15 Bathtub Trends Defining the Modern Bathroom and a Look Toward 2026

The modern bathroom has undergone a profound metamorphosis. Once a space dictated by pure utility, it has shed its functional skin to emerge as the home’s undisputed epicenter of wellness, self-care, and personal luxury. Within this newly consecrated sanctuary, the bathtub—formerly a standard-issue fixture—has been reimagined as its crown jewel, a vessel for both physical and mental restoration. This transformation is not merely aesthetic; it is a direct reflection of a broader cultural shift that prioritizes personal well-being and the creation of restorative rituals within the home.

This evolution is substantiated by significant shifts in how homeowners are approaching bathroom renovations. There is a clear and measurable trend toward creating larger, more experiential bathroom spaces, often by reallocating square footage from adjacent rooms. Data from the 2025 Houzz Bathroom Trends Study reveals that 21% of all bathroom renovations now involve physically expanding the room’s footprint, with 28% of that new space being carved out from bedrooms. This strategic enlargement is a critical enabler for the very trends this report will explore, as it provides the necessary canvas for the rise of the statement bathtub and its surrounding spa-like amenities. The report also highlights a decisive move towards features that enhance comfort and sustainability, underscoring the deeper motivations behind these design choices.

This report will dissect the 15 key trends that define the contemporary bathtub, exploring the powerful convergence of sculptural artistry, advanced technology, and material honesty. It will culminate in a forward-looking analysis of four key predictions for 2026 and beyond, forecasting how the bathtub will continue to solidify its essential role in the modern home.

From freestanding statement tubs and extra-deep soaking designs to the growing use of stone, wood, and other natural materials, bathroom design in 2025 blends artistry with innovation. Expect to see AI-infused experiences that personalize lighting, temperature, and ambiance—transforming the bath from a simple fixture into a sensory, sculptural retreat.

Freestanding as the Gold Standard

The freestanding bathtub has solidified its position as the undisputed centerpiece of the modern luxury bathroom. No longer relegated to a corner or an alcove, the freestanding tub is intentionally placed to create a powerful focal point, often in the center of the room or positioned to take advantage of a window view. This placement transforms the tub from a simple fixture into a deliberate design statement, signaling a commitment to luxury and relaxation. Its popularity is a key driver behind the trend of expanding bathroom footprints, as a freestanding model requires more surrounding space to achieve its full visual impact. The style is versatile, appearing in everything from modern, sleek slipper designs to classic clawfoot models, which are making a major comeback with updated finishes like matte black or brushed gold.

The dominance of the freestanding tub marks a definitive conceptual shift in the bathroom’s hierarchy. In the past, the vanity or the shower might have been the primary design focus. Today, the bathtub commands that role. This is because the freestanding tub, more than any other element, symbolizes the bathroom’s transformation into a space for leisure and indulgence rather than mere utility. Its very form—unattached and sculptural—implies that it is an object of contemplation and a destination for relaxation, not just a tool for hygiene. Its presence declares that the room’s primary purpose has evolved to include unhurried, restorative experiences.

The Sculptural Statement: Tubs as Functional Art

The modern bathtub has evolved far beyond its utilitarian roots to become the centerpiece of contemporary bathroom design — a true sculptural statement that merges form and function. Today’s designers increasingly treat the bathtub as a work of art, using it to anchor the entire visual composition of the space. Among the most admired examples are Badeloft’s freestanding tubs, celebrated for their minimalist yet sculptural silhouettes and impeccable craftsmanship. Each piece, whether a gracefully curved oval or an architectural rectangle, showcases the brand’s dedication to elegant geometry and stone resin artistry.

Badeloft’s designs exemplify the balance between aesthetic drama and quiet sophistication. Their matte and glossy stone resin finishes reflect natural light beautifully, creating soft, organic forms that complement both modern and classic interiors. Unlike mass-produced alternatives, each Badeloft bathtub is engineered to serve as a functional centerpiece — a statement piece that transforms the bathroom into a curated gallery of calm, tactile luxury.

This movement aligns with the broader design philosophy of “quiet luxury” — an aesthetic rooted in restraint, authenticity, and craftsmanship over ostentation. A Badeloft freestanding tub embodies this principle perfectly: its value lies not in loud embellishment but in its serene presence and tactile beauty. Investing in a sculptural bathtub of this caliber reflects an appreciation for personal well-being and artful living — a private expression of refined taste, experienced daily in the home’s most tranquil space.

