Mike Holmes' 10 Favorite Bathroom Features For The Ultimate HGTV Look

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If anyone knows bathrooms, it's Mike Holmes. The longtime HGTV star of "Holmes on Homes" and "Holmes Family Rescue" has a reputation for making even the most disastrous of spaces into beautiful, functional bathrooms that won't need to be updated again. If you want your home to look like it's straight off an episode of an HGTV show (but one of the afters, definitely not the disastrous befores!), following his advice can get you pretty close.

For example, the one design choice Mike Holmes recommends avoiding during a bathroom remodel is mixing too many metals, as it can quickly overwhelm the space. He also has the perfect recommendations to make your small bathroom look bigger, as well as the best ways to create accessibility that's both stylish and affordable. You don't need a full remodel for some of these, either. Instead, savvy DIYers can complete most of this list on their own. These are Mike Holmes' favorite bathroom features for the ultimate HGTV look.

Sometimes the ultimate look is more about ease of use rather than a specific aesthetic. "If you are renovating your bathroom, I'd like you to think about your future and potential mobility issues and consider including grab bars," Holmes wrote for his website, Make It Right. "Grab bars are a safety feature that helps a person stay balanced, and support part of their weight while getting up, or offers something to hang onto in case they trip or fall." You can place them in your shower or near your toilet to help with movement. A great example is the Ravinte Hardware Store's 16-Inch Anti-Slip Shower Handles.

You might not feel like you need grab bars just yet. However, if you live in your forever home, consider laying the groundwork for them now. This way, when the need does arise, the installation is easier and less expensive. In an episode of his "Holmes on Homes" podcast, the contractor shared that the best way to approach this is to install wooden blocks between the studs during any interim remodel. Take a photo of exactly where these blocks are. Then, when the day comes to mount grab bars, you will know where sturdy anchor points are located. If you do want to install bars right away, they don't have to look like something out of a hospital room. For example, the Evekare Mount Grab Bar With Integrated Toilet Roll Holder features a chic design and a gold finish.

If you want to go for the ultimate HGTV look in a smaller bathroom, consider adding an accent wall to help trick the eye into thinking the room is larger than it is. "Accent walls break up the space, making it feel bigger like an area rug does to a floor," Holmes wrote on Make It Right. While shades like Benjamin Moore's Soft Fern and Winter White are among the accent wall colors to make a tiny bathroom feel bigger, you don't just have to stick with lighter shades to get the perfect look. "Even darker colors that would otherwise cause a room to feel smaller will make a room feel more significant when you use them for an accent wall," Holmes continued. For example, Sherwin-Williams' In the Navy is a rich, deep blue that can bring real character to a smaller space. If you want to make an especially bold choice, Holmes recommends "large patterned wallpaper" as it "can create the illusion of a bigger space."

When choosing which wall to use as the accent wall, select the longest or tallest uninterrupted space. This helps the eye elongate the room and creates a natural focal point without overwhelming the bathroom. Avoid using an accent color on a wall with too many fixtures or accessories, since the breaks can make the design feel busy instead of expansive. Picking a wall without too many other distractions (unless it's something you want to highlight, like a bay window or super stylish shower head) is one of the essential tips for creating the perfect accent wall — both in the bathroom and other areas of the home. 

Heated bathroom floors may seem out of reach, but Holmes insists that when using DITRA-HEAT Floor Warming Systems, this luxury has just become a lot more accessible because of their ease of use. "I think heated floors are a great addition to any bathroom renovation. They can provide continuous warmth and comfort to the space," he wrote on Make It Right. This is especially true if you live somewhere with longer winters, as frosty mornings are less frustrating with toasty toes. When selecting the type of flooring to heat, he recommends porcelain or ceramic tile, in any format or pattern. "These tiles are durable, have excellent heat conductivity, and stay warm longer, offering better energy efficiency than other materials," he continued.

Yet no matter the color or size of the tiles you choose for your bathroom, one important thing to keep in mind when laying down heated flooring, or re-tiling your bathroom at all, is that you have to pull up your old tile during the renovations — no exceptions! Holmes insists that skipping demo day is a surefire way to cause more problems down the line."You're just asking for your new tile and grout to crack — so that brand new floor isn't going to keep its look for very long," he posted on Instagram. Plus, for the in-floor heating system to work its best, it needs to be installed over the subflooring, not tightly pinched between two layers of tile.

