The 5 Most Popular Bathroom Makeovers of 2023
See how pros create relaxing retreats with soft neutrals, large showers and more in these top stories of the year
What features lead to a stylish bathroom renovation? If this countdown of the most popular bathroom makeover stories of the year is any indication, you can’t go wrong with soft neutral palettes, sculptural freestanding tubs, organic materials like wood and marble, and spacious low-curb showers. Browse those ideas and others in this roundup, then click on the links to see more of each project.
4. Timeless Neutral Makeover in 83 Square Feet
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of five
Location: Danville, California
Size: 83 square feet (7.7 square meters); about 8 by 10½ feet
Designer: Natalia Avalos Interiors
Outfitting an 83-square-foot space in a way that adds interest but doesn’t feel cluttered is a challenge. In addition, this Danville, California, bathroom needed to serve the homeowners’ three young children as well as overnight guests. The couple hired designer Natalia Avalos to find functional and stylish solutions.
To create a style that would grow up with the kids and be inviting for guests, the designer used a light neutral palette while incorporating a well-balanced mix of textures. These include a herringbone tile floor, a reeded white oak vanity, a mix of ivory-toned shower tiles, brass mirror frames, a white quartz countertop with a strikingly thick edge and a new rug with a timeworn look.
Read more about this bathroom
Browse vanities in the Houzz Shop
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of five
Location: Danville, California
Size: 83 square feet (7.7 square meters); about 8 by 10½ feet
Designer: Natalia Avalos Interiors
Outfitting an 83-square-foot space in a way that adds interest but doesn’t feel cluttered is a challenge. In addition, this Danville, California, bathroom needed to serve the homeowners’ three young children as well as overnight guests. The couple hired designer Natalia Avalos to find functional and stylish solutions.
To create a style that would grow up with the kids and be inviting for guests, the designer used a light neutral palette while incorporating a well-balanced mix of textures. These include a herringbone tile floor, a reeded white oak vanity, a mix of ivory-toned shower tiles, brass mirror frames, a white quartz countertop with a strikingly thick edge and a new rug with a timeworn look.
Read more about this bathroom
Browse vanities in the Houzz Shop
3. New Low-Curb Shower and a Soft Modern Look
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Eskan Developers owners Kaveh and Alena Zoghi, who designed and remodeled the space, and their 4-year-old daughter
Location: San Clemente, California
Size: 88 square feet (8 square meters)
Design-build firm owners Kaveh and Alena Zoghi originally bought this 1960s house in San Clemente, California, to remodel and sell. But instead they fell in love with the home and neighborhood and moved in themselves. Like many homeowners, they decided to remove their tub-shower combo to make room for an expansive shower stall. They also added 11 square feet to the bathroom by taking over an adjacent closet.
The material palette is composed of soft neutral tones and clean lines. A clear glass shower enclosure allows a view of the shower’s tiles, which are arranged in a 90-degree herringbone pattern. The floor tiles are large hexagons in similar color tones. The wood-look melamine vanity floats above the floor, contributing to the room’s spacious feel. A marble-look countertop and high backsplash bring in a veined pattern. Finally, a floating storage tower provides extra storage. The combination of all these elements results in a soft modern look.
Read more about this bathroom
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Eskan Developers owners Kaveh and Alena Zoghi, who designed and remodeled the space, and their 4-year-old daughter
Location: San Clemente, California
Size: 88 square feet (8 square meters)
Design-build firm owners Kaveh and Alena Zoghi originally bought this 1960s house in San Clemente, California, to remodel and sell. But instead they fell in love with the home and neighborhood and moved in themselves. Like many homeowners, they decided to remove their tub-shower combo to make room for an expansive shower stall. They also added 11 square feet to the bathroom by taking over an adjacent closet.
The material palette is composed of soft neutral tones and clean lines. A clear glass shower enclosure allows a view of the shower’s tiles, which are arranged in a 90-degree herringbone pattern. The floor tiles are large hexagons in similar color tones. The wood-look melamine vanity floats above the floor, contributing to the room’s spacious feel. A marble-look countertop and high backsplash bring in a veined pattern. Finally, a floating storage tower provides extra storage. The combination of all these elements results in a soft modern look.
