No, soaking tubs are not out of style. Instead, they have shifted from being standard utility features to serving as spa-like focal points in the bathroom. While built-in and massive Jacuzzi tubs have declined, minimalist freestanding vessels are highly sought after.
Yes, soaking tubs remain highly popular in 2026, serving as the "crown jewel" of modern master bathroom remodels. They are favored for creating a spa-like, relaxing atmosphere, with roughly 71% of renovating homeowners choosing them for upgrades. Freestanding, minimalist designs are the most sought-after style, emphasizing wellness, comfort, and luxury.
The ultimate bathroom trend for 2026 is "Warm Minimalism" combined with spa-inspired functionality. Moving away from stark whites and cold greys, this aesthetic creates a calming sanctuary by pairing earthy neutrals and natural textures with invisible, high-end technology.
According to designers, a bathroom looks tacky when it features heavily themed decor, excessive plastic accessories, and overly glossy or chaotic tile patterns. To avoid a cheap or dated appearance, professionals emphasize cohesive, natural materials and clean sightlines over trendy, overdone styles.
Replacing a bathtub with a shower can dramatically update your bathroom's look. Showers offer a sleek, contemporary aesthetic that can refresh any space. With a variety of design options, including glass enclosures and elegant tile choices, showers can be tailored to match your personal style preferences.
You should only get rid of a bathtub if you have at least one other tub in the house. Real estate experts strongly advise keeping at least one bathtub to maintain resale value, as families with young children or buyers requiring soaking tubs often pass on homes without one.
Bathrooms painted in light blue or periwinkle historically yield the highest resale value, with some real estate studies indicating they can increase a home's sale price by nearly 2%. These soothing, spa-like tones create a clean atmosphere and are widely considered highly appealing to prospective buyers.
To make a bathroom look expensive, avoid loud, trendy, or purely stark colors. Instead, design professionals recommend deep, moody jewel tones (emerald green, navy blue) or sophisticated, warm neutrals (creamy beige, taupe, deep olive). Paired with the right finishes, these palettes evoke a luxurious spa feel.
To keep your bathroom upgrade looking timeless rather than tacky, avoid highly specific trends like ornate accent borders, hyper-trendy neon tile colors, cheap matte-black hardware that chips, and overly literal themes. Instead, opt for lasting, neutral finishes and prioritize functional space planning.
Common Signs of An Outdated Bathroom
Cracked or chipped tiles can also be an eyesore. Leaky or Old Faucets: Dripping faucets not only waste water but also give off an impression of neglect. Upgrading to modern fixtures can instantly elevate the look and functionality of your bathroom.
The newest and most popular colors for bathrooms are warm neutrals (like warm whites, beiges, and soft taupes) and earthy, organic greens (such as sage, olive, and moss). These grounding, spa-like hues are rapidly replacing the stark, cool grays and cold black-and-white palettes of previous years.
A realistic budget for a bathroom remodel ranges between $𝟏𝟓,𝟎𝟎𝟎 and $𝟑𝟓,𝟎𝟎𝟎 for a mid-range, full gut-renovation. However, the exact figure depends on your project's scope, with powder rooms costing around $𝟓,𝟎𝟎𝟎 to $𝟏𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎, and high-end primary bathrooms easily exceeding $𝟓𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎.
Natural, artisan materials, dramatic stone slabs (especially in kitchens & baths), and wood or tactile surfaces are popular remodeling trends. Clients increasingly want to reflect their own character and story in their remodels, not just the builder grade “standard finishes.” Most of all, they want to feel at home.
Bathroom design this year is shifting away from sterile, all-white spaces and harsh, cold grays. The top trends emphasize warmth, natural textures, and spa-like comfort, featuring earthy palettes (like olive and terracotta), layered warm lighting, and open-concept curbless walk-in showers.
Soaking Tub Health Benefits
Whole-body immersion bathing in warm water promotes more than just relaxation. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it's proven to decrease stress hormones, balancing serotonin levels that help regulate mood. Pain Relief.
A Cinderella tub is a vintage, space-saving corner bathtub popular from the 1930s to the 1950s. It sits diagonally in a room, featuring a wider, rounded front and built-in corner seats. While they look luxurious, they were originally designed as practical solutions for compact mid-century bathrooms.
A bathroom often looks tacky when it features heavily literal themes (like seashell soap dishes or nautical ropes), flimsy plastic fixtures, or visible product clutter. Design choices like chaotic, outdated tile patterns, harsh overhead lighting, and peeling fake chrome or brass also quickly cheapen the space.
The most universally flattering bathroom colors are warm neutrals, soft peach, and pale pink. These shades mimic natural undertones, casting a warm, healthy glow in vanity mirrors. For a fresh, spa-like feel, muted sage greens and light blues are also highly recommended to complement skin complexions.
Avoid these critical mistakes in your bathroom remodel to save time, money, and headaches:
Cool gray is being replaced by "mushroom" neutrals (warm taupes and greys with subtle green or violet undertones), warm earthy khakis, and soft, natural sages.
Flat, One-Dimensional Lighting
Relying solely on ceiling spotlights is one of the quickest ways to make a bathroom feel cheap. It creates a flat, stark, clinical atmosphere that does little to enhance materials or finishes while also creating impractical shadows in uncomfortable directions.
Joanna Gaines frequently relies on a classic, spa-like base of crisp whites, neutral grays, and soft blues or greens for bathrooms. For a neutral aesthetic, her go-to color is a soft gray called Wedding Band, while for bolder, moody spaces, she often uses a sophisticated dark green called Locally Grown.
Beige, taupe, and "mushroom" neutrals are officially replacing the cool, sterile grays of the last decade. Designers are leaning into warm khakis, sandy beiges, creamy whites, and earthy tones that add a cozy, comforting energy to spaces.
Faucet trends are dominated by warm metallics, matte finishes, and bold, playful colors. Homeowners are steering away from traditional chrome in favor of curated, expressive spaces.
When selling a house, the best bathroom colors are crisp or warm whites, spa-like light blues, or soft grays. These universally appealing, neutral tones reflect light to make spaces feel bigger, cleaner, and move-in ready.