The ascent of the sculptural tub is intrinsically linked to the cultural phenomenon of “quiet luxury.” This ethos prioritizes understated elegance, superior craftsmanship, and personal experience over overt displays of wealth. A statement bathtub is the perfect embodiment of this concept. Unlike a luxury car or a designer handbag, it is an intensely private indulgence, its value derived from the personal sanctuary it creates rather than its visibility to the outside world. The investment in a high-cost, high-craftsmanship piece that resides in the home’s most intimate space signifies a focus on sophisticated taste and personal well-being. It represents a new way of expressing affluence—not through public consumption, but through the private, daily experience of artful living.

The Therapeutic Soak: Japanese-Inspired and Extra-Deep Designs

Driven by an intense global focus on wellness, a significant demand has emerged for bathtubs engineered for deep, immersive, and therapeutic soaking. This trend manifests in two primary forms: the compact, upright Japanese-style soaking tub (or ofuro) and other Western models designed with extra depth for full-body submersion. Both prioritize the restorative benefits of hydrotherapy over the simple act of bathing. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) has noted that bathrooms are evolving into “complete sanctuaries where luxury meets self-care,” identifying deep soaking tubs as a prime feature of this transformation. This is exemplified by products like Kohler’s freestanding Stillness bathtub, which is explicitly marketed as channeling the “peacefulness and zen of a traditional Japanese bath”

This preference for therapeutic tubs is a clear reflection of the broader consumer shift from a goods-based economy to an “experience economy.” In this model, consumers increasingly prioritize spending on activities and memorable events over material possessions. A deep, meditative soak is not just a bath; it is a ritualized experience of relaxation, mindfulness, and escape. By installing a Japanese-style or extra-deep tub, homeowners are effectively “insourcing” a recurring, high-value spa experience into their daily lives. The product becomes a facilitator for a ritual, aligning perfectly with the desire to integrate repeatable, high-quality wellness moments into the fabric of the home, which has become the primary venue for self-care.

The Embrace of the Curve: Organic and Flowing Forms

Across bathroom design, the dominance of sharp, angular lines is receding, making way for soft, organic, and curved silhouettes that evoke a sense of calm and a connection to the natural world. Bathtubs are at the forefront of this movement, with oval shapes, asymmetrical profiles, and fluid lines becoming increasingly prevalent. As Natalie Bird, brand marketing manager at Roca, observes, “In 2025, bathroom design will continue to move away from the dominance of harsh, angular lines in favor of softer, more organic shapes… today’s interpretation is more fluid and connected to nature”.¹⁶ This trend extends beyond the tub itself to encompass curved mirrors, arched faucets, and rounded lighting fixtures, creating a cohesive and gentle aesthetic throughout the space. Oval tubs, in particular, are noted for their sleek, elegant look that works in a variety of design contexts. Even stone, a traditionally rigid material, is being reinterpreted into fluid forms, with designs featuring basins that “curve inward as if drawn by water” and bathtubs that “swell at one side before tapering away”.

This widespread adoption of curves is a powerful, if often subconscious, application of biophilic design principles. Biophilic design focuses on strengthening the human connection to nature within the built environment to improve well-being. While often associated with plants and natural light, it also incorporates “natural analogues”—forms, patterns, and materials that mimic the natural world. In nature, harsh right angles are a rarity; curves, waves, and gentle, flowing lines are the norm. By choosing a curved bathtub, designers are tapping into an innate human preference for these non-threatening, organic forms, which has been shown to reduce stress and create a psychologically calming atmosphere. This trend is therefore more than a stylistic preference; it is a sophisticated design strategy to craft a space that feels inherently serene and restorative.

