All The Bathroom Trends That Will Be Taking Over In 2026

A new year calls for a refresh, and from reorganizing or redecorating to full-on renovations, many of us are on the lookout for ways to give our homes a much-needed update in 2026. One of the areas that's often most in need of some sprucing is also one of the most functional and frequented rooms in your house: the bathroom.

If you're considering giving your bathroom an upgrade in 2026 and want something that looks up-to-date, you'll want to prime yourself on the biggest trends we're expecting to dominate the bathroom design scene. Some are practical — such as accessibility features that enable you to age comfortably at home; some are ambient — such as mood lighting for your shower. Others, like color drenching, are purely aesthetic. Many of the trends we're expecting to take over are somewhat unexpected, and give your bathroom a tastefully modern touch. Here's what to look out for.

Feeling run down and in need of some "me time?" You're not alone. Zillow's 2026 Home Trends Report is anticipating that bathrooms doubling as self-care spaces will be a big hit next year as more people seek to create places of respite in their own homes. From incorporating natural wood and potted plants, to special upgrades such as building a steam room, or adding a shower bench or rainfall shower head, more bathrooms are expected to feel like in-home spas and personal retreats.

One way to get that spa-like vibe in your bathroom: Incorporating a freestanding bathtub, which is gaining popularity as a place for rest and relaxation. More than just a quick spot to get clean, freestanding tubs that are built separately from the shower are designed to look like pieces of usable art: both beautiful and functional. "Homeowners want ritual and restoration, and the bathtub is returning as a sculptural centerpiece, rather than an optional feature," interior designer Mikel Welch, of Mikel Welch Designs told Martha Stewart magazine.

We all know the power of perfect lighting to set the mood and bring a lovely bit of ambiance to even the drabbest of spaces. But there's one spot you may not expect to see ambient lighting: in the shower. You may think of shower lighting as purely practical, but The National Kitchen & Bath Association's 2026 Bath Trends Report identified mood lighting in showers as one of the trends we can expect to see emerging next year. From illuminated shower heads and skylights, to chic pendants or simple LED bars, there are endless possibilities to play with.

Floating vanities are expected to be all the rage in 2026 because they help a bathroom feel spacious — and make the floors easier to clean. As interior designer Lauren Conner told Homes & Gardens, they're a smart choice because "'exposing more of the floor makes even the smallest, windowless bathrooms feel more expansive and airy." But while this is a bathroom trend that's perfect for small spaces, it may not be right for you if the room doesn't have the correct plumbing configuration, or if the wall isn't sturdy enough to support a heavy standalone structure, so do your research first!

The baby-boomer generation is retiring, Gen X is getting up there in age, and even many millennials are planning ahead for those golden years. So it makes sense that accessibility features such as grab bars and curbless showers would be top of mind for many homeowners who plan to stay in their homes for the long haul. The National Kitchen & Bath Association's 2026 Bath Trends Report found that accessibility features and "aging-in-place design" are becoming conventional considerations, with more homeowners planning ahead to create bathrooms that reconcile style with practicality.

Say goodbye to boring white bathrooms. Zillow's 2026 Home Trends Report called out color drenching — i.e. covering all surfaces of a room in one color — as one of the biggest home design trends to look out for, and it's an aesthetic that's saturating bathrooms as well. Choose your favorite rich hue and use it on the walls, trim, and even the ceiling. Then, bring it all together by incorporating the color in other bathroom textures such as your tiles, bath mats, and towels.

Life is too short to spend it scrubbing your bathroom, and more homeowners are seeking designs that are easier to clean and stay new-looking for longer. In bathrooms, that increasingly means opting for styles that utilize less grout. "This should not come as a surprise," Caroline Kopp, an interior designer in Westport, Connecticut, told Good Housekeeping. "Grout is the part of the bathroom that generates the most angst and dissatisfaction!" To achieve this low-maintenance bathroom and shower trend, ditch the tiny subway tile look and go for tiles in larger dimensions that require fewer grout lines.

For a classic look that's also functional, stained wood cabinets and vanities are expected to be a top choice in 2026. In fact, wood vanities are already more popular than painted ones, according to The National Kitchen & Bath Association's 2026 Bath Trends Report, and for good reason: they add warmth to a traditionally cold space. Natural accents like stained wood are also part of the biophilic design trend that seems here to stay. 

From matte-finished floors to matte appliances, surfaces that lack any kind of sheen are expected to be big in 2026. Matte faucets are currently more popular than any of the polished faucet options on the market, according to The National Kitchen & Bath Association's 2026 Bath Trends Report. This preference for less shine coincides with the taste for natural-looking materials we've been seeing so much of. Plus, those non-glossy surfaces are more forgiving of scratches,  smudges, fingerprints, and other imperfections that occur from daily use.

While trends are fun to follow, it's best to follow your heart and go with what you really love in your bathroom. And as it happens, individuality is another trend we can expect to see encouraged and fostered in 2026. With terms like "artisan craftsmanship" and "whimsical" popping up more and more in Zillow listings, Zillow's 2026 Home Trends Report concluded that personal touches will be in vogue next year, so feel at liberty to decorate your bathroom with whatever speaks to you.