Would you reduce the size of your bathroom, or the number of bathrooms you would expect to have in your home? What other space would you reduce in size or leave out of the floor plan to accommodate an additional bathroom?
According to the Housing Industry Association (HIA) last year, the size of a typical bathroom had decreased as home renovators and builders scale back their renovation plans due to affordability concerns and higher mortgage repayments.
The HIA Kitchen and Bathroom Report, which is free to HIA members and provides comprehensive forecasts and insights, found that while affordability and value have become more significant considerations when renovating or designing new kitchens and bathrooms, it was bathrooms that emerged the clear leader in homeowners making adjustments.
In fact, the report says that each new home built in 2023 had an average of two bathrooms, which was down from 2.6 per home in the previous year.
Other sources report that that the average spend on a bathroom renovation project was now up $5,000 on the previous year and sitting at $26,000.
So, are we spending more on less space?
For reference, a small bathroom in Australia is typically considered around 6mÇ, an average size bathroom around 8mÇand a large bathroom is more than 20mÇ.
Would you compromise on your bathroom space? Would you, by choice, have one bathroom only?
It was mid-way through the last century, after all, before most houses had a bathroom!
King Henry VI closed down the public bathhouses in 1546, in the belief they had degenerated into fronts for brothels. They were very elaborate, made from beautiful tiles with statues overlooking the large bathing areas for men and women, and based on the original baths in Rome.
During the Victorian period, men and women only ever washed the skin that was showing when they were clothed – generally their arms, hands and faces.
Decorative washstands, basins and beautiful porcelain jugs located in bedrooms were common for the upper class. It was rare for even homes of the wealthy to have bathrooms.
However, the Victorian period saw the development of plumbing, so things began to change as indoor toilets became more common.
A more modern version of the public bathhouses made an appearance in homes in the 1800s. These were intended for washing not just the person, but their clothes as well. Grand, elaborate bathrooms – with a tub and a sink – became common within the homes of the wealthy. Most were without running hot water and often maids filled the baths with water.
Come the 20th century, bathrooms became an integral part of households, similar to today. Toilets were an outside thing for a long time. Do you recall heading out to the Thunder Box’?
Gradually toilets came inside. Pastels were popular for bathrooms until neutrals and white became the trend. Tiles and wood became common, showers, a large sink and mirror became standard and often baths were the luxury.
From this point, bathrooms became bigger, more stylish and more spacious.
2025 has been coined ‘the year of style and innovation’ in bathroom trends.
So, what’s in these days?
Vogue suggests a ‘wow’ factor has returned, along with:
- Return to tradition – wood vanities, mosaics, decorative wall panelling
- Patterned and textured tiles
- Stone remains
- Silver and other cool toned metals, like chrome, stainless steel & nickel
- Statement lighting
- At-home spas – saunas, steam showers, cold plunge tubs
- Better storage (even incorporating ‘a pretty make-up table’)