Luxury Bathroom Design: What’s Worth the Investment vs. What’s Not
- 5 hours ago
- 8 min read
Accent lighting, luxury fixtures, marble countertops, smart toilets, steam showers, a fireplace… if you are currently researching a bathroom remodel or building a luxury custom home, you’ve likely come across these ideas and many more. There are so many options when it comes to luxury bathroom design that it can be difficult to sift through what’s truly worth the investment versus what isn’t.
When it comes to any custom design, luxury bathroom or otherwise, what is truly “worth it” is often subjective depending on your lifestyle and preferences. For one person a smart shower may be worth the added convenience and accessibility, while another person may feel the convenience of a smart shower isn’t all that great. Here, we’ll cover luxury bathroom design elements that we’ve seen a majority of people feel are worth the investment from our 20+ years of experience as a design build firm in Bend.
We’ll cover everything from lighting to shower features and materials to technology to give you a better idea of what luxury bathroom design features are worth the investment.
Luxury Bathroom Design Features: What’s Worth The Investment
Natural Materials
Natural materials are one of the features that can elevate any area of the home. These materials are often more durable and long lasting than synthetic materials in addition to giving a space a premium and timeless design.
Using natural materials like marble, granite, porcelain, and natural stone in bathroom vanities, flooring, and walls, while it may cost more, is worth the investment because of this durability and long lasting appeal.
Natural materials also give your bathroom a more spa-like feel, which is one of the top custom home design trends in 2026.
For all these reasons, natural materials are a must when creating a luxury bathroom design.
Layered Lighting
Often an afterthought if you aren’t a designer, lighting is crucial in making a space feel more luxurious and when it comes to the bathroom, this is one feature that is always worth the investment.
Layered lighting adds depth and dynamism to the bathroom in addition to improving functionality and comfort. If you forgo layered lighting in your luxury bathroom design, the results are flat lighting, which is often acceptable for one or two things, but lacks the functionality for all bathroom tasks.
For example, you may end up with lighting that is perfectly acceptable for brushing your teeth and drying off after the shower, but makes it difficult to see while in the shower or lacks the brightness for makeup application. This is where layered lighting creates a more functional and convenient bathroom - elevating your space to a more luxury experience.
To create layered lighting in your bathroom, you’ll want to include ambient lighting, along with task-specific lighting - think vanity lights and shower lighting, and accent lighting, such as a more decorative light fixture over the bathtub.
You can also consider dimmable lighting or smart in-ceiling lights to ensure bathroom lighting is customizable for everyone’s preferences and adjustable depending on time of day and bathroom use.
In any luxury bathroom design layered lighting is always worth the investment.
Custom Vanities & Built In Storage
Your vanity is one of the hardest working features in your home. Custom cabinetry gives the ability to design around how you actually live - simplifying your daily routine.
By including a custom vanity along with built in bathroom storage in your luxury bathroom design, you’ll benefit from a personalized design, which is synonymous with luxury. In addition, you’ll be able to select the type of storage space you’ll need, whether it’s in the vanity or additional built in storage in the bathroom, creating a functional and clutter free space.
A custom vanity and built in storage elevates the design of any bathroom making it well worth the additional investment.
Shower Upgrades
As something that is used daily and takes up a large portion of any bathroom, the shower is a great place to invest in enhancements when designing a luxury bathroom.
We recommend a full tile shower. It elevates the design of the bathroom and is a great place to add a personal touch with custom design or custom tile. A frameless glass enclosure can really highlight the shower design. This combination elevates the overall design and highlights the craftsmanship of the space.
For those with more space to work with, a separate shower room is also a worthwhile inclusion in a luxury bathroom design. This separate space can increase home value and improve functionality of a bathroom, while also creating a spa-like ambiance. A fully tiled shower room can also make cleaning and maintenance easier than a more traditional shower in the bathroom.
Curb less showers or shower rooms are another great option to improve accessibility and create a clean, seamless look. Incorporating a curb less shower entry during your initial design ensures you don’t need to spend resources on a future remodel just to incorporate this accessibility feature.
One other shower enhancement we recommend in a luxury bathroom design is multiple spray systems. This can include a traditional shower head, a handheld unit, or a rainfall shower head. Having multiple options for your shower improves shower functionality while adding comfort and a more luxurious feel to your every day. These features add comfort without significantly increasing cost.
Convenience Features
It’s always the smallest details that create a big impact in a luxury bathroom design. These details are often low cost and greatly improve the overall experience. While convenience may look a little different for everyone, convenience items like a fogless mirror, outlets in drawers, and soft close drawers, cabinets, and toilet seats, are all features that are worth the investment. None of these features adds much to the cost of a bathroom remodel or design but they all add a touch of refinement to the bathroom.
Another convenience feature worth investing in is toe kick activated under cabinet lighting. It’s a great feature particularly for early morning or evening bathroom use when you need just a little light.
These little convenience features add a layer of refinement that enhances everyday use. Small details like these go a long way in creating a luxury feel when designing or redesigning a bathroom.
