Bathroom Remodeling Ideas 2026: 13 Trends and Costs for Chicago's North Shore

Updated September 11, 2026

As more than half of 2026 has passed, our team decided to help people look for bathroom ideas that are trending this year. We have covered the 13 trending ideas based on our client’s demand and research from Houzz and the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). The best bathroom trends this year so far and in 2025 include a tiled walk-in shower, a freestanding tub, a spa-style bath with heated floors, a primary bath with a double vanity and brushed brass fixtures, and a small bath with a compact vanity and LED mirror. Most Chicago bathroom remodels cost $40,000 to $75,000 in 2026.

13 Bathroom Remodeling Ideas Chicago Homeowners Are Choosing in 2026

Before we move towards the bathroom ideas, the important thing you should know is that a bathroom should not only match the aesthetics of the rest of the house, but it should be functional.

A minimum 40-square-foot bathroom can be functional and look luxurious if designed and remodeled perfectly. And a big primary bathroom can feel unorganized and aesthetically unappealing if it is not designed properly.

Our team has finalized some bathroom remodeling ideas and designs that are functional and also trending. Below are the details for each idea, with typical installed costs from our 2026 North Shore projects.

1. Tiled Walk-In Showers With Small Floor Tile

The tiled walk-in shower is the most requested project on our schedule this year. Most homeowners want white or pale rectangular or mosaic tile on the walls in a brick or stacked pattern, with small tile on the floor for grip and a proper slope to the drain. Houzz found that horizontal brick was the top shower wall pattern in 2025 (31%), and 61% of homeowners chose tile 4 by 4 inches or smaller for the shower floor. Similarly, 55% of NKBA respondents said a bigger shower matters more than having a tub.

Typical cost: $12,000 to $25,000 within a full remodel.

Main features: Low-curb entry, frameless glass, small-format or mosaic floor, rain head plus handheld

2. Freestanding Bathtubs

The deck-mounted tub is on its way out. Among 2025 homeowners who added or replaced a tub, 45% chose a freestanding flat-bottom model, while deck-mounted tubs fell from 10% to 6% in one year (Houzz). We usually place the tub under a window or on a feature wall. But you must have the joists checked first, because a filled cast iron tub can top 800 pounds. If you are still deciding whether you need a tub at all, read our take on whether bathtubs are going out of style in 2026.

Typical cost: $4,000 to $12,000 for the tub and a floor-mounted filler.

Main features: Acrylic, solid-surface, or cast iron; floor- or wall-mounted filler

3. Spa-Inspired Primary Baths With Shower and Tub

Luxury bathroom requests mostly include a spa-like feel. In NKBA's 2026 Bath Trends Report, 77% of designers and remodelers expected hotel- and resort-inspired design to be popular in the bath. This means a walk-in shower beside a freestanding tub, with a thermostatic valve that holds the water temperature steady when someone runs a tap elsewhere in the house. Heated floors and a heated towel bar usually come with this layout too.

Typical cost: $65,000 to $90,000 for a full primary bath (Delta Remodels, 2026).

Main features: Thermostatic valve, freestanding tub, heated tile floor, heated towel bar

4. Heated Tile Floors

Radiant heat is the upgrade our clients say they would never skip again. A tile floor in an uninsulated 1930s bathroom is cold enough in January to change how often the room gets used. Among 2025 homeowners who updated the floor outside the shower, 20% chose heated flooring (Houzz). The mat goes under the tile, so it is cheap to add now and expensive to add later.

Typical cost: $1,500 to $4,000 including mat, thermostat, and wiring.

Main features: Electric radiant mat, programmable thermostat, works under porcelain and stone

5. His-and-Hers Double Vanities

Nearly half of 2025 renovators (47%) ended up with double sinks (Houzz), and 89% of NKBA respondents said space in the primary bath is a top priority. Two sinks, two banks of drawers, and one shared top let two people get ready at once. In our Lake Forest primary bath, completed in October 2025, we built a warm-wood double vanity with quartz tops, Kohler undermount sinks, and a backlit arched mirror over each sink.

Typical cost: $6,000 to $18,000 for a semi-custom or custom double vanity.

Main features: 60 to 84 inches wide, two undermount sinks, soft-close drawers, built-in outlets

6. Curbless Showers

Among 2025 homeowners who upgraded a shower, 20% went fully curbless, and the share rises to 28% among those planning for aging in place (Houzz). In a 1920s house, the shower pan has to be recessed between the joists to get the slope right, which is why Chicago pricing runs above national averages. Therefore, we recommend building a curbless shower as part of a full remodel whenever you can, rather than as a separate job later. See our Lake Forest curbless shower project for a finished example.

