Trendy Bathroom Remodeling Ideas That Endure

3 pros!
Add luxury, relaxation and functionality to your bathroom with these evergreen remodeling ideas.
If your bathroom is a tired, outdated or just a utilitarian space, it might be the right time to embark on the bathroom remodeling project you’ve always dreamed about.
Recent bathroom design trends are combining luxury, relaxation and functionality to create an experience that will make you love stepping into your bathroom. Here are some ways you can incorporate these ideas into your remodel.
RELATED: Tips for the Best Bathroom Remodel
Bathroom idea: Luxury
Homeowners are looking to transform their bathroom and give it the feeling of a luxurious upscale hotel room. Some of the hot features trending right now include:

Freestanding tubs can add ambience and relaxation to a bathroom space. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Doug B. of Arlington, Virginia)
• Heated radiant floors. Radiant floor heat has dropped in price and the newer electric systems make the installation process much easier. Imagine how nice it will feel to avoid stepping on a cold floor.
• Sleek, modern design that includes freestanding furniture-grade cabinets. Get rid of those old Formica countertops and tattered bathroom cabinets in favor of wall-mounted, furniture-grade cabinets. These units will create a contemporary look which can also make it easier for people of all abilities to use the space.
• Standalone bathtubs. The freestanding soaking tubs that you see in luxury hotels are making their way into today’s newly remodeled and renovated bathrooms. Note that most people add this product as a decorative touch rather than a frequently used feature.
Bathroom idea: Relaxation
After a stressful day, the bathroom is increasingly becoming a place of refuge and relaxation. Here are some points to consider to transform your bathroom into the beautiful, relaxing space you desire:
• Use natural materials and earth tone colors. Create a Zen-like feeling by incorporating natural stone and tile into your bathroom’s design. Avoid the stark white look.
• Add options to your shower. The luxury spa bathroom often includes rain heads, jets, handheld showers and stationary heads. With these options you can enjoy everything from the gentle flow of the rain head to the aggressive massage of the jets.
• Incorporate light and sounds to aid relaxation. For a real “Wow!” effect, add LED lighting to your showerhead or a music system. Many of these systems can be incorporated into the shower controls.
RELATED: How to Choose the Best Shower Head
Bathroom idea: Functionality
OK, luxury and relaxation sound great but the most effective bathroom trends also focus on making the space work for any generation of the family, from young to old and all ages in between. Some ideas that can add functionality include:
• Curbless showers. With new barrier-free, zero-threshold showers you no longer have to worry about loved ones potentially suffering an injury due to stepping into or out of a wet shower.
• Comfort-height toilets and designer safety grab bars. Safety, function and style are no longer mutually exclusive. Comfort height toilets make it easier and safer to get up — and decorative grab bars can look sharp and greatly reduce the risk of falls.
Have you incorporated any of these trends into a recent bathroom remodeling project? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
Editor's note: This is an updated version of an article originally published on Feb. 5, 2014. This article originally appeared on Innovate's Building Solutions' blog.
Mike Foti is president of Innovate Building Solutions, a nationwide supplier of unique universal and accessible design products, glass block windows, showers, walls and bars, and the parent company of Cleveland Glass Block, Cleveland Window Co. and Bath Doctor in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. Find Innovate Building Solutions on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.
As of June 17, 2015, this service provider was highly rated on Angie's List. Ratings are subject to change based on consumer feedback, so check Angie's List for the most up-to-date reviews. The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect those of Angie's List.