Amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, major bathroom renovation projects are on hold as consumers watch their finances, but they still have an appetite for lower-cost aesthetic improvements they can do…
UK
Retail
simple
UK Bathrooms and Bathroom Accessories Market Report 2024
Amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, major bathroom renovation projects are on hold as consumers watch their finances, but they still have an appetite for lower-cost aesthetic improvements they can do themselves, which is driving demand for bathroom accessories.
Inclusive bathroom products a promising opportunity for bathroom brands
Growing trend of wellness driving demand for at-home spa-like bathroom experiences
Market dynamics and outlook
Market size & forecast
Market predictions
Slower growth in 2024 as consumers opt for modest upgrades
Economic challenges prevail, yet wellness presents a golden opportunity for bathroom brands to transform consumer priorities
What consumers want and why
59% of homes have just one bathroom, and most households lack a separate toilet or cloakroom
Graph 1: “How many bathrooms do you have in your household? Please include shower rooms, wet rooms and cloakrooms”, 2024
52% of consumers, led by high-income earners, have revamped their bathroom in the last three years
Graph 2: “Which of the following has been done to the bathrooms, shower rooms or separate toilets/cloakrooms in your household in the last three years? Please select all that apply”, 2024
Most bathroom purchases are from store-based retailers (76%) with IKEA the single most popular bathroom retailer (25%)
Graph 3: “Where did you, your fitter or builder purchase the fittings for your most recent bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom project? Please select all that apply”, 2024
Almost half of consumers turn to social media for bathroom inspiration, with YouTube the most popular source
Graph 4: “Which of the following have you used for inspiration for projects for your bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom in the last three years? Please select all that apply”, 2024
Updating appearance is the top priority in a bathroom project, followed by improving energy efficiency, and then functional necessity
Graph 5: “Which of the following would you prioritise when planning a project for your bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom? Please rank up to 3 in order of importance, with 1 being the most important,”, 2024
Most are satisfied with their existing bathrooms and are likely to make smaller upgrades, such as changing taps
Graph 6: “Do the following statements apply to you?”, 2024
Retailer activity
Retailers leverage own-brand value, spa-like experiences and lower prices
Innovation and marketing
Space- and energy-saving fixtures, ‘try before you buy’ bathroom experiences, smart tech and online retail
Bathroom furniture advertising spend drops 69% in 2023, with Victoria Plum cutting its budget by 94%
Graph 7: total above-the-line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on bathroom furniture, 2020-24*
Market Dynamics
Market size
Softer growth in 2024, with consumers leaning towards smaller-ticket upgrades
Graph 8: market size for bathroom and bathroom accessories, 2020-24
Market forecast
Bathrooms and bathroom accessories market to grow 16% between 2024-29
Improving economy, strengthening housing market and demographic shifts will drive spending on bathrooms in the coming years
Market segmentation
87% of bathroom spending dedicated to fittings and furniture
Graph 9: market estimates for bathroom furniture and accessories spending, 2020-24
Showers the leading product, with one quarter of sales
Graph 10: market estimates for bathrooms, 2024 (est)
Showers the leading product, with one quarter of sales
Macro-economic factors
Furniture deflation and overall inflation easing
Graph 11: CPI and household furniture inflation rate, 2023-24
Wages growth outpacing prices, but this is slowing
Graph 12: real wage growth, annual % in wage growth vs inflation, 2020-24
Interest rates expected to fall in 2024, but borrowing pressures will remain
Positive signs of a resurgence in house-buying activity has the potential to boost the bathroom market
Graph 13: number of property residential transactions with a value of over £40,000 completed in the UK, 2020-24
Home ownership edges up as rents soar
Graph 14: English housing tenure, 2018/19-2022/23
The cost-of-living crisis is still a problem, but messaging around wellness can cut through
Graph 15: perception of the state of the cost-of-living crisis in the UK, 2024
43% of consumers impacted by higher energy prices
Graph 16: cost-of-living-related issues noticed in the last two months, 2024
Recovery in financial wellbeing has stalled, though most are doing OK financially
Graph 17: the financial wellbeing index, 2016-24
Consumer confidence is fragile, though most expect to get by over the coming year
Graph 18: the financial confidence index, 2016-24
More consumers planning to spend on the home
Graph 19: “Which of the following have you done over the last three months? And which do you plan to do over the next three months? Please select all that apply”, 2024.
