Technology, Wellness, and Luxury are at the Heart of the Modern Bath, According to the 2026 Bath Design Trends Report
By NKBA I KBIS Editorial Staff
New technologies are opening opportunities for innovation, from the use of AI for design inspiration to smart home integration in fixtures and features that promote health and wellness, stress reduction, and aging in place. NKBA’s 2026 Bath Design Trends Report offers insights into how rapidly evolving home technology stands to reshape the modern bath, even as personal lifestyles and tastes continue to guide design decisions.
The report draws on data from a survey of industry experts, including designers, manufacturers, remodelers, and architects. It provides a comprehensive view of current and emerging trends in residential baths that are expected to have the greatest impact in 2026 and beyond.
Here are some key takeaways from this year’s report:
A Growing Footprint
Bathrooms are expanding in size—nearly two-thirds of respondents (72%) indicated that homeowners are making more room for wellness-centered spaces, universal design considerations, and efficient storage solutions. Space allocation in the primary bath is a top priority for 89% of those surveyed, with larger showers increasingly emphasized. More than half (55%) stated that enlarging the shower is more important to customers than including a bathtub. Larger showers provide space for spa-like features, including steam options, saunas, aromatherapy, chromotherapy, and integrated seating and shelving.
It All Starts with Lighting
Lighting quality remains a critical consideration in bath design, with 91% of respondents citing it as a top priority. Effective lighting involves layering and multiple levels, with 92% agreeing that task lighting must always be included in primary bath design. Many designs now incorporate nighttime-specific lighting. Emerging trends include mood lighting in showers and integrated lighting in mirrors.
Looking to Hotels and Resorts for Wellness Inspiration
Homeowners increasingly view their primary bathroom as a sanctuary for physical and mental well-being, drawing inspiration from hotel and resort experiences, according to 77% of respondents. This shift is not limited to individual features—such as smart toilets (51% anticipate rising popularity over the next three years) or new tile patterns (66% noted growing interest in textured and patterned tiles)—but reflects a broader transformation in how consumers perceive and use the primary bathroom.
Highly-Customized Bath Solutions
Smart technology is being integrated to create individualized daily rituals and support overall well-being. On a lower-tech level, custom storage solutions with configurable modules are increasingly incorporated into bath vanity and cabinetry design. Examples include built-in storage for hair tools, makeup, medications, electrical and charging integration, and custom dividers to maximize drawer efficiency. Combined with personalized style inspiration, these priorities reflect a clear shift toward bespoke living.
Elegant Accessibility
Aging-in-place design elements have become mainstream and more aesthetically integrated. Features such as grab bars, curbless showers, shower benches, barrier-free entries, and wider doors provide crucial safety benefits while enhancing the luxury and sophistication of the primary bath. Among those surveyed, most indicated that aging-in-place design is either now mainstream (32%) or approaching mainstream adoption (48%).
“Great bathroom design balances luxurious, resort-like wellness features with practical accessibility and functionality,” said Bill Darcy, Global President & CEO of NKBA | KBIS. “In the coming years, designers will need to create highly personalized spaces that meet the needs and expectations of younger, eco-minded, and tech-forward homeowners. Kitchen and bath professionals understand that homeowners of all ages—and at all stages—want more from these essential spaces than ever before.”
To fully access these and other trends and insights, download the full 2026 Bath Design Trends report.
