The 10 Most Popular Bathroom Makeovers of 2020
Smart layouts, stylish materials and pops of color define the most-viewed stories from our Bathroom of the Week series
Bryan Anthony
December 29, 2020
Big, bright and bold design elements run through this countdown of the most popular bathroom makeovers from our Bathroom of the Week series in 2020. In one bathroom, a designer ditched a shower-tub combo for a roomy walk-in shower with a built-in bench. In another, a bright blue double vanity enlivens a remodel for two teenage girls. See if these ideas and others might help you plan a bathroom renovation of your own in 2021.
10. Bright and Brassy
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Zane and Savanna Rodriquez and David Sitz, Savanna’s brother
Location: Universal City, Texas
Size: 50 square feet (4.7 square meters)
Designers: Julie Risman and Amanda Silva of The Inside Story Design
Designers Julie Risman and Amanda Silva updated a hallway bathroom for this Texas family by removing the old tub and creating an airy shower enclosure. They also brightened the room with lots of white tile and a lighter-tone wood vanity. The cool gray walls (Repose Gray by Sherwin-Williams) and brushed brass fixtures provide a contemporary look with a touch of glam.
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Zane and Savanna Rodriquez and David Sitz, Savanna’s brother
Location: Universal City, Texas
Size: 50 square feet (4.7 square meters)
Designers: Julie Risman and Amanda Silva of The Inside Story Design
Designers Julie Risman and Amanda Silva updated a hallway bathroom for this Texas family by removing the old tub and creating an airy shower enclosure. They also brightened the room with lots of white tile and a lighter-tone wood vanity. The cool gray walls (Repose Gray by Sherwin-Williams) and brushed brass fixtures provide a contemporary look with a touch of glam.
See more of this bathroom
Find a bathroom designer on Houzz
9. Budget-Minded Beauty
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A young professional couple with a daughter
Location: Davidson, North Carolina
Size: 155 square feet (14 square meters)
Designer: Laura Anderson of Craft and Trade Renovations
This North Carolina couple wanted to update their master bathroom while keeping their budget under tight control, so they hired designer Laura Anderson to oversee a save-and-splurge strategy.
Anderson removed the flooring, wallpaper, shower stall and built-in tub but kept the budget down by not removing any walls, moving the plumbing or otherwise changing the layout. Painting the walls gray-beige (Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams) and using porcelain 12-by-24-inch floor tiles that mimic the look of Carrara marble were two other budget-minded decisions.
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A young professional couple with a daughter
Location: Davidson, North Carolina
Size: 155 square feet (14 square meters)
Designer: Laura Anderson of Craft and Trade Renovations
This North Carolina couple wanted to update their master bathroom while keeping their budget under tight control, so they hired designer Laura Anderson to oversee a save-and-splurge strategy.
Anderson removed the flooring, wallpaper, shower stall and built-in tub but kept the budget down by not removing any walls, moving the plumbing or otherwise changing the layout. Painting the walls gray-beige (Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams) and using porcelain 12-by-24-inch floor tiles that mimic the look of Carrara marble were two other budget-minded decisions.
See more of this bathroom
Shop for a bathroom vanity
8. Shower Power
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional couple with three young adult sons, one of whom is in college but lives at home part time
Location: Plymouth, Minnesota
Size: 80 square feet (7.4 square meters)
Designer: Mary Maney of Crystal Kitchen + Bath
This Minnesota couple hired designer Mary Maney to transform their master bathroom within the existing footprint. Maney removed a jetted tub and tight shower stall to gain extra square footage for a roomy shower that includes a built-in bench.
She also added a longer double vanity with more storage than the previous one. The semicustom vanity is painted white and features brushed nickel hardware and a top of seamless engineered quartz.
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional couple with three young adult sons, one of whom is in college but lives at home part time
Location: Plymouth, Minnesota
Size: 80 square feet (7.4 square meters)
Designer: Mary Maney of Crystal Kitchen + Bath
This Minnesota couple hired designer Mary Maney to transform their master bathroom within the existing footprint. Maney removed a jetted tub and tight shower stall to gain extra square footage for a roomy shower that includes a built-in bench.
She also added a longer double vanity with more storage than the previous one. The semicustom vanity is painted white and features brushed nickel hardware and a top of seamless engineered quartz.
