by Wang Tingting
The updated Project Code for Residential Building, effective May 1, sets higher standards for safety, comfort, sustainability, and smart features. Home furnishing companies are upgrading products and services to align with the new regulations.
Meanwhile, demand for home renovation is growing. According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, homes built before 2000 account for 6.6 billion square meters, or 9 percent of total residential space. Upgrading these properties is expected to generate over 1.2 trillion yuan (US$166 billion) in direct investment.
Kitchen and bathroom remodeling are at the center of the trend. Aging homes often face issues like poor soundproofing, water leakage, and outdated layouts. Leading brands such as Jomoo, Lixil, and HEGII are scaling up investment, supported by government incentives for replacing aging facilities.
At the recent Kitchen & Bath China 2025 expo in Shanghai, more than 1,300 exhibitors unveiled new products, many targeting the renovation market. Tao Jiang, CEO of Lixil Water Technology Greater China, told Jiemian News that urban renewal today is about redefining living quality, not just upgrading infrastructure. Lixil has partnered with Shanghai's Xuhui district to retrofit bathrooms in several communities, aiming to create safer environments for seniors. Its renewal services now cover 60 cities nationwide.
HEGII Group chairman Xie Weifan said the bathroom sector is entering a critical growth phase, driven by updated standards and a 300-billion-yuan government fund aimed at upgrading 270 million homes. HEGII is expanding into hospitality, healthcare, and commercial sectors to broaden its reach. Xie expects integrated renovation packages to replace single-product sales as older homes become a larger share of the market.
Jomoo, meanwhile, has launched a nationwide renovation campaign and partnered with the China Society of Building Materials Industry Economy to establish standards for materials, design, installation, and quality control. Zhan Lei, former head of standards at the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, said these efforts mark a new phase of standardization and sustainability in the sector.
Starting June 1, Jomoo will offer one-stop renovation services across its stores, promising greater cost transparency and shorter project timelines. Other companies are also joining the renovation wave: Sinpolo Windows and Doors, Badese Paint, and Bravat have formed the China Home Renovation Alliance, while brands like Oppein, Power Dekor, and Skshu Paint are increasing investment. Golden Home and Higold Hardware are expanding via acquisitions and new store openings.
Across the sector, there is growing consensus that the "better housing" initiative is reshaping the market, pushing companies to deliver more integrated and higher-quality renovation solutions.
The shift reflects broader changes in China's housing market. He Fan, dean of the China Institute for Development Studies at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, observed that the pace of housing upgrades is faster than many had expected. For the first time, the "better housing" concept was written into the 2025 Government Work Report, emphasizing the need for improved standards to meet rising consumer expectations.
The Project Code for Residential Building sets new benchmarks for safety, spatial design, and environmental performance, driving companies to innovate. Lixil, according to Tao Jiang, is expanding its smart home offerings to meet evolving demands. Jomoo is also broadening its focus from bathrooms to whole-home smart ecosystems.
Still, adapting to the "better housing" standards presents challenges. Companies must ramp up R&D investment and adjust to tightening regulations. Industry insiders believe that only through continuous innovation and improved service quality can firms thrive as the sector moves toward a greener, smarter, and more senior-friendly future.
