Ottawa homeowners planning a bathroom renovation this year are rethinking the whole layout, and the shower is winning. What used to be a tucked-away corner behind a tub is now taking centre stage, with local design and renovation pros reporting a steady shift toward bigger, spa-like showers that bring wellness into the everyday routine.
The tub is losing ground
For decades, the bathtub was treated as the anchor of a full bathroom, even for households that rarely used it. That's changing. According to a recent design trends roundup from the Ottawa Citizen, showers are expanding into the square footage tubs used to claim, offering more room to move, more storage built into the walls, and a layout that feels less like a fixture and more like a small retreat.
Why Ottawa homeowners are on board
In a city with long winters, the appeal of a warm, spa-style shower is easy to understand. Ottawa's renovation and real estate market has leaned hard into wellness-focused upgrades in recent years, from heated floors to soaker features, and the shower expansion fits right into that pattern. Local renovators say clients are asking for rain showerheads, built-in benches, multiple water outlets, and even steam functions, features that were once reserved for high-end hotels and are now landing in Ottawa homes across neighbourhoods like Westboro, Barrhaven, and the Glebe.
For buyers and sellers in Ottawa's real estate market, this matters too. A primary bathroom with a large, well-designed shower is increasingly seen as a selling point, sometimes outweighing the presence of a tub altogether, particularly in homes without kids where a soaking tub may go unused for months at a time.
What the trend looks like in practice
Designers point to a few consistent moves in these renovations:
- Curbless entries that create a seamless, open feel and better accessibility
- Frameless glass instead of bulky shower doors or curtains, making small bathrooms feel larger
- Built-in niches and benches replacing freestanding caddies and shower stools
- Multiple shower heads, including rain heads overhead and handheld wands for flexibility
- Natural materials like large-format tile and stone-look finishes that echo spa aesthetics
A practical shift, not just a style one
Part of the appeal is functional. Larger showers with good drainage and bench seating are easier to age in place with, a consideration more Ottawa homeowners are factoring into renovations as they plan to stay in their homes long-term rather than move as their needs change.
For anyone in Ottawa weighing a bathroom renovation this year, the takeaway from designers is simple: before assuming the tub is non-negotiable, it's worth considering whether that space would serve the household better as a bigger, better-appointed shower.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
