5 Bathroom Updates That Can Increase Curb Appeal in 2025

Making simple improvements and upgrades in a home can make it substantially more appealing to potential buyers, offering a strong return on investment (ROI). Data shows how bathrooms and kitchens are among the most worthwhile parts of a home to update, as many prospective homebuyers view bathrooms as a key consideration between comparable properties. Encouraging clients who plan to list their property in 2025 to make reasonable bathroom updates is a strategic approach.

Let’s take a look at five improvements that can make bathrooms more appealing.

Update 1: Recommend a Statement Vanity

As the focal point of any bathroom space, choosing a “statement” vanity is a great first step. A high-quality bathroom vanity adds a combination of texture, modern design, and practical storage solutions.

Bathroom vanities come in all sizes to fit perfectly in the space. For smaller guest bathrooms, a space-saving, single-sink console vanity or pedestal sink might be ideal. The larger, double-sink models are often the ideal vanity size for master bathroom updates.

Texture

Introducing different textures can add warmth, depth, and character. Bathrooms often have monochrome hard surfaces composed of porcelain or tile for functionality and easier cleaning. These spaces can benefit from textured elements that create a more inviting atmosphere. The bathroom vanity and mirror offer perfect opportunities to elevate the visual appeal of the space. Common examples that add texture include wood-grain finishes, metallic hardware, and stone tops.

Wall-Mounted vs Freestanding

While many vanities rest atop a set of legs or freestanding frame base, many pieces are designed for a “floating” installation, where the vanity is mounted directly to the wall using a French cleat or similar method. Wall-mounted vanities will often make the room appear larger, showcase your flooring, and offer easier accessibility.

Storage Options / Integrated Features

Vanities provide drawers, shelves, and cabinets to store toiletries, personal care items, and cleaning products, which will help to minimize clutter. Many vanities also have modern integrated features, including USB ports and electrical outlets.

Style and Luxury

Vanities may help to achieve certain styles or themes. For example, marble countertops for spa-like, modern luxury, exposed plumbing for industrial styles, or dark woods for traditional styling. For master bathrooms, modular vanity suites often have a makeup counter, and a small seat or stool is added.

Update 2: Highlight Smart Bathroom Features

Smart bathroom faucets are equipped with touchless activation that turns on the water, which helps to prevent the transmission of germs. They also have efficiency sensors that limit water waste. Today, bathroom mirrors incorporate more smart features, including LED lighting, digital time displays, and anti-fog glass. Smart shower heads will also turn on automatically, and some offer easily customizable settings for water temperature and water pressure.

Heated flooring is another popular tech-oriented feature that can make your bathroom space more desirable. There are electric or water-based systems that will keep your feet warm on colder days. Electric systems are generally more affordable and often have a thin wire or mat-style heating element positioned below a tile floor. Water-based systems rely on a simple network of pipes below the floor, which circulate warm water. Based on the more intensive installation required, water-based options are often more practical for new bathroom construction or significant, structural bathroom remodeling projects.

Update 3: Advocate for Neutral, Spa-Like Color Palettes

Creating a calming, spa-like atmosphere is one of the most popular bathroom design trends. One of the best ways of achieving this environment involves choosing the right mix of colors. Neutral colors typically have a calming effect, such as eggshell white paint on walls or trim, off-white window coverings, or beige tiles.

Certain colors can introduce natural, outdoor elements such as light or soft blues that inspire feelings of water or the sky. Different shades of green may be soothing by inspiring thoughts of grass or plants.

Update 4: Focus on Lighting Upgrades

Consider ways of allowing more natural light from windows in the bathroom without compromising privacy. Lighting upgrades can be made quickly and affordably using LED lighting, introducing layered lighting styles, or adding modern light fixtures.

Layered Lighting

Layering your bathroom lighting is a concept of using lights for differing purposes. For example, having a dim overhead light combined with task lights on the mirror and wall-mounted indirect lights that project onto the upper wall and ceiling areas.

LED Lighting

Compared to traditional lights, LED lights operate at least 75% more efficiently and last much longer. When incorporated into bathroom mirrors, LED lights create ideal visibility for applying makeup or shaving.

Statement Lighting Fixtures

Decorative wall sconces or bathroom light bars are often positioned above or beside mirrors for shadow-free bathroom lighting. Those with an adjustable dimmer will help to set the mood or to create an intimate atmosphere. Pendant lights, which dangle from the ceiling above, can make a statement and won’t take up much space.

Update 5: Promote Sustainable Upgrades

Sustainability is a popular buzzword in today’s culture, with greater emphasis being placed on conserving energy, enhancing efficiency, and choosing recyclable materials whenever possible.

Some of the most significant ways of achieving these goals in a bathroom might include transitioning to high-performing windows or insulating the walls. However, these types of projects are more costly and require professional installation. Fortunately, there are some simpler, more effective updates that will help make a bathroom eco-friendlier. For example, adding EPA-approved WaterSense faucets and lower-flow showerheads or installing a high-efficiency toilet can conserve water by 30% or more.

Although most of the economic indicators show modest to moderate signs of improvement, the residential real estate market in 2025 is likely to remain competitive and challenging. Sellers who are looking to distinguish their homes should consider updates to their bathrooms as among the priorities in their overall strategy for making the property more appealing. Some of the objectives to consider include choosing a vanity that makes an impact aesthetically and functionally, adding smart features that use the latest technology, and improving the color scheme, lighting, and sustainability of the bathroom space.

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Resources:

https://www.christiearchitecture.com/heated-bathroom-floor/ https://www.epa.gov/watersense/bathroom-faucets https://www.realtor.com/research/2025-national-housing-forecast/