Your bathroom is one of the most used spaces in your home, which means it should be a space you actually want to be in. By updating your bathroom this year, you can elevate your space and make it more functional for your family.
Let’s explore how you can update your bathroom in 2026.
1. Walk-In Shower
Upgrading your bathroom with a walk-in shower is an excellent way to modernize and maximize space. Walk-in showers can easily update the look of your bathroom, are easy to clean, and make your bathroom more accessible as you age.
Those older, out-of-style tub and shower combinations are common in most homes throughout Wisconsin. Walk-in showers can instantly help modernize your bathroom with up-to-date styles, textures, and tiles. The design team at Watters Plumbing can guide you through choosing the right options for your style and budget.
If you have a small bathroom, walk-in showers are a must when it comes to updating your bathroom in 2024. Watters Plumbing offers a variety of walk-in shower designs that are smaller than traditional tubs and showers.
By replacing your existing tub with a walk-in shower, you can also create the impression of a larger bathroom with the now-open space. Plus, the walk-in showers from Watters Plumbing are constructed with durable, high-quality materials to prevent cracks, chips, and dents, so they’ll last for years in your Fox Cities home.
A walk-in shower also allows you to remain safer in your home as you age, even when dealing with physical limitations and pain that are more common as you get older. You don’t have to lift your leg over the side of the slippery tub, minimizing the chance of falling and injury.
Plus, there are plenty of walk-in shower accessories and add-ons that allow you to maneuver your bathroom safely, including shower seats, grab bars, and handheld shower heads.
2. Walk-In Tub
If you or a loved one has limited mobility or you just want a spa-like experience at home, upgrading your bathroom to a walk-in tub is an excellent choice.
Walk-in tubs eliminate the need to lift your leg over the edge of a tub and instead have wide, easy-access doors. Once inside the tub, there are in-tub seats that reduce the strain and stress on your joints, making bathing a more comfortable experience. Our walk-in tubs can also be equipped with adjustable hand-held shower wands to make rinsing easier.
Opt for our therapeutic water jets to massage and soothe painful joints and muscles. They are beneficial for people recovering from surgery, struggling with arthritis pain, or for those who simply want to relax and feel like they have an at-home spa.
At Watters Plumbing, our walk-in tubs are made with a non-porous material that helps to prevent the buildup of dirt, grime, mold, and mildew. This allows you to spend less time cleaning your bathroom and more time relaxing.
3. Bidet Toilet Seat
Adding a bidet to your bathroom is one of the latest trends for the new year as folks look to customize their homes and live a more sustainable lifestyle.
These seats have multiple ways for you to clean when you use the bathroom, including wash and dry options, in addition to posture options, water-pressure customization, and heated seats.
Toto and Kohler bidet toilet seats are more efficient and eco-friendly than traditional toilets, allowing you to save on toilet paper throughout 2024 and beyond. Bidets also eliminate the use of hard cleaning chemicals since they self-clean the bowl before and after each use.
4. Smart Technology Integration
Smart technology bathroom features — including motion-sensor faucets, smart mirrors, programmable shower systems, heated bathroom floors, and smart lighting — can enhance your bathroom experience and bring a touch of modern luxury to your daily routine.
The heated floors and programmable shower settings come in especially handy during our freezing Wisconsin winters, helping to keep you warm and improve efficiency in your bathroom.
In terms of energy efficiency and sustainability, smart faucets, showers, and toilets often come with features such as motion sensors or programmable settings that can help reduce water consumption and electricity use. Light fixtures can also be adjusted with these settings to dim or brighten when necessary. Not only is this more convenient for you, but also saves on utility bills.
Smart mirrors typically include customizable settings for different users, allowing you and your loved ones to have personalized preferences each time you use your bathroom.
Overall, the integration of smart technology can create a modern bathroom experience while making your routine faster and more convenient.
5. Upgrade Your Bathroom Layout
The next step is making sure the space works as well as it looks.
In many homes, the layout was designed around outdated needs or limited by older plumbing. That can leave you with tight walkways, wasted space, or fixtures that just feel out of place.
A few strategic changes can make a noticeable difference:
- Converting an underused tub into a more practical shower
This opens up the room and improves daily usability. - Reworking fixture placement
Adjusting where the vanity, toilet, or shower sits can create better flow without changing the footprint. - Adding storage where it’s needed
Built-ins and smarter vanity design reduce clutter and make the space easier to use.
Planning around your daily routine
Whether it’s busy mornings or long-term accessibility, the layout should support how you use the space every day.
Upgrade Your Bathroom With Watters Plumbing
If you want to upgrade your bathroom in 2024, contact the Fox Cities bathroom remodeling team at Watters Plumbing today! We will work with you to provide an estimate, ask questions, and determine a bathroom conversion or remodel that is best for you within your budget.
For more than 65 years, our team has helped homeowners throughout the Oshkosh, Appleton, Fond du Lac and Green Bay areas upgrade their bathrooms and turn them into a space they love.
We’ll help you create a bathroom that fits your needs and is easy to maintain. Contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Bathroom Remodeling with Watters Plumbing
What areas do you serve?
Watters Plumbing serves homeowners throughout the Fox Valley, including Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh, and surrounding northeast Wisconsin communities. They’ve been doing it for over 60 years, so they’ve seen just about every type of bathroom situation imaginable.
Do you offer free estimates and financing?
Yes. You can schedule a free bathroom remodel estimate, and the team will walk you through options based on your space and goals. Financing is also available, including plans at around 6.99% APR for 60 months (with qualifying credit), making larger remodels much more manageable.
How long does a typical remodel take?
It depends on the scope, but Watters is known for keeping projects organized and predictable. Their crews show up on time, communicate clearly, and clean up at the end of each day—even when working in older homes.
