The bathroom has morphed from a boring necessity to a serene retreat, rivalling the most elaborate spas around the world.
We asked the experts: What's on the horizon for ensuites and bathrooms?
As more people travel, you can expect to see international influences in one of the busiest rooms in the house, says Richard Gotfried, vice-president of marketing and corporate communications for Trico Homes.
"Essentially, if you can see it in a five-star hotel, you are going to start seeing it in people's homes. Bathrooms and ensuites are truly a haven for relaxation and people want to feel as though they are on a holiday without leaving their homes."
Exotic touches are definitely on the rise, agrees Cathie Beaudin-DaSilva, director of operations for Decker Management Ltd.
"People want their ensuite or bathroom to inspire so they are choosing incredibly interesting, luxurious accents from around the world. Instead of your average ceramic tile, homebuyers are searching for gorgeous Italian tiles for their floors or tub surrounds. You are even seeing chandeliers instead of simple lighting," says Beaudin-DaSilva.
Lavish touches have also found their way into the average bathroom from heated flooring to high-end steam units, says Gotfried.
"Today's ensuites are very luxurious. People are paying attention to the details whether it's heated flooring with timers so that when you get up in the morning your ceramic tile is warm to the touch or steam showers with several heads and a rain shower component."
For those who dream of a warm soak in their jetted tub but can't bear to miss Desperate Housewives, have no fear, adds Gotfried.
"The bathroom is becoming an entertainment zone. Homebuyers are opting to mount an LCD or a plasma television in their bathrooms. They are quite easy to incorporate and the prices have really dropped so they are realistic for the average homeowner."
With the bathroom now one of the most popular rooms in the house, homebuyers are making sure to include every detail.
"We used to see a lot of homebuyers spend all of their attention on the kitchen design and perhaps the great room. Today's buyer is actually designing their ensuite for the future, whether it's a man-height sink or oversized windows to optimize the natural light."
So what's in the future?
The walk-in closet is quickly becoming more elaborate and well-designed, says Beaudin-DaSilva.
"I think that the walk-in closet will become a dressing room of sorts complete with a make-up vanity area and three-way mirrors."
