The market for bathrooms rose to an estimated £1,137 million in 2017, with consumer expenditure set to rise to £1,270 million by 2021. Our research shows that people are most likely to revamp a bathroom up to five years after moving house, so the strength of the housing market and consumer confidence play a significant role in shaping demand. The pattern of the housing transactions in 2016-17 make it difficult to draw exact comparisons, but the market in the six months to May 2017 was 8.5% down on the same months in the previous year. By May 2017 monthly housing transactions reached 96,200. Uncertainty following the UK’s vote to leave the EU is encouraging households to defer decisions like moving house or undertaking big-ticket room makeovers. Full bathroom refits are mostly discretionary, but bathroom accessories are a lower-cost way of breathing new life into bathrooms – which is important for homeowners who want a low-cost refresh, or renters who want to inject their own look into a bathroom.

For the purposes of this Report, Mintel has used the following definitions:

This Report addresses the market for bathroom furniture and accessories bought for use in domestic premises, either by end users or small professional installers on behalf of end users.

Bathroom furniture includes:

• sanitary ware (washbasins, WCs and baths)

• showers

• shower enclosures

• screens and trays

• fitted bathroom furniture/modular bathroom furniture

• mixers and taps.

The product areas included in bathroom accessories:

• toilet brushes and holders

• bath racks

• toilet roll holders

• mirrors (shaving etc)

• soap holders

• toothbrush or mug racks and holders

• small cabinets

• shelves

• towel rails and rings

• flush handles

• light pulls.