Bathtubs Are Out for 2025 — and This Bathroom Trend Is Replacing It
Turning self-care into an everyday practice has become increasingly popular over the last few years. Case in point: People love a trip to the spa. But now, people want to bring those self-pampering vibes into their homes. According to a recent Zillow report, a luxe bathroom trend that’ll transform your old ¾ bath into a personal spa will be one of 2025’s most sought-after amenities.
Spa-inspired wet rooms are quickly becoming one of the hottest design elements for buyers, Zillow’s 2025 home trend forecast, published on November 11, reveals. The real estate company noted that the phrase “wet rooms” experienced an uptick of 19% in Zillow listings over the past year, showing a growing desire to integrate wellness rituals into regular practices, like taking a bubble bath or doing an “everything” shower (the shower where you not only wash your body, but you shave, wash your hair, and even do a face mask or hair mask, too).
A wet room — which is when a shower and bathtub are situated next to each other within a waterproof enclosure — is a luxurious design element that’s also small-space friendly, since it means you can have both a shower and a bathtub in your bathroom without a shower curb or separate sections.
TikTok has led the charge in popularizing spa-esque bathing experiences, from the ubiquitous everything shower to the virality of rainfall and filtering showerheads that you can install yourself. However, your classic bubble bath has been on the decline, as the plain old bathtub/shower combo has been disappearing from new-build homes and apartments in favor of the more modern walk-in shower, especially in homes with limited bathroom space.
However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find (or shouldn’t want) a good soaking section. Andrew Hancock, President of Gilman Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, recently told Apartment Therapy that people are getting rid of the common (and often outdated) shower/bath combination, evolving the tub into “a luxury feature rather than a standard one.” With the right design, Hancock noted, a bathtub can “turn a bathroom into a real retreat, matching the trend for spaces that serve multiple purposes and adapt to changing lifestyles.” Of course, this advice isn’t for everyone — especially for people with kids or pets, or for folks who need a bathtub for accessibility reasons.
Zillow’s findings on wet rooms seem to suggest that, in an ideal scenario, buyers want the best of both worlds. However, even if you don’t have a tub in your home, you can still lean into the spa bathroom trend. According to the findings, home listings that mention wellness features are up 16% compared to last year. If you don’t want to invest in an entire remodel, you can still customize your bathroom by integrating self-care amenities like an aromatherapy selection, mood-lighting, eucalyptus in the shower, and calming bathroom decor.
Further Reading
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