Social and environmental factors
Ageing population and growth of multi-generational households will be key trend drivers in the bathroom market
Graph 20: population projections, 2024-44
Bathroom retailers should highlight sustainability to increase their competitive advantage
Graph 21: consumers who agree that they “expect brands to take the lead on addressing environmental issues”, 2024
What Consumers Want and Why
Presence of bathrooms
Most consumers (59%) have just one bathroom in their household
Graph 22: “How many bathrooms do you have in your household? Please include shower rooms, wet rooms and cloakrooms”, 2020-24
Larger houses typically have more bathrooms
Graph 23: “How many bathrooms do you have in your household? Please include shower rooms, wet rooms and cloakrooms”, by current home type, 2024
Homeowners most likely to have more than one bathroom
Graph 24: “How many bathrooms do you have in your household? Please include shower rooms, wet rooms and cloakrooms”, by housing situation, 2024
Most consumers lack a separate toilet or cloakroom, though these are more common in hybrid-working households
Graph 25: “Do you have one or more separate toilets/cloakrooms (eg downstairs toilet) in your household?”, 2020-24
Refits and installations
Financial constraints make small bathroom renovations more popular than large-scale upgrades
52% of consumers have revamped their bathroom in the last three years
Graph 26: “Which of the following has been done to the bathrooms, shower rooms or separate toilets/cloakrooms in your household in the last three years? Please select all that apply”, 2024
Graph 27: “Which of the following has been done to the bathrooms, shower rooms or separate toilets/cloakrooms in your household in the last three years? Please select all that apply”, by household income, 2024
Offer value and help consumers achieve their dream bathroom for less
Second-hand options sit well with stretched budgets
Recent bathroom projects have focused on free-standing accessories, providing a fresh update without breaking the bank
Graph 28: “Which of these was done most recently? If more than one was done simultaneously, please select the one that cost the most”, 2024
‘No-demo reno’ range taps into the trend of people wanting to give their bathrooms an affordable face-lift
Home owners and those most committed to their current homes lead the charge when it comes to a complete bathroom refit
Graph 29: “Which of these was done most recently? If more than one was done simultaneously, please select the one that cost the most”, 2024
Where they shop
86% of Gen Z’s bathroom purchases are from store-based retailers
Graph 30: “Where did you, your fitter or builder purchase the fittings for your most recent bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom project? – NET”, 2024
Leading retailer for bathroom fittings is IKEA with 25% buying from them
Graph 31: “Where did you, your fitter or builder purchase the fittings for your most recent bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom project? Please select all that apply,” 2024
IKEA the most popular bathroom retailer for low- and high-income earners
Graph 32: “Where did you, your fitter or builder purchase the fittings for your most recent bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom project? Please select all that apply,” by income, 2024
IKEA improves the customer experience with new self-service kiosks
B&Q the most popular bathroom retailer for Gen X and Baby Boomers
Graph 33: “Where did you, your fitter or builder purchase the fittings for your most recent bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom project? Please select all that apply,” by generation, 2024
Shift towards buying from IKEA instead of B&Q, with stability in purchases from both physical and online bathroom specialists
Graph 34: “Where did you, your fitter or builder purchase the fittings for your most recent bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom project? Please select all that apply,” 2022 and 2024
Be more than just a bathroom showroom
Sources of inspiration
YouTube the biggest source of inspiration for bathroom projects
Graph 35: “Which of the following have you used for inspiration for projects for your bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom in the last three years? Please select all that apply,” 2024
Social media platforms are the go-to for connecting with younger bathroom shoppers
Graph 36: “Which of the following have you used for inspiration for projects for your bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom in the last three years? Please select all that apply,” by generation, 2024
AI and shoppable content has the potential to significantly enhance the role of social media
Friends and family are a common source for bathroom inspiration
Tradespeople can showcase before and after bathroom transformations to build trust
Priorities when planning a bathroom project
Bathroom projects primarily motivated by aesthetic desires, followed by improving energy efficiency, and then functional necessity
Graph 37: “Which of the following would you prioritise when planning a project for your bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom?” – NET Any rank, 2024
45% place importance on aesthetics when planning a bathroom project
Brands working alongside designers and influencers to help consumers elevate bathroom aesthetics
Rising energy prices and eco-consciousness drives demand for energy-efficient bathroom solutions
Energy-saving bathroom solutions a higher priority for lower-income consumers hit hardest by rising energy prices
Graph 38: percentage of consumers who prioritise saving energy when planning a project for your bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom, by income, 2024
Graph 39: percentage of consumers who prioritise saving water when planning a project for your bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom, by income, 2024