Material Honesty: The Reign of Stone, Wood, and Solid Surfaces

Authenticity in materials has become a cornerstone of luxury bathroom design, with a clear preference for substances that are both beautiful and true to their nature. Bathtubs are now being crafted from elemental materials like natural stone (stone resin, marble, granite, onyx), warm woods, and high-performance solid surfaces. These materials add texture, warmth, and a tangible sense of permanence that acrylic and fiberglass often lack. Stone baths, particularly those carved from a single block of marble or granite, are prized for their organic feel and artistic presence. Richly veined marble is experiencing a significant resurgence, celebrated for its dramatic and unique patterns. Simultaneously, wood bathtubs are emerging as a surprising but compelling trend, with darker woods like walnut and mahogany adding an “old-world charm” and lighter oaks contributing to a “mountainside spa” feel. Complementing these natural materials are solid surface composites, which blend stone resin with pigments to create a non-porous, seamless, and often matte finish that can be molded into virtually any custom shape.

This focus on natural and tactile materials is a direct response to the sensory deficit created by an increasingly digital and screen-based world. As daily life becomes dominated by the smooth, cold, and textureless surface of glass screens, there is a profound and growing craving for rich, physical, and multi-sensory experiences in our personal environments. The bathroom, as the ultimate space for embodiment and physical care, is the natural arena to satisfy this desire. The value of these tubs is not just visual; it lies in how they feel to the touch. The retained warmth of a honed stone tub, the tangible grain of a wooden surround, or the velvety smoothness of a matte solid surface all provide a grounding, tactile feedback loop that is conspicuously absent from our digital interactions. This material trend is a form of sensory nourishment, a deliberate and sophisticated counter-movement to the sterile nature of the digital realm.

The Dark & Moody Bathtub: A Dramatic Departure

A bold counter-narrative to the enduring all-white spa aesthetic has emerged: the dark, moody, and dramatic bathroom. This trend sees bathtubs and their surroundings enveloped in deep, saturated colors that create an intimate, cocoon-like atmosphere. Designers are embracing a palette of oxblood, deep burgundy, emerald green, rich charcoal, and matte black to craft spaces that feel both luxurious and profoundly serene. This aesthetic is described as a “striking departure from the light, bright, biophilic interiors that dominated” in previous years. The look is often completed with bold, veined marbles, dark wood vanities in walnut or mahogany, and matte black or brushed brass fixtures that add layers of texture and warmth.² Interior designer Emily “Bird” Lambert confirms this shift, noting that clients are increasingly asking for “moody colors paired with dark woods, warm metals, and stones full of movement” to create spaces that feel “cozy, intimate, and a little bit sexy”.

This trend toward dark, enveloping bathrooms speaks to a deeper psychological need for a true retreat from the sensory overload of the modern world. These spaces function as “womb rooms,” offering a sense of security, privacy, and introspection that a bright, open-plan room cannot provide. The dark palette minimizes external stimuli, encouraging a state of deep relaxation and mental quietude. It appears the “spa-like” ideal is bifurcating into two distinct expressions: the light, airy, nature-connected spa that energizes and revitalizes, and the dark, intimate sanctuary that protects and restores. The dark and moody trend caters to the latter, recognizing that for many, true restoration is found not in expansive brightness but in quiet, protected solitude. It is a sophisticated evolution of the wellness trend, acknowledging that the ultimate luxury can be a place to shut out the world entirely.

The Rise of the Wet Room Concept

A highly functional yet luxurious trend gaining significant traction is the “wet room,” a design that integrates the shower and bathtub into a single, waterproofed enclosure. This approach eliminates the need for a separate shower curb or enclosure, creating a seamless, open-plan bathing area. According to Zillow’s 2025 home trend forecast, wet rooms are one of the year’s most sought-after amenities, with mentions in property listings increasing by 19% over the past year. This design is particularly effective in both large bathrooms, where it creates a grand, spa-like zone, and in smaller bathrooms, where it allows for the inclusion of both a separate shower and a tub in a space that might not otherwise accommodate both. Typically, a freestanding tub is placed within the tiled, waterproofed area next to an open, walk-in shower.

The wet room trend is the ultimate resolution to the ongoing debate between the practicality of a shower and the luxury of a bath. For years, homeowners have been removing bathtubs to make way for larger, more practical walk-in showers. However, this often comes at the cost of losing a dedicated space for soaking. Andrew Hancock, President of Gilman Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, notes that while the tub-shower combo is disappearing, the bathtub itself is “evolving into a luxury feature rather than a standard one”. The wet room provides the “best of both worlds,” allowing homeowners to have a spacious, modern walk-in shower for daily use while also featuring a luxurious soaking tub as a separate, dedicated element for relaxation, all within a cohesive and visually expansive design.

