According to the latest study by the interior design website, Houzz, the median spend on all bathroom remodels has grown by 50% year over year, increasing from $9,000 in 2021 to$13,500 in 2022.
Topline
Major models of larger bathrooms (those above 100 square feet) increased by 25%, reaching $25,000, while smaller bathrooms increased by 50% for a median of $15,000.
Outdated style remains the most common motivation for renovations with 48% of respondents citing wanting an updated look as their primary reasoning. Increasing the resale value also held a significant portion of respondents with 31% attributing financial motivations for their remodel.
As such, nearly 9 in 10 homeowners changed the style of their bathroom during a remodel. The most popular style for the second year in a row was transitional, with contemporary and modern styles sitting neck-and-neck at 16% and 15% respectively.
Trends
- 22% of renovations included enlarging the blueprint, opting to sacrifice closet space for a roomier bathroom.
- Upgrading systems continues to be the most common bathroom improvement, including the addition of a ventilation system, tankless water heater and radiant heating.
- Two-thirds of homeowners addressed special needs during their bath renovations, up from 54% in 2021. In particular, updates for aging household members remained a top priority, for both current use and future planning.
- Over 80% of respondents said they updated their faucets, shower, wall finishes, flooring, light fixtures or countertops.
- Wood replaced white as the most popular finish for vanities, although white remains the main choice for countertops.
- 43% of renovations included upgrading to low-curb showers and 24% to curbless. Hinged doors continue to be favored over doorless, though the latter was selected by nearly 1 out of 5 homeowners.
Big Number
$20,000: The median spending on a major bathroom renovations in 2022.
From The Report
“The overwhelming majority of homeowners (87%) choose sustainable options for their renovated bathrooms. The most popular sustainable options are LED lightbulbs (62%), water-efficient fixtures (46%), a timeless design (44%), energy-efficient features (34%) and light dimmers (34%).”
Outlook
The increased investment in safety for aging residents points towards older homeowners making long-term planning for their properties. This reflects a general trend for older generations to continue living in their homes as they age, contributing to the short supply facing many markets across the country.
On the opposite end, almost a third of respondents cited resale as their primary motivations for renovation, expressing a desire to sell in the future.
