The days when houses had one bathroom with only a loo, a sink and a bath with a shower are over.

Now, new build homes, even renovations, have at least one bathroom for every bedroom and they are luxurious retreats with spas and artwork installed.

We’ve talked to experts to find out about the latest bathrooms craze.

Auckland interior designer of 26 years Celia Visser says a bathroom almost the size of the bedroom is a trend that recently hit New Zealand.

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“It’s become much bigger than a bathroom – a luxurious retreat for parents. They often want to have a special and intimate place.”

The design often includes a spa, a sound system, a waterproof television, chairs, and artwork.

En-suite bathrooms also often have two separate vanity zones with a basin for each member of the couple. Essential, she says, so they can do grooming and self-care routines at the same time and not fight for the space.

Another modern twist to a bathroom is a makeup area with a big bench and extra make-up lighting.

When designing a guest bathroom, which normally does not have a shower, Visser creates “something different”.

“It usually has some sort of dramatic and dark elements, so guests remember the room.”

Bathrooms are also costly for a room with such smaller square footage, especially when renovating. There can be up to 12 tradesmen doing fittings, plumbing and more, Visser says.

“Bathrooms are now way more technical with a lot more requirements than kitchens now, and the cost of them is more than what people expect.”

Visser says it is common but often unnecessary to have en-suite bathrooms for every bedroom in the house.

“If you have five bedrooms, it doesn’t mean you have to have five bathrooms in an en-suite as some of them become so tight, you can hardly move in them,” she says.

She recommends rather that clients splash out on a bigger and nicer bathroom connected to a master bedroom and have a small guest powder room and kids’ bathroom.

Refresh Renovations specialist in the North Shore Rob McEwan says it is rare to have a master bedroom without an en-suite.

“I guess, parents don’t like kids splashing and making mess all over the bathroom,” he says.

When renovating many clients add a dedicated guest loo, he says as more people opt for a private bathroom for family and a separate toilet for guests.

“A separate toilet with a small vanity is definitely a trend.”

It is standard to have four bathrooms in a four-bedroom two-level house which has at least two en-suites.

“People tend to invest more into the quality products for the en-suite. They are usually fully tiled, not just the floors, the showers and the tap ware seem to be over-specced.”

Ray White agent Ross Hawkins says it is becoming a requirement in the high-end market to have an en-suite with each bedroom, especially with new builds.

The five bedroom Remuera property he is currently marketing with Heather Walton has six bathrooms and each bedroom has an en-suite.

Homeowners also invest more into unique features and almost treat bathroom as an art project.

“Designer heated mirrors are now a price of art as are the designer heated towel rails are more like sculptures,” Hawkins says.