See more of this bathroom
7. Terrific Transitional
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: This is a couple’s master bathroom
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Contractor and designer: Mike LaPine and Janet Jackson of Alliance Contracting and Cynthia Flottmann of Roux Design Studio
These Arizona homeowners requested a mix of traditional and modern elements for their bathroom renovation designed by Cynthia Flottmann. The result is a transitional space that includes a classic deep soaker tub, matte black fixtures and digitally printed porcelain tiles with a fleur-de-lis motif for the floor and shower niche.
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: This is a couple’s master bathroom
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Contractor and designer: Mike LaPine and Janet Jackson of Alliance Contracting and Cynthia Flottmann of Roux Design Studio
These Arizona homeowners requested a mix of traditional and modern elements for their bathroom renovation designed by Cynthia Flottmann. The result is a transitional space that includes a classic deep soaker tub, matte black fixtures and digitally printed porcelain tiles with a fleur-de-lis motif for the floor and shower niche.
See more of this bathroom
6. Modern Drama
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple
Location: Sacramento, California
Size: 55 square feet (5 square meters)
Designer: Molly Erin Carter of Molly Erin Designs
After this Sacramento, California, couple shared their bathroom inspiration photos, including Houzz ideabooks, designer Molly Erin Carter could see that the husband was drawn to midcentury style. The new walnut vanity and hanging plant over the toilet are a nod to that era.
To provide more contemporary notes, the designer used black hexagonal tiles for the floor and painted the ceiling black to add a sense of drama.
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple
Location: Sacramento, California
Size: 55 square feet (5 square meters)
Designer: Molly Erin Carter of Molly Erin Designs
After this Sacramento, California, couple shared their bathroom inspiration photos, including Houzz ideabooks, designer Molly Erin Carter could see that the husband was drawn to midcentury style. The new walnut vanity and hanging plant over the toilet are a nod to that era.
To provide more contemporary notes, the designer used black hexagonal tiles for the floor and painted the ceiling black to add a sense of drama.
See more of this bathroom
5. Aging in Place With Style
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: El Cajon, California
Size: 82 square feet (7.6 square meters)
Designer: Danielle Perkins of Danielle Interior Design & Decor
This San Diego-area couple hired designer Danielle Perkins to help them renovate their house in a way that would allow them to age in place gracefully. For their master bathroom, Perkins came up with strategies to accommodate the potential need for walkers, wheelchairs and a home health aide.
To make up for the lack of vanity storage, she installed two medicine cabinets, a freestanding storage unit under the counter and a niche above the toilet.
See more of this bathroom
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: El Cajon, California
Size: 82 square feet (7.6 square meters)
Designer: Danielle Perkins of Danielle Interior Design & Decor
This San Diego-area couple hired designer Danielle Perkins to help them renovate their house in a way that would allow them to age in place gracefully. For their master bathroom, Perkins came up with strategies to accommodate the potential need for walkers, wheelchairs and a home health aide.
To make up for the lack of vanity storage, she installed two medicine cabinets, a freestanding storage unit under the counter and a niche above the toilet.
See more of this bathroom
4. Classic Cool
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: Two sisters, ages 13 and 16
Location: Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Designers: Sabrina Alfin (interior design) and Stephen Verner of Verner Architects (architecture)
Designer Sabrina Alfin was brought on to help select the finishes and decorate this renovated bathroom for two teenage girls in San Francisco.
She came up with a transitional mix that features a hardworking vanity painted a striking French blue, a shower with classic white subway tile and a floor made of mini mosaic herringbone tiles. The result is a classic bathroom that feels fresh and will remain stylish for many years to come.
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Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: Two sisters, ages 13 and 16
Location: Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Designers: Sabrina Alfin (interior design) and Stephen Verner of Verner Architects (architecture)
Designer Sabrina Alfin was brought on to help select the finishes and decorate this renovated bathroom for two teenage girls in San Francisco.
She came up with a transitional mix that features a hardworking vanity painted a striking French blue, a shower with classic white subway tile and a floor made of mini mosaic herringbone tiles. The result is a classic bathroom that feels fresh and will remain stylish for many years to come.