Read more about this bathroom
2. Light and Airy Feel With Farmhouse Details
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their son
Location: Newport Coast, California
Size: 230 square feet (21 square meters)
Designers: Natalie Carr and Aaron Golden of Sea Pointe Design & Remodel
This Newport Coast, California, couple wanted to transform their dated bathroom into one that was light and airy with a farmhouse vibe. They saved inspiration photos on Houzz and hired designers Natalie Carr and Aaron Golden, who took the room down to the studs. The designers scrapped the room’s original built-in tub for a freestanding one, which lent a cleaner and airier look. Flooring of 4-by-12-inch marble-look porcelain tiles grounds the room with a spa-like feel. The proportions of the planks suit the scale of the 230-square-foot space.
The steam shower includes a bench and accent tile that serves as art. Inset within the shower surround, the 6-by-6-inch blue-and-silver marble tiles create a focal point. Not shown in this photo is a soft gray-brown maple vanity flanked by maple storage towers that have a brushed ebony glaze. The contrasting finishes add farmhouse-inspired patina to the homeowners’ relaxing new sanctuary.
Read more about this bathroom
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their son
Location: Newport Coast, California
Size: 230 square feet (21 square meters)
Designers: Natalie Carr and Aaron Golden of Sea Pointe Design & Remodel
This Newport Coast, California, couple wanted to transform their dated bathroom into one that was light and airy with a farmhouse vibe. They saved inspiration photos on Houzz and hired designers Natalie Carr and Aaron Golden, who took the room down to the studs. The designers scrapped the room’s original built-in tub for a freestanding one, which lent a cleaner and airier look. Flooring of 4-by-12-inch marble-look porcelain tiles grounds the room with a spa-like feel. The proportions of the planks suit the scale of the 230-square-foot space.
The steam shower includes a bench and accent tile that serves as art. Inset within the shower surround, the 6-by-6-inch blue-and-silver marble tiles create a focal point. Not shown in this photo is a soft gray-brown maple vanity flanked by maple storage towers that have a brushed ebony glaze. The contrasting finishes add farmhouse-inspired patina to the homeowners’ relaxing new sanctuary.
Read more about this bathroom
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
1. Modern, Elegant and Low-Maintenance
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two young children
Location: Toronto
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Designer: Diana Bastone
Builder: Old Orchard Properties
When this Toronto couple were building their new home, they wanted the primary bathroom to be fresh, casual, elegant and low-maintenance. Designer Diana Bastone incorporated everything on their must-have list, including a minimalist sculptural bathtub, large steam shower with a curbless entry, double vanity and low-maintenance finishes that have a natural look.
Bastone gave the double vanity a 5-inch apron and slab-front cabinetry for a more modern look. Using drawers instead of cabinet doors provided an easy-to-organize, ergonomic storage option. Low-maintenance selections include the white-oak-look laminate vanity base, concrete-look quartz countertops and slate-look porcelain floor tiles. The result is an open and airy design with modern lines and finishes that’s easy to clean.
Read more about this bathroom
More on Houzz
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Browse bathroom photos
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Shop for your bathroom
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two young children
Location: Toronto
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Designer: Diana Bastone
Builder: Old Orchard Properties
When this Toronto couple were building their new home, they wanted the primary bathroom to be fresh, casual, elegant and low-maintenance. Designer Diana Bastone incorporated everything on their must-have list, including a minimalist sculptural bathtub, large steam shower with a curbless entry, double vanity and low-maintenance finishes that have a natural look.
Bastone gave the double vanity a 5-inch apron and slab-front cabinetry for a more modern look. Using drawers instead of cabinet doors provided an easy-to-organize, ergonomic storage option. Low-maintenance selections include the white-oak-look laminate vanity base, concrete-look quartz countertops and slate-look porcelain floor tiles. The result is an open and airy design with modern lines and finishes that’s easy to clean.
Read more about this bathroom
More on Houzz
Read more bathroom stories
Browse bathroom photos
Find a bathroom designer
Shop for your bathroom
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a guest cottage for family and friends
Location: Burton, Texas
Size: 120 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer: Aurora Fain of Studio Fain
Builder: Skidder Construction
These homeowners tasked designer Aurora Fain with creating bright, welcoming spaces in a new guest cottage on their Texas ranch. The bucolic surroundings of the property provided inspiration for the look, which is a mix of traditional farmhouse and spa-like modern styles.
Fain laid out the long and narrow space in a way that accommodated a double vanity, a freestanding bathtub and a shower by using a wet-room strategy. This meant placing the tub and shower together behind the shower enclosure.
While the palette is mostly white, Fain used wood-look luxury vinyl flooring to ground the room in a warm, durable and low-maintenance material. Dashes of black on the mirrors and hardware provide strong contrast.
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