Need to unwind after a long, hard day? Escape to the bathroom. New and remodeled homes are featuring more and bigger bathrooms, with all kinds of spa-like amenities.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) says studies have shown that people are taking longer baths, in part because today's homes have more bathrooms.

A recent National Association of Home Builders survey found that in 1971, only 15 percent of the new single-family homes completed had 2 1/2 or more baths. By 2000, the share increased to 56 percent. When recent or potential homebuyers were asked what they preferred, 17 percent desired three or more bathrooms while only three percent would settle for just one. The majority fell into the middle. Thirty-six percent wanted two bathrooms, 30 percent desired 2 1/2, and 14 percent requested a bath and a-half.

According to the survey, homebuyers not only wanted more bathrooms, they wanted them bigger and better equipped. Among the amenities cited, double-bowl vanities, closet space, sky-lights, separate bathtub and shower, and multiple shower heads. In fact, there are so many new bathroom features being offered these days, the NKBA advises new homebuyers, or people planning to remodel a bathroom, to first scan magazines, design books, home and garden shows, and designers' showrooms to see all that's available.

The NKBA says one of the hottest crazes in the bathroom industry is air massage or air jet tubs, which have been a big hit in Europe. These tubs let you unwind while being massaged with 35 to 70 air jets. Dual showerheads are also popular, as well as sauna or steam facilities. To help you relax even more, some of these luxury areas can be equipped with stereo systems, televisions, VCRs and telephones.

Many people today are investing more in their homes because they hope to remain in them for longer periods of time. With that in mind, the NKBA says universal design elements also are hot. These user-friendly designs incorporate elements such as grab bars in the shower and single-handle faucets to make aging in place a bit easier.

Some other luxury perks to consider -- heated tile floors, heated towel bars, electric defogging devices for mirrors, and new toilets with ventilation systems that eliminate 98 percent of toilet odor. There are also systems to keep the water temperature constant if someone flushes a toilet elsewhere in the house or turns on the dishwasher, an systems that remember your preferred bath temperature and water from the last use. If you really have money to burn, the NKBA says you can even buy a device that will let you call your home from the car, enter a personalized code and have your bathtub fill to a preprogrammed temperature and level.