In 2026, my Instagram feed is absolutely awash with beautifully designed kitchens. At every level of the market, competition is fierce, and designers and retailers are rising to the challenge – delivering spaces that meet modern expectations for both aesthetics and functionality.

Features once reserved for the luxury end of the market are now simply expected as standard. Stone worktops, integrated wirework and boiling water taps are no longer “nice to haves”; they’re part of the baseline for good kitchen design. 

Bathrooms, however, still feel split into two clear camps: affordable or luxury, with far less nuance in between. That presents a real opportunity. Today, it’s easier than ever to introduce elevated features across a wide range of price points. 

Thoughtful lighting, smarter storage and durable, well-designed furniture may nudge a budget, but they can be the difference between a good bathroom and a great one.

There is a lot the bathroom sector can learn from kitchens. Kitchen designers are confident in including additional features to win a client over, yet in bathrooms we often seem more reserved when it comes to the upsell, leaving the “extras” firmly in the luxury bracket. 

This is particularly interesting when you consider the Houzz 2025 Emerging Trends report, which revealed “double vanity” was one of the most searched bathroom terms.

Provided the space allows, it’s a remarkably achievable feature. It becomes even more attainable when retailers work with manufacturers who don’t just offer good-value products, but also solutions that reduce installation time. 

At Woodstock, this has been a key focus – designing bathroom furniture that is genuinely easy to install. True innovation, after all, is achieving the same result in half the time, without compromising on quality. 

Bathrooms also need to strike a balance between staying on trend and offering something that feels fresh and personal. Even a single, considered customisation can transform an entry-level design. 

Storage

Storage plays a fundamental role here too. Just as with kitchens, social media has raised expectations for organisation – sometimes unrealistically so – but effective storage doesn’t have to cost the earth. Few things elevate a bathroom more than the simple absence of clutter. 

Consumers are more informed than ever, and retailers have a real opportunity to use their knowledge of suppliers to deliver bathrooms that feel genuinely luxurious, at every level of the market. 

So, in 2026, don’t let a double vanity be the thing that stands in the way of a sale. Include it in the design – you might just be surprised by the result!