Bathroom Remodel Ideas: 15 Trends for Vancouver (2026)

Whether you're planning a full bathroom renovation or looking for one impactful upgrade, the right design choices can transform your daily routine. These 15 ideas reflect what we're seeing Vancouver homeowners gravitate toward in 2026 — a mix of timeless principles and fresh trends that work especially well in our market.

1. Enclosed Alcove Showers

The era of the fully exposed glass-box shower is fading. Vancouver homeowners are choosing enclosed alcove showers that create a more intimate, spa-like experience. These "shower rooms" reduce visible water marks on glass, feel warmer in our cooler climate, and allow you to go bolder with tile inside the enclosure without overwhelming the rest of the bathroom. Add a skylight or window for natural light and the result is a private retreat, not a fishbowl.

2. Warm Earth-Tone Palettes

Stark white bathrooms are giving way to warmer, more grounded colour schemes. Think soft clay, warm sand, muted sage green, and mushroom tones. These colours bring a sense of calm that works particularly well against Vancouver's grey winter skies — your bathroom should feel like an escape, not an extension of the overcast outside. Pair earth tones with natural wood accents for a cohesive look that won't feel dated in five years.

3. Floating Vanities

Wall-mounted vanities continue to gain ground for good reason. They open up visible floor space (making tight bathrooms feel larger), simplify cleaning underneath, and create a modern, streamlined look. In smaller Vancouver condos and townhomes, a floating vanity can make the difference between a cramped bathroom and one that feels spacious. Pair it with under-vanity LED lighting for a subtle touch of luxury.

4. Large-Format Tiles with Minimal Grout Lines

Bigger tiles mean fewer grout lines, which means cleaner sight lines and less scrubbing. Tiles in the 24x48-inch range are increasingly popular on both walls and floors, creating a nearly seamless surface that makes bathrooms feel more expansive. This works especially well in Vancouver condos where every square foot counts. Bonus: fewer grout lines means less opportunity for mildew in our damp climate.

5. Steam Showers

Steam showers are one of the most requested spa features in our bathroom renovations. They turn an everyday shower into a wellness experience — reducing stress, soothing sore muscles, and helping with dry winter air and congestion. Installation requires a properly sealed enclosure and a steam generator, typically adding $3,000-$6,000 to a renovation budget. For homeowners who value daily self-care, it's one of the highest-satisfaction upgrades we install.

6. Heated Floors

Once you've experienced heated bathroom floors, there's no going back. Radiant floor heating eliminates the shock of cold tile on bare feet, especially through Vancouver's November-to-March stretch. Electric radiant mats are relatively affordable ($800-$2,000 installed for a standard bathroom) and add minimal height to the floor. They pair perfectly with porcelain or stone tile and can be zoned to a timer so they're warm when you step out of bed.

7. Curbless Walk-In Showers

Barrier-free showers are no longer just for accessibility — they've become a design statement. A curbless shower creates a seamless flow from bathroom floor to shower floor, making the space look and feel bigger. They're also genuinely safer for families with young kids and practical for aging-in-place planning. Proper waterproofing and a precision slope to the drain are critical here. This is one upgrade where professional installation is non-negotiable.

8. Natural Stone Accents

Natural stone — marble, travertine, limestone — brings depth and texture that porcelain can't fully replicate. The trend in 2026 isn't covering every surface in stone, but using it strategically: a marble shower niche, a limestone vanity top, or a travertine feature wall. This layered approach keeps costs manageable while adding a material richness that elevates the entire room. It pairs beautifully with the earth-tone palettes trending right now.

9. Smart Mirrors and Lighting

LED backlit mirrors with built-in defoggers are becoming standard in Vancouver bathroom renovations. They eliminate the need for separate vanity lighting fixtures, provide even, flattering illumination, and stay clear after a hot shower. Layered lighting — ambient, task, and accent — is replacing the old "one overhead fixture" approach. Dimmable options let you shift from bright morning prep to a relaxed evening soak without touching a switch, especially when paired with motion sensors.

10. Tile Drenching

Running the same tile across floors and up the walls creates a dramatic, cocoon-like effect. This "tile drenching" approach is particularly effective in smaller bathrooms where visual breaks between materials can make the space feel choppy. Varying tile sizes — larger on the floor, a mosaic in the shower niche — keeps it interesting without breaking the continuity. In Vancouver's moisture-heavy climate, a fully tiled bathroom is also the most practical choice for waterproofing and longevity.

11. Statement Custom Vanity Cabinets

Bathroom vanities are getting the same design attention as kitchen cabinetry. Custom-built vanities in rich wood tones, painted colours, or two-tone finishes replace the generic white box with something that feels considered and personal. We're seeing more North Shore homeowners choose vanities that reference the style of furniture — turned legs, open shelving, brass hardware — rather than purely functional bathroom cabinetry.

12. Built-In Shower Niches and Ledges

Say goodbye to the wire shower caddy. Built-in niches — recessed into the shower wall — provide clean, permanent storage for shampoo, soap, and razors. Multiple niches at different heights serve different family members. Extended ledges running the length of the shower wall offer even more surface area. These details cost relatively little during construction but make a massive difference in daily use and visual appeal.

13. Mixed Metal Finishes

Matching every fixture in the same finish (hello, brushed nickel everything) is giving way to intentional mixing. Matte black faucets paired with brass cabinet pulls, or brushed gold shower fixtures alongside polished nickel towel bars — the key is repeating each finish in at least two spots so it reads as intentional, not accidental. This approach adds visual depth and personality, especially in bathrooms with neutral colour palettes.

14. Eco-Friendly Water-Saving Fixtures

Sustainability isn't just a buzzword — it's practical in Vancouver. Low-flow toilets (1.28 GPF or less), aerated faucets, and water-saving showerheads have improved dramatically. Modern low-flow fixtures deliver excellent performance while cutting water use by 20-40%. Dual-flush toilets, motion-sensor faucets, and recirculating hot water systems are all upgrades that pay for themselves over time while reducing your environmental footprint.

15. Accessible Design That Doesn't Look Clinical

Universal design — features that work for people of all ages and abilities — is becoming mainstream, not medical. Grab bars now come in designer finishes that match your hardware. Comfort-height toilets are standard in most new installations. Curbless showers, non-slip tiles, and wider doorways benefit everyone in the household, from kids to grandparents. Planning accessibility into your renovation now means you won't need a second renovation later.

Which Ideas Work for Your Bathroom?

The best bathroom renovation starts with understanding what matters most to you — is it daily comfort, visual impact, resale value, or all three? Many of these ideas work together: a curbless walk-in shower with heated floors, earth-tone large-format tiles, and a floating vanity with a backlit mirror creates a cohesive, spa-like space that checks every box.

Whether you're renovating a condo bathroom in Burnaby, a master ensuite in West Vancouver, or a family bathroom in Surrey, the fundamentals are the same: start with function, layer in materials that feel good to touch and look at, and invest in quality installation that will hold up to Vancouver's moisture-heavy environment.

Ready to Bring Your Ideas to Life?

Browsing ideas is the fun part. Making them real is what we do. Contact us for a free consultation and we'll walk through your space, discuss which of these ideas fit your home and budget, and provide a clear plan and honest estimate for your bathroom renovation.