors, Crozier said.
The Houzz survey shows that, although white is still far and away the most popular color for bathroom walls, counters and fixtures, colors such as blue have been gaining in popularity, especially for accent features.
“It’s interesting to see how homeowners are getting increasingly creative with surface materials and textures to make even neutral accent walls pop,” Hausman said.
Crozier agreed: “We’re really seeing a lot of people who aren’t afraid of color in the bathroom. We’re using a lot of custom color for things like vanities: blues, greens, even pink shades. It’s a lot of fun.”
The survey showed a slight decrease in preference for natural wood vanities.
Crozier, however, said she has seen an uptick in homeowners who want more of a “furniture” look in a vanity.
“You can do it in a traditional style, or in more of a contemporary look where the vanity is up off the floor and we add lighting underneath and it’s amazing,” she said. “People aren’t afraid to twist traditional bathroom design elements to the limits.”
In the Houzz survey, 29% of homeowners cited insufficient lighting as a motivating factor for their bathroom remodeling.
“For a spa-like bathroom, lighting is
so important,” Crozier said. “Using dimming lights behind mirrors, under cabinets, can feel restful and calming.”
The trend to more spa-like bath
rooms began well before the current pandemic. But now, with more people spending more time at home, a growing number of homeowners are looking at the bathroom as a place to escape and relax, said Annie Muharrem, a designer at the Cleary Company in Columbus.
“There are a couple things with this pandemic that has changed how people feel about the bathroom,” Muharrem said. “People are at home a lot more, looking at things in the house and seeing things they want to change.
“And people are stressed. The bathroom can be a place that’s soothing and releases that stress.”
Muharrem said that some of her customers want to bring luxury spa-like features they have experienced in hotel bathrooms, such as steam showers, into their own homes.
“And big showers are a priority,” she said.
The Houzz survey shows that 65% of showers that were being replaced were being expanded.
To fit a bigger shower into an existing space, something else has to give. And that something often is the bathtub.
“Something that’s pretty standard now is to take out a tub and use that space for a shower,” Muharrem said.
Old whirlpool tubs, especially, are being removed.
“They take up so much space,” Muharrem said. “Some people would rather use that space for storage or larger showers.”
In design, though, what’s old often is also what’s new. The Houzz survey shows that 17% percent of bathroom remodels are being done in a traditional or farmhouse style.
Muharrem said she has many customers who want to add a vintage stand-alone tub, such as a clawfoot tub, to their remodeled bathrooms.
Practical considerations also are on her customers’ minds, Muharrem said.
When asked what features of their new bathroom help them relax, the highest number of those surveyed by Houzz, 65%, cited “cleanliness.”
“Everyone wants something easy to clean, low maintenance,” Muharrem said.
That means a move toward more quartz and cultured marble bathroom countertops and shower walls, she said.
“And I would say in every bathroom, except maybe a kids’ bathroom, I’d incorporate a handheld shower to go with main shower head. It’s a great feature for showering, and it also makes cleaning your bathroom so much easier.” sstephens@dispatch.com @Stevestephens