No shower door, no problem: "Wet rooms" are making a splash
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Eric Kruk, Courtesy of Houzz, Guided Home Design and Blackhawk Building
As homeowners install wellness upgrades, bathrooms have become spaces to recharge, not just rinse off.
Why it matters: 1 in 6 renovated bathrooms (16%) now feature a "wet room," up 3 percentage points from the prior year, according to a nationwide Houzz study.
Between the lines: These spa-style rooms are built to get wet — sometimes without a shower door.
- Designers warn they can cause damage if not waterproofed properly.
How it works: "True" wet rooms are like wide-open showers, though modern versions can have "full glass enclosures" that stretch wall-to-wall and reach the ceiling, House Beautiful's Carisha Swanson recently told the magazine.
- Larger versions often add a freestanding tub. Luxury upgrades include steam rooms and saunas.
What we're hearing: Many homeowners say they're drawn to wet rooms for the aesthetics, "better use of space," or easier accessibility for people with mobility issues, per Houzz, a design and remodeling site.
Yes, but: Tariffs could make imports, from Italian tile to Chinese plumbing fixtures, more expensive. Remodeling costs may rise.
Follow the money: Installing a wet room averages $13,000, running as low as $5,000 and as much as $35,000, per Angi, formerly Angie's List.
Reality check: Not everyone's sold. Skeptics say open-concept versions can splash floors and toiletries and feel chilly without doors to trap steam.
- Mitchell Parker with Houzz notes that pros suggest radiant heat, nonslip flooring, and waterproof barriers on walls and beneath tile.
The bottom line: Wet rooms offer everyday indulgence — if you're ready for the price and a soggy towel or two.
