2025 Forecast: The Top Bathroom Trends Taking Over the Midwest
As we look toward the year ahead, bathroom design is shifting away from purely utilitarian spaces toward personalized sanctuaries. Homeowners across the Midwest are increasingly focused on blending spa-like luxury with practical, enduring quality. If you’re planning a bathroom remodeling project, incorporating these four key trends will ensure your space is stylish, valuable, and built for lasting comfort.
1. The Spa Transformation: Wet Rooms and Steam
The demand for at-home wellness features is soaring. Homeowners are less interested in seldom-used bathtubs and more invested in expanded, high-tech shower systems.
- Expanded Footprints: Showers are getting significantly larger, often eliminating doors entirely to create open, airy wet rooms. This continuous floor and wall tiling minimizes visual clutter and maximizes the sense of space.
- Steam Showers: Once reserved for high-end spas, integrated steam showers are becoming a must-have feature, offering therapeutic benefits right in the main bathroom.
- Dual-Functionality: Multiple shower heads—including ceiling-mounted rainfall heads paired with handheld sprayers—provide a fully customizable experience that feels indulgent and supports varying needs.
2. The Rise of Curbless Walk-In Showers
The walk-in showers design continues to evolve, prioritizing accessibility and modern aesthetics. The key feature for 2025 is the curbless (zero-threshold) entry.
Curbless walk-in showers offer a smooth, seamless transition from the main bathroom floor, eliminating the tripping hazard of a traditional curb. This universal design choice is ideal for aging-in-place but is also visually stunning, making the entire bathroom feel larger and more cohesive.
Top features being integrated into these spaces include:
- Linear Drains: Sleek, long drains placed at the edge of the shower maintain a clean aesthetic while efficiently managing water flow.
- Integrated Seating: Built-in benches or stylish fold-down teak seats provide comfort and practicality without compromising the minimal design.
- Recessed Niches: Built-in, tiled storage niches keep clutter off the floor and blend seamlessly into the statement shower wall.
3. Warm, Earthy Tones and Natural Textures
Cold, all-white bathrooms are yielding to palettes inspired by nature. This shift is particularly appealing in the Midwest, where design often favors warmth and comfort.
- Color Palettes: Look for warm neutrals like taupes, soft greys, sage greens, and terracotta tones, which create a calming, grounded atmosphere.
- Materiality: Natural elements such as wood-look porcelain tiles, textured stone (like slate or travertine), and microcement are highly popular, adding depth and an organic feel to the space.
- Fixtures and Metals: Warm metals are taking over. Matte black remains strong for contrast, but brushed bronze, champagne gold, and oil-rubbed bronze finishes are replacing polished chrome for faucets and hardware, complementing the earthy color scheme.
4. Smart and Sustainable Shower Remodeling
Technology and sustainability are driving shower remodeling decisions, proving that luxury and efficiency can coexist.
- Digital Controls: Smart shower systems allow users to digitally set precise water temperatures and flow rates, often through voice command or an app, ensuring zero-waste water heating and delivery.
- Large-Format Tiles: Homeowners are choosing large-format (24″x48″ and larger) porcelain or stone-look tiles for the shower walls and floor. These minimize grout lines, making the entire shower easier to clean and maintain, which aligns with the desire for functional luxury.
Key Takeaway
The leading trend for the year ahead is blending high-end functionality with a peaceful, natural aesthetic. Whether you focus on the seamless design of walk-in showers, the strategic upgrades of a shower remodeling project, or a full bathroom remodeling overhaul, choose elements that reflect your personal wellness goals while adding enduring value to your home.