See more of this bathroom
3. Alluring Aqua Vanity
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Matthew and Kasey Benson, their 8-year-old son and their bullmastiff dog
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Size: 65 square feet (6 square meters)
Designer: Keira Schultz of KSDesigns
This Arizona couple hired designer Keira Schultz to reimagine their guest bathroom. The designer added white walls and tile to create a crisp backdrop for a vanity painted in a soft and stylish aqua-gray (Holly Glen by PPG Paints).
A mirror framed in live-edge acacia adds a touch of warmth that complements the brass faucet and cabinet hardware.
See more of this bathroom
Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: Matthew and Kasey Benson, their 8-year-old son and their bullmastiff dog
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Size: 65 square feet (6 square meters)
Designer: Keira Schultz of KSDesigns
This Arizona couple hired designer Keira Schultz to reimagine their guest bathroom. The designer added white walls and tile to create a crisp backdrop for a vanity painted in a soft and stylish aqua-gray (Holly Glen by PPG Paints).
A mirror framed in live-edge acacia adds a touch of warmth that complements the brass faucet and cabinet hardware.
See more of this bathroom
2. Biophilic Design
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple with two young children
Location: Encinitas, California
Size: 108 square feet (10 square meters); 12 feet by 9 feet
Designer: Bonnie Bagley Catlin
of Signature Designs Kitchen & Bath
This California couple hired designer Bonnie Bagley Catlin to create an eclectic bathroom that includes green cabinetry, large-scale botanical wallpaper, a bold black bathtub and smart storage solutions.
Floating shelves above the tub support potted plants near the window. The wallpaper, plants, natural wood tones and green paint on the vanities represent elements of biophilic design, which helps people feel connected to nature and is believed to promote wellness.
See more of this bathroom
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple with two young children
Location: Encinitas, California
Size: 108 square feet (10 square meters); 12 feet by 9 feet
Designer: Bonnie Bagley Catlin
of Signature Designs Kitchen & Bath
This California couple hired designer Bonnie Bagley Catlin to create an eclectic bathroom that includes green cabinetry, large-scale botanical wallpaper, a bold black bathtub and smart storage solutions.
Floating shelves above the tub support potted plants near the window. The wallpaper, plants, natural wood tones and green paint on the vanities represent elements of biophilic design, which helps people feel connected to nature and is believed to promote wellness.
See more of this bathroom
1. Wow-Worthy Wallpaper
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A family of four and its guests
Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts
Size: 50 square feet (4.7 square meters); 5 by 10 feet
Interior designer: Katrina Bogart of Bogart Interiors
Contractor: Mike Bogart of The Bogart Finish
A Massachusetts family brought in designer Katrina Bogart to bring new life to its guest bathroom.
Bogart replaced the tub-shower combo with a more generous shower stall with a glass enclosure. But it’s the beautiful peony wallpaper by Katie Ridder that’s the star of the room. “I’m in love with this wallpaper,” Bogart says. “It makes this room so peaceful, bright and cheerful.” White grout that matches the wall tile keeps the focus on the wallpaper.
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More on Houzz
5 Common Bathroom Design Mistakes to Avoid
Find a bathroom designer near you
Shop for a medicine cabinet
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A family of four and its guests
Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts
Size: 50 square feet (4.7 square meters); 5 by 10 feet
Interior designer: Katrina Bogart of Bogart Interiors
Contractor: Mike Bogart of The Bogart Finish
A Massachusetts family brought in designer Katrina Bogart to bring new life to its guest bathroom.
Bogart replaced the tub-shower combo with a more generous shower stall with a glass enclosure. But it’s the beautiful peony wallpaper by Katie Ridder that’s the star of the room. “I’m in love with this wallpaper,” Bogart says. “It makes this room so peaceful, bright and cheerful.” White grout that matches the wall tile keeps the focus on the wallpaper.
See more of this bathroom
More on Houzz
5 Common Bathroom Design Mistakes to Avoid
Find a bathroom designer near you
Shop for a medicine cabinet
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I see all these bathroom makeovers and don’t understand why people are still using the dust/dirt collecting old style toilets. Skirted / straight back toilets should be the norm for a room that requires optimal hygiene. But hey, that’s just my take on it.
Love#10 you can’t go wrong with a white floor in a bathroom! It’s a very modern look.
Love the aqua vanity but it seems off kilter with the doors not centered under the sink. Otherwise, my favorite.