Comfort Items
Similar to the convenience features, comfort-focused upgrades can significantly enhance how your bathroom feels. A towel warmer, for example, is a small investment that most people feel is well worth the added comfort.
Heated flooring, especially in climates like ours in Central Oregon where nights and mornings are cool year round, is another comfort feature well worth the investment. Stepping onto a warm floor on a cold morning makes a noticeable difference.
Bathroom Tech
There are so many different smart bathroom technology features nowadays, we could write a whole separate article on just these. While some features are based on personal preference, others provide clear benefits. We recommend prioritizing technology that helps protect your home when incorporating bathroom technology.
Smart bathroom features like smart leak detectors and shutoff valves and humidity sensing smart exhaust fans are worth prioritizing. The smart leak detectors are particularly worthwhile in homes that are used less frequently, like a vacation home or second home, and in bathrooms that get less use, such as in a guest house.
Humidity sensing smart exhaust fans are a great addition in any bathroom to help protect from mold or mildew. They can also reduce energy costs and enhance indoor air quality, making your bathroom more comfortable.
Although there are many other smart bathroom features that can be used to upgrade your bathroom experience, we’d argue that any smart feature that functions to protect your investment is worth considering before including other smart bathroom technology. That’s why we’ve included these smart bathroom features in our list of luxury bathroom design items that are worth the added investment.
Luxury Bathroom Design Features: Nice-To-Haves
As we’ve noted, luxury bathroom design is highly subjective; however, most people find the bathroom features we’ve just covered are well worth their investment. The next few features we’ll cover are certainly nice to have in any luxury bathroom, but they are not essential for everyone.
Fireplace
A fireplace in the bathroom creates a strong visual statement and adds warmth to any space. For many, soaking in a bath with the fireplace going would be a relaxing and decadent experience.
However, it is not something most people use on a daily basis. Consider how often you would realistically use it before deciding if it’s worth the investment in your luxury bathroom design.
Full Body Blow Dryer
A full body blow dryer is, as it sounds, a system designed to dry a person from head to toe with warm or cool air after a bath or shower. These systems replace traditional towels and add convenience and improve hygiene. They often work best when installed in shower rooms. For some, this feature will be well worth the investment; however, for others, a traditional towel is preferred, making the full body blow dryer something that isn’t worth the added cost.
Steam Shower
The value of a steam shower is highly dependent on use. For many, a daily steam shower is part of their routine and in this case, having a steam shower in the home bathroom is a worthwhile investment.
While the health benefits of a steam shower are many, installing the system and making sure to properly seal the space to prevent mold, mildew, and rot is an added cost that doesn’t match the benefits for many people, which is why it’s in the nice-to-have section of our list of luxury bathroom design features.
Double Shower
A double shower is another feature that is a nice-to-have for many people. This setup allows for two people to shower at the same time via a shower that has two separate sets of shower spray options and more space than a traditional shower.
The double shower can add convenience and improve functionality, particularly for people that tend to get ready at similar times each day. The double shower can take up more space, so for homes and bathrooms with limited space, other features, like a separate shower room or separate soaking tub are often a better investment than the double shower.
Kitchenette
A kitchenette in the bathroom is another novel feature that creates a more spa-like feel. This feature, while indulgent and luxurious, is most often a nice-to-have if budget and space allow. For many, other bathroom elements are typically used more often so investment in other features over a kitchenette creates a more comfortable and functional bathroom experience.
However, if you value having access to beverages and amenities during your morning routine, or if you are creating a space for a guest house or guest room, a kitchenette in the bathroom may be worth considering.
Touchless Or Smart Faucets
Over the years we’ve seen mixed opinions on the value and convenience of touchless and smart faucets in the bathroom, which is why we’ve added it in the nice-to-have section of our luxury bathroom design list.
On one hand touchless faucets are more hygienic and energy efficient, while on the other hand, many people find them frustrating to use and they do require more maintenance and have a higher cost to install versus a traditional bathroom faucet.
Touchless or smart faucets are another feature that is highly dependent on your preferences to determine if it is worth the investment for you.
Looking for more ideas? Check out these luxury bathroom remodel ideas.
Recap: 15 Luxury Bathroom Design Features That Are Worth The Investment
Natural Materials
Layered Lighting
Toe Kick Under Cabinet Lighting
Soft Close Drawers, Cabinets, Toilet Seats
Electrical Outlets In Drawers + Cabinets
Custom Vanity
Built-In Storage
Towel Warmer
Heated Flooring
Full Tile Shower
Shower Room
Multiple Spray Options In The Shower
Fogless Mirror
Smart Leak Detectors & Shut Off Valves
Smart Humidity Fans
The best luxury bathroom design is one that fits your lifestyle, preferences, style, and budget.
While not every feature is necessary, the right combination can simplify and enhance your daily routine while also adding long-term value to your home.
If you are interested in a luxury bathroom remodel or building a luxury custom home in Central Oregon, we’d love to help you determine what features to add to your bathroom. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and start designing a space that works for you!
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