Tech-Infused Tubs: The Smart Soak

Technology is being seamlessly integrated into the bathing experience, transforming the bathtub into a high-performance wellness tool. The smart tubs of 2025 move beyond basic jets to offer a suite of features designed for ultimate comfort, convenience, and personalization. Key innovations include self-warming surfaces that maintain a consistent water temperature for extended soaks, eliminating the need to constantly add hot water. Smart controls, often managed via a smartphone app or voice commands, allow users to draw a bath to a precise temperature and depth before they even enter the room. Furthermore, sensory enhancements are becoming standard in high-end models. Integrated chromotherapy systems use a spectrum of LED lighting to influence mood, while built-in Bluetooth speakers provide a soundtrack for relaxation. Some models even feature built-in aromatherapy diffusers that infuse the water or steam with calming essential oils.

This infusion of technology represents the next frontier of personalization in wellness design. The goal is to create a bathing experience that is perfectly tailored to the user’s specific needs and preferences at any given moment. The ability to control every variable—from temperature and lighting to sound and scent—allows the bathtub to function as a responsive and adaptive environment. This trend is not about technology for its own sake; it is about leveraging technology to remove friction and enhance the sensory experience, making the act of bathing more immersive, restorative, and effortlessly luxurious.

The Return of Rich, Warm Browns

After years dominated by cool grays and stark whites, warm, earthy brown tones are making a major comeback in bathroom design, and the bathtub is no exception. This trend encompasses a wide spectrum of shades, from rich chocolate and mocha to lighter taupe and warm wood tones. Pantone even named “Mocha Mousse,” a chocolate-y shade, its 2025 color of the year, signaling a broad shift toward these grounding hues. Alex Yacavone confirms this, stating, “Brown tones have gained momentum… These colors create a sense of comfort and grounding that resonate in the bathroom space”. This trend is expressed through tubs made of dark wood, stone with brown veining, or colored solid surfaces, as well as through the surrounding cabinetry and tiles. Designer Victoria Sass also cites brown as a major theme, but offers a word of caution: “Too much of a good thing goes the way of shiplap and poor bouclé”.

The return to brown is a direct reaction against the cool, sometimes sterile, minimalism of the recent past. Homeowners and designers are seeking to create spaces that feel warm, nurturing, and connected to the earth. Brown, in all its variations, is the ultimate grounding color. It evokes the stability of soil, the warmth of wood, and the richness of stone, fostering a sense of comfort and security. In the bathroom, a space dedicated to restoration, these psychological associations are particularly powerful. The trend reflects a collective yearning for spaces that feel less like clinical showrooms and more like cozy, inviting retreats.

Material Drenching: An Immersive Experience

An evolution of the “color drenching” trend, “material drenching” involves wrapping the entire bathroom—walls, floor, and even the tub itself—in a single, continuous material. This creates a seamless, monolithic, and deeply immersive environment. The effect is particularly dramatic when using materials with inherent texture and pattern, such as richly veined marble, textured zellige tiles, or smooth Tadelakt plaster. The goal is to create a space where surfaces flow into one another without interruption, blurring the lines between different architectural elements. A bathtub might be clad in the same marble slabs as the walls and floor, making it appear as if it were carved from the room itself. Kailee Blalock, principal designer at House of Hive Design Co., notes, “It’s striking and makes the room feel more polished and intentional… it’s something we believe will stand the test of time”.

Material drenching transforms the bathroom into a complete sensory environment. By eliminating visual breaks and transitions, it creates a powerful sense of unity and calm. The focus shifts from individual fixtures to the holistic experience of being enveloped by a single, beautiful material. This technique is particularly effective in making smaller spaces feel larger and more luxurious, as the uninterrupted surfaces create an illusion of expansiveness. It represents a commitment to a singular design vision, resulting in a space that feels bold, cohesive, and profoundly tranquil.

