Consumers are willing to spend 80% more on bathroom refurbishments than three years ago, according to home improvement retailer Wickes.

The Wickes Great British Bathroom Report revealed consumers would happily spend £3,878 to overhaul their bathroom, while nearly a quarter would pay more than £5,000.

The report found consumers look to create a space that will act as a haven, as a third of consumers questioned said the most important purpose of a bathroom was as a place to relax and unwind.

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According to Wickes, this figure rises to six in 10 (58%) for the 18 to 24-year-old age group..

However, as consumers age upwards, practicalities of bathroom design also played a major role.

Those aged 45 and above wanted an aesthetically pleasing space, but which was also easy to clean, and practicality was the most important factor for a third of people over 65.

Whereas water use was a shared concern, across the age groups, with a third stating it’s the most important consideration when living with different generations.

Despite the average size of a British bathroom being the equivalent of a king-sized bed, the Wickes Great British Bathroom Report found consumers had big aspirations to create boutique hotel-style spaces.

Consumers are inspired by retro trends such as colour, ‘sauna-style’ panelling and terrazzo tiles, with nearly a third  (30%) of 18-34 year olds most likely to feature green in a bathroom update.

However at the heart of the bathroom design, and topping the list of desirable bathroom products, 60% of people cited a walk-in shower as a must-have product.

But it wasn’t just for aesthetics, as accessibility and ease of cleaning were cited as important aspects for the specification of a walk-in shower by 40%.

Further reflecting the impact of the spa on bathroom design, Wickes reported more than a fifth of its bath sales are for freestanding tubs and 70% of its bathroom brassware sold is in alternative, warmer finishes to chrome.

The importance of lighting was also considered key by consumers, with a quarter (25%) reporting good lighting was among the most important parts of their bathroom design.

According to the Wickes Great British Bathroom Report, all generations agreed a successful bathroom featured heaps of storage, a good bath or shower experiences and was easy to clean.