The demand for new owners’ bath suites in Denver is increasing. Now that many families in Colorado are spending almost all of their time at home, they have a new appreciation that a bathroom can offer so much more than function. The primary bath can be a refuge from Zoom fatigue, a wellness center, and a room to spend a few minutes devoid of email, texts, and family members, all to yourself. A good starting point is to know what’s hot and what’s not in bath renovations. Houzz.com provides a good roadmap through its 2021 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study.
A Desire for an Owner’s Main Bath Makeover
Primary Reasons to Renovate Your Bath
The number one reason homeowners Colorado cite for renovating a bathroom is that the existing space is old and dated. This mirrors the Houzz.com study that found two-thirds of survey respondents claimed that they can no longer stand their existing bathrooms. Insufficient storage was cited by 33% of homeowners as the primary reason for their renovation. Other top motivators for renovating a bath include:
- Small showers
- Insufficient lighting
- Poor ventilation
- Limited countertop space
- Glass shower doors
- Noisy fan
- Shower curtains
- Only one sink
- No natural light
- Toilet location
- No bathtub
Health and Wellness Take Center Stage
More than 40% of renovating homeowners converted their main bath into a space for relaxation. 55% of Houzz study respondents reported that soaking in a tub helps them relax. Conversely, 54% of respondents enjoy taking long showers.
Shower appeal is growing. Nearly 50% of homeowners removed the tub during the remodel, opting for larger and multifunctional showers.
Gracefully Aging in Place
The ability to age in place with dignity and ease is another top reason homeowners in Denver are renovating their bathrooms. Why would anyone want to move from this beautiful state of Colorado? More than 25% of survey respondents claimed they need to remodel to address the needs of an aging family member and nearly 40% reported that they will need to accommodate an aging family member in the future and don’t want to move to a new home elsewhere.
White continues to be the most preferred finish color for newly renovated baths. It’s the top color for vanities (32%), countertops (58%), shower walls (46%), and non-shower walls (34%). There are many good reasons why white is the preferred color for new dream baths. White connotes cleanliness, reflects light to make smaller spaces appear larger, and provides a soothing spa-like vibe that many homeowners Colorado crave.
Other popular finishes in new baths include wood vanities (27%), gray paint on non-shower walls and blue vanities, specified in 8% of new bath renovations.
Preserving the Footprint
Most Colorado homeowners confine their primary bath remodels to the existing footprint of the bath. Expanding a bath’s space into other areas of the home may not be practical or cost-effective. Within the existing footprint, nearly 50% of renovators increased the size of the shower. More than 40% changed the layout of their bath and 40% modified existing walls.
Many homeowners in the Denver Metro and Colorado Springs area decide to eliminate the tub as part of their bath renovation to accommodate a larger, high-performing shower that often includes steam, video, audio and a variety of therapies such as aroma and color. A majority of those who opt for a tub select freestanding acrylic models. However, alcove tubs that are installed against walls and typically feature a tub/shower combination are gaining in popularity. They were specified in 26% of 2021 renovations compared to 22% of 2020 renovations.
Other Current Bath Trends
- Undercounter and console sinks for vanities are on-trend.
- White remains the dominant color for bathroom sinks.
- 2021-2022 is likely to bring sinks that incorporate more mixed metals such as copper or cast iron, hand-painted sinks or those with textures and patterns.
- Matte black and warm brass will be trending faucet finishes in the coming year.
- Skirted one-piece water closets will increase in popularity because they are easy to clean.
- Self-cleaning toilets will grow in popularity as will toilets that feature integrated bidet functionality.
- Free-standing system tubs that offer jets, whirlpool capabilities and heated surfaces.
- Color and shape options for tubs will continue to grow and give homeowners the ability to truly customize their bath.
- Wallpaper will gain traction as a means for homeowners to make personal design statements, especially in smaller spaces such as a powder room or foyer.
- Open, curbless showers are expected to increase in popularity.
- Mixed textures and finishes will expand the spectrum of visual interest in the bath exemplified by combinations such as matte black faucets and warm brass pendants.
Industrial Chic is another trend we are noticing particularly in downtown Denver. Exposed pipes and trough sinks are standard features of industrial-inspired baths. One key to making the industrial look work is to embrace the mantra that less is more. We advise our clients to be judicious in their use of decorative pieces in an industrial motif. Industrial style requires paying attention to the design’s raw, unfinished components such as combining a wood ceiling with exposed plumbing or drawing attention to framed shower doors. We recommend playing up the bathroom’s aesthetic by adding accents wherever possible without overdoing them.
No matter what your desires for your primary bath, we can help you attain them and remain within your budget. You can schedule an appointment or consultatoin online here or contact any of our Colorado showrooms for assistance.
