Houzz Study

Here are the most popular bathroom splurges for homeowners in 2017

Also popular: expanding the size of the master bath.

Photo courtesy of Jula Cole Design, Houzz

If you’re considering remodeling your master bathroom, which features do you most want to upgrade? If you’re like a large contingent of renovating homeowners who shared their priorities with Houzz recently, your shower area may top the list.

Showers are a popular feature to change: The survey found that 81 percent of renovating homeowners upgraded this area.

The 2017 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study asked more than 1,200 U.S. homeowners — who were planning, were in the midst of, or had recently completed a master bathroom project — about their spending and priorities. Read on for some highlights they shared.

Remodel costs vary by size and scope. The average cost of a major remodel for a master bathroom over 100 square feet was $21,000, according to the survey. For bathrooms of 100 square feet or less, the average major remodel cost was $12,300. A major remodel was defined as one in which at least the cabinetry, vanity, countertops, and toilet were replaced.

How to Budget Right for Your Bathroom Remodel

The remaining projects were categorized as minor remodels. For master bathrooms over 100 square feet, the average cost for these minor projects was $9,400, while for spaces 100 square feet or smaller, the average cost was $5,400, the survey found.

Those ages 55 and up spent more. Renovating homeowners ages 25 to 34 spent an average of $12,500 on a major remodel of a large master bathroom, while those ages 55 and up spent an average of $22,800. Similarly, the younger group spent an average of $9,200 on a major remodel of a smaller master bathroom, while those ages 55 and up spent an average of $13,900.

Faucets, wall finishes, and countertops are ripe for change. Compared with last year’s study, homeowners this year were somewhat less inclined to remove all the features in their master bathrooms and start from scratch. But if they were going to change something, it was likely to be their faucets, wall finishes, countertops, and flooring — the most frequently cited items to be changed in this year’s survey.

Splurge on Fancy New Bathroom Faucets

Indulgences include showers and vanities. Among renovating homeowners, the most common splurges during master bathroom renovations were showers, cited by 42 percent of respondents, and cabinets or vanities, cited by 40 percent.

Toilets, not so much. If there was any feature on which renovating homeowners collectively decided to save, it was the toilet. About 15 percent of renovators said they saved on toilets, while 11 percent saved on lighting fixtures.

Skilled Kitchen and Bath Remodelers for Hire in Your Area

A quarter of renovating homeowners decided to increase the size of the master bathroom, the survey found.

The 2017 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study was fielded between June 6 and August 7, 2017.

Faucets, wall finishes, countertops, and flooring were the most frequently cited items to change in a bathroom.

Photo courtesy of Kukk Architecture & Design P.A., Houzz

Faucets, wall finishes, countertops, and flooring were the most frequently cited items to change in a bathroom.

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home design trends

Warm retreats and natural details are top home design trends this fall

2026 Houzz Fall Design Trends Report, warm interiors

Photo by Teal Thomsen for Canyon Collected Design

Warm-toned spaces are very inviting for fall gatherings.

Trends come and go, but a new Houzz report has unveiled all the ways current home design trends are evolving with the seasons rather than fading into obscurity or becoming dated.

Houzz interviewed nearly 50 home design professionals to determine emerging home design ideas for its 2026 U.S. Fall Design Trends Report. One common goal unites every trend this fall: creating rooms that celebrate the personalities of those who live in it.

These are Houzz's top design trends for fall 2026.

Warmth has become the new standard
One thing that's for certain: homeowners have officially done away with stark white and gray interiors. Warm color palettes first emerged as a design trend in late 2023, and now these inviting tones have transcended trendiness to become the "new baseline."

Homeowners and decorators aren't just making simple swaps, either. They're taking a holistic approach by "layering warm wood tones, earthy colors, multiple textures, and natural materials" throughout the home. This gives rooms "more depth and personality" than the previously in-style monotone interiors, Houzz said.

Bringing back personalization
Houzz predicted minimalist spaces would be on the way out in 2025, and they were correct. The golden era of minimalism has come to an end. Homeowners are instead creating true lived-in looks that blend "character, history, and personal storytelling" over spaces that look like they were plucked straight out of a magazine.

Examples include introducing vintage pieces into a modern space and mixing bold colors, patterns, and textures. Even the simplest accent choices can transform a room into something that feels "thoughtfully assembled over time," the report said.

2026 Houzz Fall Design Trends Report, character and personality matter more than perfection Home design enthusiasts are now prioritizing character and personality over perfection.Photo courtesy of Lavish

Photo by Teal Thomsen for Canyon Collected Design

Warm-toned spaces are very inviting for fall gatherings.

Other than vintage items, homeowners can add a sense of authenticity to their homes through "materials and details that carry a sense of history" like handmade tile, natural stone, aged metals, and original architectural elements.

This also means letting go of the idea of a home's "resale value" in favor of a personal sanctuary, according to the report.

"Pros describe clients asking for homes that feel deeply personal, whether it’s the layouts and materials they choose or the objects they display," Houzz said. "That shift is also giving homeowners more confidence to make individual choices, including unusual tile patterns, expressive wallpaper, distinctive furnishings and colors they love."

Embracing natural materials
Wood cabinets or stone countertops might be the first things that spring to mind under this umbrella, but we're diving deeper than that. Stone furniture pieces, like marble end tables, river stone sinks, and travertine coffee tables are rising in popularity, as are wood light fixtures and wood paneling.

"Pros are seeing more appreciation for the variation, texture, and imperfections that make natural materials feel authentic," the report said. "Handmade and high-variation tile, honed and leathered stone, plaster, and warm wood all contribute to a more tactile look."

Preparing for long-term livability
A separate Houzz report found two thirds of homeowners are planning to stay in their homes for more than a decade, if not longer, and less than half say they are currently living in their "forever home." As the cost of homeownership in Dallas rises, more residents are choosing to live in their current spaces longer, which means eventually renovating to accommodate for the future.

Besides adapting a home for aging in place, design professionals are seeing an uptick in popularity for other amenities to "make a home comfortable to navigate at any stage of life."

"ADUs and secondary suites are being designed to accommodate multigenerational living, extended guest stays, rental income, and future family needs," the report said. "Meanwhile, dedicated wellness amenities like saunas, cold plunges, and meditation spaces offer new ways for a home to support evolving well-being routines."

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