Luxury Touches Homeowners Are Putting in Master Bathrooms in 2019

Self-cleaning toilets and rainfall shower heads are among the top picks, the 2019 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study finds

Some homeowners renovating their master bathrooms are adding premium and high-tech features like showers with mood lighting and toilets that clean themselves, according to the 2019 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study.

Read on to learn which features for tubs, toilets and showers are popular, as well as which niche specialty items some homeowners are including in their master bath remodels.

Tucker Johnson Architects
The 2019 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study includes responses from more than 1,300 registered users of Houzz who had completed a master bathroom remodel in the past 12 months, were working on one or were planning to start one in the next three months.
Lignum Vitae
This photo shows a one-piece toilet, which has no seam between the tank and seat.

Self-Cleaning Toilets, Bidet Seating Have Niche Appeal

If you’re going to upgrade your toilet, you might as well make it easier to clean. Thirteen percent of renovating homeowners upgrading toilets are choosing self-cleaning models that cut the need for bowl-scrubbing, thanks to a range of technologies designed to keep grime off the bowl.

Twenty-seven percent are opting for a one-piece toilet like the one shown in this photo. One-piece toilets lack a seam between the tank and the seat, which means one less place for germs to hide out.

Nearly 1 in 5 homeowners upgrading a toilet as part of their master bathroom project is selecting a double-flush mechanism (18%), with two buttons or handles that flush different amounts of water based on what’s needed.

A smaller subset of renovating homeowners upgrading their toilets are choosing seating with a bidet (13%) or heating (10%), while some are choosing toilet models with overflow protection (9%) or a built-in night light (8%).

John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA
Two rainfall shower heads and ample space makes room for two people to shower simultaneously.

Rainfall Shower Heads Have Many Fans

The majority of homeowners upgrading their showers as part of their master bathroom remodels are choosing rainfall shower heads (58%) for the upgraded spaces, according to the study. A rainfall shower head is typically larger than a standard shower head and usually hangs flat overhead rather than at an angle.

Dual showers — which have two shower heads so two people can comfortably shower at the same time — are still somewhat popular, with 23% of renovating homeowners upgrading showers choosing this feature, down from 28% last year. Choosing a double shower head aligns with another trend we’re seeing this year: people enlarging their showers.

A small group of renovating homeowners among the 83% upgrading their showers are including a very practical feature: a thermostatic mixer (12%), which keeps the water temperature steady even when someone flushes the toilet or starts the dishwasher.

Among those upgrading showers as part of their master bathroom projects, 16% are including a body sprayer. This is a nozzle that can be mounted to the ceiling or the wall and sprays a stream of water — like a hot-tub jet, but for the shower. Some renovating homeowners upgrading their showers are including high-tech features in their showers, such as mood lighting (5%), digital controls (5%) and built-in sound (2%).

Azure Development
Soaking tubs like the one shown in this photo are deep enough for the bather to fully submerge.

Soaking Tubs Remain Popular for Upgraded Master Bathroom Tubs

The majority of homeowners upgrading their bathtubs are choosing soaking tubs (70%), and more than one-fifth are choosing tubs with room for two. Some renovating homeowners upgrading their tubs are including whirlpool jets, either silent (11%) or non-silent (7%). Some are choosing tubs with built-in lighting (9%), built-in heated backrests (6%) or built-in scented-mist dispensers (2%).

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