Homeowners are choosing to stay in their homes for longer, and they are planning their home projects accordingly. Home remodeling and design platform Houzz’s 2026 U.S. Bathroom Trends Study, which is based on more than 1,600 homeowners, shows that more than seven in 10 homeowners are addressing special needs in their bathroom projects, and for more than half of those homeowners, those needs are still five or more years away.

Aging in place has become a greater focus

Among renovating homeowners addressing current special needs, 43% focus on aging household members. That share rises to 55% among those planning for future needs, an increase of 6 percentage points from last year's data.

What are homeowners adding to their bathrooms?

For those making aging-in-place upgrades, the most frequent addition is a grab bar, with 63% adding these to their homes. Additionally, 56% of homeowners are adding nonslip flooring, and 55% are installing low-curb showers. Another 33% say they’re adding additional lighting, 24% say they’re adding ADA-compliant toilets, and 19% are also adding wheelchair-accessible doorways.

Larger showers are the biggest priority for renovating homeowners

However, among all upgrades homeowners are opting for, larger showers are the most commonly added feature. About 49% of renovating homeowners are choosing to enlarge the shower, which is up 10 percentage points from the previous year. Homeowners who are upgrading the shower are also making decisions to improve ventilation, heating, and plumbing in their bathrooms.