Typical cost: $15,000 to $35,000 as a standalone conversion (Delta Remodels, 2026). Main features: Zero-threshold entry, linear drain, full-floor waterproofing

7. Brushed Brass and Gold Fixtures

People love brushed fixtures, and no matter what, they are always in demand. Our bathroom projects in this scope include a Luxury Lake Forest Bathroom Remodel with Custom Cabinets, another Lake Forest Primary Bath Remodel featuring Carrara + Double Vanity, and a Lake Forest Primary Bathroom Remodel with Powder Room.

NKBA respondents rated matte (54%), brushed (51%), and satin (46%) finishes all more popular than polished (39%) for faucets. Not only this, but brushed brass also hides the water spots that come with Lake Michigan water, which is moderately hard. That is the reason we used brushed brass across the faucets and hardware in our Lake Forest primary bath.

Typical cost: $2,500 to $8,000 for a coordinated Brizo or Hansgrohe set.

Main features: Brushed brass or champagne bronze across faucet, shower trim, and hardware

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8. Small Bathrooms With a Compact Vanity

Many North Shore bungalows have a five-by-seven hall bath with a radiator in the way. Our formula for these rooms is simple: a floating or narrow-depth vanity, a single sink, large-format tile, and good light over the mirror. Exposed floor under a floating vanity makes a 35-square-foot room read bigger. If your layout already works, a refresh may be all you need, and our cosmetic refresh vs. full gut comparison will help you decide.

Typical cost: $25,000 to $40,000 for a guest bath or powder room (Delta Remodels, 2026) Main features: 18-inch-deep or wall-hung vanity, single sink, LED mirror, large-format tile

9. LED Backlit Mirrors

The LED mirror changes a bathroom the most for the least money. Lighted mirrors rose 3 points to 22% of 2025 lighting upgrades (Houzz), and 47% of NKBA respondents expect integrated mirror lighting to grow. Similarly, 92% of them said task lighting belongs in every primary bath. Front-lit mirrors light the face evenly for shaving and makeup, while backlit mirrors add a soft glow. In Lake Forest, we paired backlit arch mirrors with brass sconces to get both.

Typical cost: $600 to $2,500 installed Main features: Integrated LED strip, defogger, dimmer, night mode

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10. Wood-Faced Custom Vanities

Wood is back on the vanity. NKBA's 2026 report found wood-faced vanities (62%) have overtaken painted ones (53%), and wood tones were the top vanity color among 2025 Houzz renovators (28%). Maple (29%) and white oak (23%) were the favorite species. Custom also solves the chimney chases and off-center plumbing stacks that old Chicago bathrooms come with.

Typical cost: $4,000 to $12,000 for a single custom vanity with stone top Main features: Rift-sawn white oak or walnut, furniture legs or floating base

11. Warm Neutrals With a Sage Green Accent

Neutrals are nearly unanimous: 96% of NKBA respondents named them the most popular bath colors, led by off-white (58%). For an accent, sage leads the greens at 64%. We suggest warm tones in older homes, because original trim and hex floor tile skew warm and fight with cool gray.

Typical cost: Sage zellige on one accent wall adds $1,500 to $5,000 Main features: Off-white walls, oak or tan cabinetry, sage tile on the shower wall

12. Smart Toilets and Bidet Seats

More than half of NKBA respondents (51%) expect smart toilets to gain popularity over the next three years. Among 2025 homeowners who upgraded a toilet, a bidet seat (21%) and a heated seat (19%) were the top specialty features (Houzz). If you want most of the benefit for a fraction of the price, a bidet seat on a comfort-height toilet is the way to go.

Typical cost: $600 to $1,500 for a bidet seat; $3,000 to $8,000 for a smart toilet Main features: Heated seat, warm-water wash, night light, self-cleaning wand

13. Wet Rooms

Wet rooms now make up 1 in 6 renovated bathrooms (16%), up 3 points in a year, and half of the homeowners who built one did it to make better use of space (Houzz, 2025). The shower and tub share one waterproofed zone with no enclosure. In an older home, you must plan a humidity-sensing exhaust fan before anything else.

Typical cost: $40,000 to $65,000 within a full remodel (Delta Remodels, 2026) Main features: Full-floor waterproofing, linear drain, single glass panel

Ready to plan yours? Book a free in-home design consultation and we will give you a written scope and budget for your North Shore bathroom.

How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost on the Chicago?

Most North Shore bathroom remodels cost $40,000 to $75,000 in 2026. Guest baths and powder rooms run $25,000 to $40,000, full primary baths $65,000 to $90,000, and estate-scale primary suites $90,000 to $200,000 or more (Delta Remodels, 2026). By comparison, Houzz reported a national median of $22,000 for a major bath remodel in 2024. The gap comes from pre-war plumbing, higher material expectations, and local trade rates.

