Top 8 Renovation Trends in 2026

Tile and surface decisions still carry a lot of weight in bathroom remodel planning. The 2025 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study found horizontally stacked shower wall tile at 18%, with rectangular (29%), hexagonal (26%), and square (22%) leading shower floor tile shapes. Trade sentiment points the same way, with the NKBA 2026 Bath Trends Report noting 89% of pros see demand for smaller or no grout lines and 80% expect large-format flooring to lead over the next three years.

Storage-first bathrooms show up clearly once you look at how people spec vanities. In the same Houzz study, 78% chose soft-close drawers and 75% selected soft-close doors, and built-in vanity outlets reached 29%. The NKBA report adds a material signal, reporting wood-faced vanities at 62%.

Shower and tub decisions are driving many renovation scopes, especially when layouts shift toward more open bathing zones. Houzz reports a 39% increase in shower size, and wet rooms reached 16% of renovated bathrooms. That preference shows up in client priorities too, with the NKBA report finding 55% say a larger shower matters more than having a bathtub.

Lighting and fixture upgrades tend to get planned together since they shape both function and finish. Houzz lists recessed lights in 40% of projects that upgraded lighting, with sconces (34%), ceiling lights (34%), and lighted mirrors (22%) close behind. The same study flags renovation-grade feature choices tied to upgraded systems, including specialty shower features in 10% of projects and bidet seats (21%) plus heated seats (19%) among toilet upgrades.

When a project includes layout changes, value and complexity both rise, which is where the right contractor partner matters. Houzz found 36% made layout changes and 31% built a home addition to expand the bathroom, and it also reported heated flooring at 20% plus radiant heating added as a new system in 11% of renovations.