The numbers are in, and they confirm what we’re seeing in Dallas homes every week: the bathtub is losing, and the shower is winning — bigger than ever.

The 2026 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study, released in late September, surveyed thousands of homeowners who recently renovated. The headline finding: nearly half (49%) of bathroom renovations included enlarging the shower — up 10 percentage points from last year, making it the fastest-growing structural change in bathroom remodeling.

And the tub? More than one in four renovators (26%) removed a bathtub entirely. Of those, a striking 79% did it specifically to make room for a larger shower.

What this means for Dallas homes

Dallas has a particular reason this trend hits home — literally. Neighborhoods like Lakewood, Oak Cliff, Lake Highlands, and the M Streets are full of houses built decades ago, when a big garden tub or a standard 60-inch alcove tub was the centerpiece of the primary bath. Today, many of those tubs sit unused — collecting dust, not bathers.

Reclaiming that footprint for a spacious walk-in shower is one of the highest-impact changes you can make:

• Daily comfort: A 48″–60″ walk-in shower with a rainfall head and a bench changes your morning routine more than any other single upgrade.
• Accessibility: Curbless, step-free entries make the bathroom safer as you age in place — no high tub wall to climb over.
• Dallas hard water: With local water hardness running 12–17 grains per gallon, modern treated glass and the right tile and grout choices keep a big shower looking new far longer than old materials would.

The other 2026 trends worth knowing

The shower story dominates, but the study surfaced a few more shifts:

• Pros are in demand: 89% of renovating homeowners hired at least one professional (up 5 points), with general contractors the most sought-after. Bathroom work is getting more structural — layout reworks (40%) and wall modifications (38%) are common.
• Showerheads are getting fancier: Rainfall showerheads jumped 6 points to 19%, alongside waterfall faucets.
• Double sinks keep climbing: 64% of renovators chose double sinks, up 17 points year over year — a reminder that the vanity wall matters too.
• Spending is up: The national median bathroom spend rebounded to $15,000 in 2025 (from $13,000 in 2024), and major remodels — where at least the shower was upgraded — hit a $25,000 median. Dallas pricing runs its own race; our Dallas bathroom remodel cost guide breaks down local numbers.

Thinking about a bigger shower? Start here

Enlarging a shower isn’t just a fixture swap — it usually means moving plumbing, reworking waterproofing, and (in Dallas) the right permits and inspections. That’s exactly why most homeowners in the study hired a pro rather than DIY-ing it.

If your tub sits unused, a tub-to-shower conversion reclaims that space for the shower you’ll actually use every day. And if you’re dreaming bigger, our walk-in shower options cover frameless glass, curbless entries, benches, and niches — engineered for Dallas water conditions.

Wondering what it costs? Our Dallas bathroom remodel cost guide breaks down every cost factor with local context.

The bottom line

The 2026 data is clear: homeowners are spending their renovation dollars where they’ll feel them every single day — the shower. If your bathroom still revolves around a tub nobody uses, this is the year to rethink it.

Call or text +1 (972) 833-6266 for a free, no-pressure on-site estimate — send us a few photos of your current bathroom and we’ll tell you honestly what a bigger shower would take in your home.

Source: 2026 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study, via Kitchen & Bath Business and DFW Agent Magazine, September 2026.