We have created a detailed table for you below. The sizes reflect bathrooms common in Chicago homes built between 1900 and 1960.

Note: Plan 15 to 20% extra for any home built before 1960. Cast iron drains or a rotted subfloor routinely add $5,000 to $15,000 once the walls are open (Delta Remodels, 2026). For the full breakdown, see our North Shore bathroom remodel cost guide, and for accessible projects, our accessible bathroom cost guide.

What Does Each Budget Look Like in a Real Chicago Home?

National cost calculators miss the Chicago because they average in new construction and standard-size rooms. Below are the kinds of projects each budget tier covers on our schedule:

• $25,000 to $40,000: A hall bath or powder room with a workable layout but dated finishes. New vanity, tile, fixtures, and lighting, with no plumbing moved.
• $40,000 to $65,000: A hall bath in a 1950s Wilmette Colonial with the tub removed and replaced by a curbless shower.
• $65,000 to $90,000: A pre-war Winnetka primary bath with structural waterproofing, slab marble, and custom millwork.
• $90,000 to $200,000+: A Lake Forest estate primary bath renovated together with the dressing room next to it.

Do Bathroom Trends Pay Off at Resale on the Chicago?

The bathroom trends pay off if you focus on midrange. In Zonda's 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, a midrange bath remodel in the Chicago market cost $24,072 on average and recouped 66.4% at resale. An upscale bath remodel cost $76,524 and recouped only 34.2%. Nationally, the same projects recouped 80% and 41.7%. Not only that, but a universal design bath remodel recouped 61.1% in Chicago, almost as much as a midrange one.

So the trends that pay back are the ones buyers already expect: a walk-in shower, a quality vanity, good tile, and better lighting. There is a local angle too. North Shore buyers compare your house against pre-war homes with original bathrooms, so a remodel that replaces cast iron drains and adds a curbless shower stands out more here than the national numbers suggest.

Note: Zonda prices a standard project template, and North Shore jobs usually cost more, so treat these percentages as a direction, not a promise.

Do You Need a Permit for a Bathroom Remodel on the North Shore?

You will need a permit for bathroom remodel especially when itinvolves construction, historic remodels and detailed remodeling. Every village handles it differently. Wilmette requires a licensed architect or engineer stamp for projects over $25,000 or with structural work (Village of Wilmette Building Department). Evanston requires contractors to register with the City before they pull any permit. Kenilworth homes on the Historic Survey list may need Building Review Commission review. Northbrook and Deerfield, by contrast, are more streamlined for interior remodels.

A typical North Shore bath takes 3 to 6 weeks from demolition to final walkthrough, plus permit time. As a design-build firm, we handle the drawings, permits, and inspections on one contract, so you do not have to chase them yourself. See our Wilmette and Winnetka service pages for local details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most popular bathroom remodeling ideas in 2026?

Tiled walk-in showers, freestanding tubs, and spa-style primary baths with heated floors lead on the North Shore this year. Nationally, 44% of homeowners who upgraded a shower in 2025 chose a low-curb design (Houzz), and NKBA found wood-faced vanities and matte or brushed faucets now rank ahead of painted vanities and polished finishes.

How long does a bathroom remodel take on the Chicago?

Most North Shore bathrooms take 3 to 6 weeks from demolition to final walkthrough. You should add permit time on top of that, which is longer in villages such as Wilmette that require stamped drawings for larger projects.

Can we stay in the house during a bathroom remodel?

Yes, most families stay home, especially if they have a second working bathroom. On our projects, the crew seals off the bathroom with floor-to-ceiling plastic and cleans up at the end of every day to keep dust out of the rest of the house.

Can you build a curbless shower in an older Lake Forest home?

Yes, In most pre-war homes, we recess the shower pan between the floor joists to get the slope to the drain without a curb. You must plan this during the design stage, because it can involve the structure under the floor.

Should I plan for aging in place in my bathroom remodel?

We recommend it. In 2025, 68% of renovating homeowners considered special needs in their bathroom projects (Houzz), and 80% of NKBA respondents said aging-in-place design is mainstream or on its way. Grab-bar blocking and a curbless shower cost little to add during a remodel, and a universal design bath recouped 61.1% of its cost in Chicago. See our accessible bathrooms service for more.

Our Thoughts

Our recommendation is always to spend first on what you will use every day: the shower, the vanity, the floor, and the lighting. These are the ideas that make the room better to live in, and they are also the ones that hold their value at resale. Save the showpiece items, such as a steam shower or a book-matched stone wall, for the primary bath where you will enjoy them most.

If you want to see these ideas in real North Shore homes, browse our bathroom projects or learn more about our bathroom remodeling services. You may contact us anytime for a free in-home consultation; our team is available to help you.