Sustainable Soak: Eco-Conscious Materials

Sustainability has moved from a niche concern to a central tenet of luxury design, and bathtub manufacturing is reflecting this shift. The 2025 trend emphasizes tubs crafted from eco-friendly, recycled, and responsibly sourced materials. This includes tubs made from recycled materials like resin, copper, or acrylic, as well as those crafted from sustainable, rapidly renewable resources like bamboo or reclaimed wood. Natural stone sourced from local quarries is also preferred to minimize transportation emissions. Beyond the materials of the tub itself, the trend encompasses eco-friendly fixtures like water-saving faucets and tub fillers, which reduce consumption without sacrificing performance. The use of non-toxic, eco-friendly finishes ensures that the tub is healthy for both the user and the planet.

This focus on sustainability is driven by a more informed and conscientious consumer who understands that true luxury is not just about aesthetics but also about ethical and environmental responsibility. Homeowners are increasingly seeking products that align with their values, and they are willing to invest in pieces that are both beautiful and built to last, reducing the need for future replacement. The sustainable soak is about creating a wellness experience that is holistic, nurturing not only the individual but also the environment. It redefines luxury as a thoughtful, responsible, and enduring investment.

The Integrated Tub Ledge or Shelf

Functionality is merging with form in the design of the tub itself, leading to the rise of integrated ledges, shelves, and wide surrounds.⁶ This practical trend provides a built-in surface for holding bath essentials like soaps, candles, books, or a glass of wine, eliminating the need for a separate bath tray or caddy. The ledge can be a seamless extension of the tub’s material, creating a clean, monolithic look, or it can be crafted from a contrasting material, like a warm wood ledge on a stone tub, to add visual interest. This feature is particularly common in built-in or drop-in tub designs, where the surrounding deck provides ample surface area, but it is also appearing in freestanding models with one extended edge.

This trend reflects a deeper understanding of how people actually use their bathtubs. The modern bath is not just for a quick wash; it is a ritual of relaxation that often involves multiple accessories. The integrated ledge acknowledges and accommodates this reality in a way that is both elegant and permanent. It is a thoughtful design detail that enhances the user experience by making the space more functional and organized. This seemingly small feature signals a shift toward a more user-centric design philosophy, where the practical needs of the bather are anticipated and elegantly integrated into the form of the tub itself.

The Whimsical Wave: Scallops and Playful Shapes

As a playful antidote to years of serious minimalism, a touch of whimsy is entering the bathroom through decorative shapes like scallops, waves, and arches. While this trend is most often seen in tile patterns, mirrors, and vanity details, it is also influencing the silhouette of bathtubs. A tub with a subtly scalloped edge or an asymmetrical, wave-like profile adds a dose of personality and artistic flair to the space. This movement is part of a broader “mood-boosting” design trend that embraces joyful colors and retro-inspired shapes to create spaces that are fun and uplifting. The goal is to inject a sense of playfulness and creativity into a room that has often been treated with a very serious design hand.

This embrace of whimsical shapes signals a growing confidence among homeowners and designers to prioritize personality over rigid adherence to a particular style. It reflects a desire to create spaces that are not just beautiful and functional but also expressive and unique. A scalloped tub is a conversation piece, a delightful surprise that demonstrates a willingness to take creative risks. In a world that often feels heavy, this trend is about finding moments of joy and lightness in our everyday surroundings, proving that even a bathtub can have a sense of humor.

The Future Unveiled: Predictions for 2026 and Beyond

The next wave of bathroom innovation will redefine how we experience relaxation and design. Expect personalized AI integration that adapts to individual moods, the emergence of wellness suites blending spa therapy with smart technology, and the steady demise of traditional tub-shower combos as homeowners embrace standalone, experience-driven spaces.

Prediction 1: Hyper-Personalization Through AI and Smart Integration

By 2026, the smart tub will evolve from a device with pre-programmed settings to a fully integrated, AI-powered wellness hub. Moving beyond simple app or voice commands for filling the tub , the bathtub of the near future will become an intelligent, responsive system that creates bespoke therapeutic experiences based on real-time personal data. Current trends already point in this direction: smart showers are adopting profile-based settings for individual users , and advanced toilets are being developed with sensors to analyze basic health parameters.