Tap into consumers’ energy concerns
Slow property market a motivating factor for 43% of home owners to opt for bathroom projects that add value to their home
Graph 40: percentage of consumers who prioritise adding value to their home when planning a project for your bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom, by housing situation, 2024
Multi-generational living arrangements a motivation behind 21% of bathroom projects
Embed inclusive design into bathroom products
Bringing the spa experience home
A fifth of consumers want to create a spa-like bathroom space
Sustainability a higher priority for younger consumers
Eco-friendly bathroom furniture with circular principles in mind
Behaviours and attitudes in the bathrooms market
Most are satisfied with their existing bathrooms and are likely to only make smaller upgrades
Graph 41: “Do the following statements apply to you?”, 2024
A fifth of consumers are unhappy with their current bathroom(s), which presents a market opportunity
Smaller bathroom upgrades with financial concerns making large-scale renovations less important
Customised fixtures encourage consumers to spend more
Customised bathroom solutions just a click away
Bespoke bathroom products catering to different lifestyle needs
Hyper-personalised bathroom fixtures and fittings with 3D printing
Younger consumers show a higher interest in DIY bathroom projects
Graph 42: “I am more likely to take on a bathroom project myself than hire a professional”, 2024
On-demand help and guidance
Utilise social media to share how-to guides and drive sales
Empowering older generations to undertake DIY bathroom projects
Maximising existing bathroom space
Creative space-efficient designs that make the most of limited bathroom space
Roca’s award-winning combined washbasin and toilet
Premium end of the bathroom market poised for growth
Innovation And Marketing Trends
Retailer Activity
Victorian Plumbing acquires rival Victoria Plum
CP Hart upgrade flagship London store, the largest premium bathroom showroom in the UK
IKEA sales boosted by a 19% increase in online sales
Kingfisher reports higher sales but bathroom spending drags
Subdued sales of bigger ticket items and Design & Install dip at Wickes
Homebase reportedly up for sale, with B&M and The Range potential buyers
Victorian Plumbing the UK’s largest bathroom retailer
Big-box retailers expanding through smaller-format stores in urban areas
Easy Bathrooms open 55,000 sq ft superstore
Screwfix plans to open up to 40 new stores in the next 12 months, moving closer to its target of 1,000
Launch activity and innovation
Limited living spaces drives demand for space-saving bathroom furniture
Folding furniture offers the flexibility to maximise space utilisation
New premium bathroom online retailer
Marketplace offering a seamless bathroom shopping experience
Gain fresh consumer-led insights into the UK bathroom market. What impact has the cost of living crisis had on the bathroom accessories market? What innovations are driving change in the bathrooms industry? Answer these questions and more with this comprehensive market report.
Topics Analysed in this Report:
The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the bathroom market and consumer spending
Analysis of the size of the market and forecast for the next five years
Refits and installations undertaken and sources for inspiration for bathroom projects
Leading retailers and advertising initiatives
Consumer behaviour and attitude when planning a project for their bathroom, shower room or separate toilet/cloakroom
Innovations in the bathroom market
Report scope: This report focuses on bathroom retailing in the UK, looking at spending by both end users or small professional installers on behalf of end users on: bathroom fixtures, bathroom fittings, bathroom furniture, bathroom accessories.
UK Bathroom Market – Current Landscape
Amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, major bathroom renovation projects are being put on hold as consumers watch their finances, but they still have an appetite for lower-cost DIY improvements, which is driving demand for bathroom accessories. Energy prices are proving to be a major strain on household finances and energy-saving bathroom solutions are a high priority for consumers. With water prices expected to keep rising, there is room for further growth in the bathroom and bathroom accessories market.
UK Bathrooms and Bathroom Accessories – Consumer Trends
Store-based retailers are by far and away the most popular destination for purchasing bathroom fittings, with this popularity peaking among younger consumers led by Gen Z, who are the most prolific bathroom renovators. In the competitive bathroom retail market, retailers that make in-store visits the best experience they can are likely to thrive. Tapping into AR and VR technology and creating experiential retail experiences that go beyond just selling bathroom fixtures can attract customers.
Purchase the full report for a complete analysis of the UK bathroom and bathroom accessories market and consumer, including in-depth market dynamics and trends driving innovation in the industry. Readers of this report may also be interested in Mintel’s UK DIY Retailing Market Report.
Meet The Expert
This report is written by Bridget McCusker. Bridget joined Mintel in October 2022 as a Research Analyst covering Retail focusing on home. Originally from Boston, US, Bridget holds a BSc in International Trade & Marketing for the Fashion Industries from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She relocated to London in 2021 to pursue her MSc in Global Affairs at King’s College London.
The ageing population, multi-generational households and growing emphasis on wellness offer exciting opportunities for bathroom brands.
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