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NKBA Finds Transitional Style Bathrooms Among Most Popular in North America According to Survey

Members of the National Kitchen & Bath Association specify modern design, built-in storage and hand showers among top bathroom trends of 2016

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (JAN. 25, 2016) — Clean, modern style and neutral colors dominate North American bathroom design, according to the 2016 Design Trends Survey conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Here are the top 10 overall bathroom trends NKBA expects for 2016:

  1. Clean, modern, transitional designs.
  2. Universal design features.
  3. Neutral colors.
  4. Open shelving, floating vanities and wall-hung toilets.
  5. Built-in storage.
  6. Undermount sinks.
  7. Freestanding tubs.
  8. Shower amenities like hand showers and shower lighting.
  9. Polished chrome faucet finish.
  10. Other popular bathroom amenities, specified by at least 25% of respondents in 2015 include:
    • Electric radiant floor heating
    • Easy maintenance features
    • One-piece toilet
    • Electric towel-warmer
    • Humidity-sensing fans
    • Steam showers
    • Smart toilet seats with integrated bidet features
    • WaterSense® listed toilets and faucets

Transitional is by far the most popular bathroom style, outpacing 2015’s top contemporary style trend by 10 percentage points. Nearly 70 percent of NKBA designers surveyed expect to specify transitional style bathrooms in 2016.

Neutral colors dominate the bathroom, with white being the most popular fixture color and whites and grays being the most popular overall color schemes. Seventy-nine percent of members surveyed indicated grays as the most popular color scheme, with whites/off-whites trailing close behind at 77 percent. Keeping with the popular neutral-tone theme, beiges/bones were specified by 65 percent of NKBA members surveyed.

Increasingly popular are bathroom amenities including electric heated floors, easy maintenance features, one-piece toilets, towel warmers, humidity-sensing fans, steam showers, smart toilets/bidets and WaterSense® toilets and faucets.

“More steam showers, more radiant heat in bathroom floors,” said Jeanette Coulter, AKBD, a kitchen and bath designer from New Jersey.

“Clients want easy-to-clean and use,” said Skyler Donaldson, a kitchen and bath designer from Alabama.

Other survey respondents mentioned roll-out shelves for storage, frameless glass enclosures for the shower, and an increased use of aging-in-place or universal design elements. Over half of respondents reported having installed accessible and/or universal design features, with
82 percent installing comfort-height toilets and 75 percent installing comfort-height vanities.

“More homeowners will allow us to install handrails in shower,” said Cynthia White, CKD, a remodeler from Ohio. “It’s an easier sell!”

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About the National Kitchen & Bath Association

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is the not-for-profit trade association that owns theKBIS®. With nearly 14,000 member companies representing tens of thousands of members in segments of the kitchen and bath industry, the NKBA has educated and led the industry since the association’s founding in 1963. The mission of the NKBA is to enhance member success and excellence, promote professionalism and ethical business practices, and provide leadership and direction for the kitchen and bath industry worldwide. For more information, visit NKBA.org or call 1-800-THE-NKBA (843-6522).

KBIS® and NKBA® are registered trademarks of the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

For editorial assistance, including photography, contact John O’Reilly c/o O’Reilly DePalma: 815-469-9100 or john.oreilly@oreilly-depalma.com