Key Takeaways
- Primary bathrooms are likely to increase in size over the next three years;
- Larger showers – particularly two-person showers – will be very popular;
- Double basins, mixing of materials for contrast, wellness showers and saunas are suggested options for those with large footprint bathrooms.
By Robert Isler
One of the themes in NKBA’s 2022 Design Trends release was the expected popularity of larger primary bathrooms over the next three years. In fact, more than three in four designers who responded to the survey predicted this size increase. One in three believe the bathroom footprint will grow by at least 25 percent. So how will these more substantial bathrooms look and what are their must-have features? Both the NKBA report and a recent story in Home and Gardens have provided answers.
The NKBA report explores creative ways to increase a bathroom’s size and the prominence of the features that are deemed most valuable. The focus of the Home and Gardens piece is on design ideas for bathrooms that are already oversized. The most popular trend identified in the NKBA study is a larger shower. This could take the form of a two-person shower for couples – with separate showerheads – or a redesign for living-in-place; complete with a bench seat, zero clearance entry and attractive grab bars. Hand-held and rain showerheads are among the most cited features likely to be part of this revamped shower.The tradeoff to secure the extra space involves removal of the bathtub. Other predicted forms of enlargement include the removal of adjacent walls to create a connected closet or dressing area, connecting the bathroom to laundry facilities, connecting to a workout area, or adding comfortable seating.
For those who already have ample bathroom space, the options are far greater, as detailed by Home and Gardens. Double bathroom basins are on that list, because they are both practical and indulgent, while creating symmetry for the overall look of the room. Two-person showers were also mentioned, with the recommendation that its minimum width be no less than 5 ½ feet. Since a larger space allows for experimentation, the mixing of styles, such as two flooring materials, was suggested to make the room more inviting.
Maximizing storage space is always a good idea. In a large bathroom it can be made to resemble living room or bedroom furniture, taking the bathroom to the next level. To really step it up, a wellness shower is always enticing. Included might be freefall or atomization jet showers in various positions from ceiling to both high and low on the wall for the benefit of shoulders and back down to legs and ankles. The picture can be completed with the addition of chromotherapy and music. For a bathroom that is particularly generous in size, the sauna option should also be considered. As described in the Home and Gardens article, “The combination of warm, dry air and the fragrance of the natural wood create a calming effect, said to also stimulate blood circulation and deep cleanse the skin.” Those are benefits most would be hard-pressed to turn down.