The logical next step is the fusion of these capabilities into the bathtub. Expect tubs that sync with wearable fitness trackers, biometric sensors, and sleep monitors. After a strenuous workout, the system could automatically draw a bath infused with arnica and Epsom salts at the optimal temperature for muscle recovery. If a user’s sleep tracker indicates a restless night, the tub might prepare a lavender-infused, chromotherapy-lit bath with a specific light spectrum scientifically shown to promote relaxation and melatonin production. This leap from “smart” (user-controlled) to “intelligent” (system-adaptive) will position the bathtub as a proactive participant in a user’s health regimen. This evolution will transform the bathroom into a key node in the preventative healthcare ecosystem. As technology becomes more sophisticated and non-invasive, the daily rituals performed in the bathroom will provide a frictionless opportunity for passive health monitoring. The data collected will offer valuable insights for maintaining well-being, shifting the focus from reactive medical treatment to proactive, personalized self-care.

Prediction 2: The Rise of Full-Spectrum Wellness Suites

The traditional, self-contained bathroom is poised to dissolve, merging with adjacent spaces to form holistic “wellness suites” with the bathtub as a central feature. This architectural shift is already underway, with a strong trend toward removing walls to connect the primary bathroom with dressing rooms, sitting areas, or even the primary bedroom itself. Simultaneously, homeowners are prioritizing the integration of dedicated wellness amenities like steam showers and saunas. Zillow’s 2026 Home Trends report reinforces this, noting a 22% increase in listings mentioning “spa-inspired bathrooms” and a 33% rise in “wellness features”.

By 2026, this will culminate in the creation of comprehensive, multi-functional zones dedicated to personal restoration. The primary bathroom will fully merge with the closet and a portion of the bedroom to become a single, open-plan suite. Within this space, a sculptural freestanding tub might be flanked by a glass-enclosed infrared sauna on one side and a dedicated cold plunge tub on the other. This layout facilitates a complete thermal circuit experience—heat, cold, rest—a cornerstone of professional spa therapy, now available at home. The bathtub will no longer be an object in a room, but the anchor of a curated sequence of wellness experiences.

Prediction 3: The Final Demise of the Tub-Shower Combo

The ubiquitous alcove tub-shower combination, a staple of residential construction for decades, will be considered definitively outdated by 2026 in all but the most budget-oriented or space-constrained projects. The market is undergoing a clear and decisive bifurcation: on one side, large, luxurious, walk-in showers are becoming the standard for daily hygiene, and on the other, statement soaking tubs are being treated as a separate, dedicated luxury feature for relaxation. The data supporting this is overwhelming. The NKBA reports that a remarkable 77% of designers see the trend of removing tubs to create larger showers as a popular and ongoing movement. Concurrently, industry experts like Andrew Hancock of Gilman Heating, Cooling & Plumbing have observed that the bathtub is “evolving into a luxury feature rather than a standard one”.

By 2026, this separation will become the accepted standard of modern bathroom design. A primary bathroom that only features a tub-shower combination will be viewed as a significant drawback in the real estate market, signaling an immediate need for renovation. The “wet room” concept, which elegantly combines a separate shower and tub within a single waterproofed zone, will become the go-to solution for achieving this functional and aesthetic separation in moderately sized bathrooms, solidifying the end of the all-in-one compromise.

The Bathtub as the Ultimate Vessel for Modern Living

The bathtub has been reborn. An exhaustive analysis of the currents shaping its design reveals a profound transformation from a simple plumbing fixture into a deeply personal and symbolic vessel. It is at once a work of art that serves as the bathroom’s focal point, a high-tech wellness tool that personalizes restoration, a tactile escape from an increasingly dematerialized digital world, and a tangible commitment to sustainable, responsible living.

The trends of 2025 and the predictions for 2026 paint a clear picture of a future where the bathtub’s value is measured not by its mere presence, but by the quality of the experience it delivers. The future of the soak is not about a single shape, material, or color, but about the bathtub’s capacity to provide a bespoke, multi-sensory journey that nurtures both body and soul. As our lives grow ever faster and more complex, the simple, profound act of immersion in a thoughtfully designed tub will cease to be a mere luxury; it will become an indispensable ritual of modern life.

Eric Jensen

Eric is the founder and president of Badeloft USA. He has been the president of Badeloft’s US division for over ten years and oversees all marketing and branding aspects of Badeloftusa.com.
His expertise lies in small business development, sales, and home and bathroom industry trends and information.

Contact us with any business related inquiries.