Choosing the best countertop material for your bathroom can be overwhelming. However, for Holmes, there is a clear winner that ticks every box: Quartz."The best part is that quartz countertops resemble the look of actual stone, such as marble and granite, and come in a variety of colours and patterns," he wrote on Make It Right. "They are a popular option for contemporary homes since they need little upkeep and are ideal for kitchens and baths. They are also generally less expensive than granite." If you live in a busy home, you don't want to worry about babying your countertops or splashing out on a stone that's going to break the bank. Instead, quartz countertops can create the ultimate HGTV look because they are both gorgeous and durable.

Holmes likes these countertops so much that it's typically his first choice. "We use quartz in almost all of our home renovations," he continued. "I've even used it in my own home when I renovated the main floor and kitchen." Some might recommend porcelain countertops as a great alternative to quartz, but while Holmes admits that it's a great option that also tends to be pretty durable, it doesn't have the same visual appeal. "Porcelain tends to be more limited in design and colour choices — it also lacks the depth that quartz has," he continued. That said, the types of quartz countertops that are best for your home's resale value tend to be more neutral in tone. So, it's likely best to stick with hues like grey and cream, especially if you aren't living in your forever home. 

When renovating your bathroom, Holmes always suggests thinking about function and style in equal parts. And not just what you might need now, but well into the future, too. In your forever home, he thinks a curbless shower is the right choice for your bathroom. "If you have more than one bathroom, I would highly recommend converting the other bathroom into a stand-up curbless shower," he wrote for Make It Right. "It just makes sense, especially as we age. Having a mobility-accessible shower, ideally on your home's main level, will allow you to stay in your home longer." By planning ahead now, you can avoid a second, accessibility-focused renovation in the future. 

To help keep the water contained, he also recommends replacing traditional point drains in the center of the shower with linear drains along the side. "This type of drain works well for a modern, open-concept curbless shower design as the floor of the shower can be sloped on a single plane, which allows for large-format tiles to be carried from the bathroom floor right into the shower to create a totally seamless look," he wrote. Just keep in mind that cleaning a linear drain is a touch different than a point drain, as you have to remove the covering completely to remove hair and grime. It might not look like there is any buildup, as the design keeps it out of sight, but it should be regularly checked and cleaned out to avoid issues. 

Layered lighting in a bathroom means using a mix of three different types of lighting to create both function and atmosphere. "Ample overhead and task lighting is key to a well-functioning bathroom, small or large," Holmes wrote on Make It Right. There are a lot of different moods to set in the bathroom, like bright for makeup application, or soft and moody for a relaxing bath. To get it right, you need to have plenty of options available. "When designing the lighting for a bathroom, consider the three main types of lighting," he continued. "Ambiance, accent, and task."

If you are having a hard time seeing or feel like your bathroom is too sterile, a new outlook on lighting can fix this. "Layering is the best approach to improving bathroom lighting in your home," he wrote. "You may alternate between bright light for cleaning and gentler levels for a pleasant ambiance, thanks to layers of light regulated by dimmers and individual circuits." For example, task lighting, like sconces at the vanity, ensures you have bright, even light for grooming. On the other hand, fixtures like ceiling lights or recessed cans fill the room with overall illumination. Finally, accent lighting, like Govee White LED Strip Lights under a vanity, can also add depth and that perfect spa-like, HGTV-worthy feel.

Being able to sit down in the shower might feel like a luxury now, but one day, it might be a necessity. Holmes recommends installing a shower bench during your next remodel so you can enjoy the perks long term. "Having a bench in your walk-in shower means you can sit comfortably and wash without trying to balance," he wrote on Make It Right. "A shower bench provides a place for your foot to rest while shaving, exfoliating, and foot scrubs. The extra surface can also be used to store additional toiletries and sponges." In addition to a fully integrated option, you can also select an ad hoc stool, like the Kenley Store's Folding Shower Seat, which can be mounted to the wall without a full renovation, much like a grab bar might be.

If you don't have the budget for a shower renovation to add a permanent tiled or stone option, adding a fully temporary bench is also a viable solution. While there are options with rubber bars and high backs designed for accessibility needs, there are also more subtly stylish options. For example, the TeakCraft Store Teak Shower Bench and the IKEA STOREDAMM are both portable and can match the aesthetic of other bathroom accessories.

When making plans to remodel your bathroom, you might spend most of your time selecting countertop materials or paint colors, but there is one feature Holmes suggests you not ignore if you really want to get the best overall value for your new space. "Today, with energy and resource conservation being top of mind, it might be a good idea to consider replacing your old toilet with a new low-flow or dual flush toilet," he wrote on Make It Right. A dual flush toilet is worth installing for many reasons. They typically have a split button on the top, allowing users to select a smaller amount of water when flushing liquid waste. Consistently using this function correctly can save a significant amount of water compared to using an older, single-flush model. That's sure to come through as great savings on your water bills!

Plus, Holmes thinks that this doesn't require professional help for most homeowners looking to make the swap. "If it's a simple unit replacement, with no plumbing changes, a seasoned DIYer should be able to do the job," he continued. "But don't forget to set the water shut-off value to off!" Beyond the savings, upgrading to a modern toilet can also boost your home's resale appeal, since buyers are increasingly looking for eco-friendly, efficient fixtures. It's a small change that not only pays off month-to-month but also adds lasting value to your bathroom remodel.

If you don't want your bathroom to feel cluttered, or you never seem to have enough counter space, a great way around this issue is to move things onto the wall instead. "We went with a wall-mounted faucet. Love the finish, the matte black looks so elegant," Holmes posted on Instagram about a recent project. This isn't the first time he's saved space with a strategic faucet choice. "In bathrooms, traditional widespread faucets with hot and cold handles that sit on either side of the spout tend to take up more room," he told Kraus about why he chooses to incorporate this feature. "On the other hand, center sets take up less space as the water lines and handle are integrated into the spout. This is an ideal option for bathrooms that is both convenient and practical."

When choosing a wall-mounted faucet, be sure to plan ahead, since the plumbing will need to be installed inside the wall at the correct height. Standard placement is about six to eight inches above the sink rim, but you'll want to double-check measurements with your specific basin to avoid splashing. Also, keep in mind that cleaning around the sink is easier with this setup, since there are fewer fixtures on the countertop collecting water spots and grime. 

If you're going with a center-set option, make sure to take the mirror's placement into account when choosing the height of your faucet. For example, Ultimate Unicorn's Black Waterfall Faucet has a low profile that can work when there isn't a lot of room to spare. However, if you have plenty of clearance for a taller unit, options like Delta's Nicoli Centerset Brushed Gold Faucet can give your sink a more dramatic look and the convenience of a pull-down sprayer.

One of the easiest ways to stay organized in the shower (and make it look like your home belongs on an episode of your favorite HGTV show) is to create a shower niche. "Niches can come prefabricated in various sizes and widths, or you can get your contractor to build a custom wall niche," Holmes wrote on Make It Right.  "They can look really slick and sometimes be the width of the entire shower wall, offering ample storage space. However, they must be adequately and securely installed to maintain the wall's structural integrity," he continued. To help with waterproofing, Holmes personally uses the Schluter®-KERDI-BOARD-SN Prefabricated Shower Niche, or the Schluter®-KERDI-BOARD if creating a custom niche for a client. Other prefab options include the Bernkot Bathroom Shower Niche in stainless steel, as well as the Vevor Double Shelf Organizer, which is compatible with tile. If self-installed, you also need to make sure the niche is watertight to prevent any mildew or rotting around the edges.

To take things up a notch, he suggested adding designs or lighting to your niche. "The KERDI-BOARD Light-up Shower Niche system has 3 parts: the prefabricated shower niche, the power supply, and the cable," he wrote. "You can choose Schluter's all-in-one dimmer switch with power supply, or you can choose your own light switch, depending on your room's style and design." Because of the electric components, this project is best left to a professional.