So What's In a Smart Bathroom (and How Will It Change Your Life)?
Automation might just be the next big thing in bathroom design, but what does that mean for users? Experts reveal all
Georgia Madden
20 November 2021
We’ve seen tech make its way into the communal parts of our homes, such as the kitchen and living area, with features including wifi-connected refrigerators and voice-activated window treatments. But now it’s making an appearance in private spaces such as the bathroom, too. So what exactly would you find in a smart bathroom? And does it really have the potential to transform your daily rituals? We spoke to four experts to find out.
We’ve accompanied this story with images of beautiful bathrooms from the Houzz archives to inspire your next renovation.
We’ve accompanied this story with images of beautiful bathrooms from the Houzz archives to inspire your next renovation.
What is a smart bathroom?
“A smart bathroom incorporates the latest and greatest in technology to increase its usability,” says Ellen Thomas, an interior designer at SmarterBATHROOMS+. “It’s all about customising elements in a bathroom so they’re just the way you like them.
“In a smart bathroom, products go beyond aesthetics to deliver an enhanced experience. Think smart showers that can be programmed to recall your preferred heat and pressure settings to save you time in the mornings, sensor taps to the basin [that turn on with a wave of your hand], smart toilets, and bluetooth connectivity for heaters and lighting,” she says.
“A smart bathroom incorporates the latest and greatest in technology to increase its usability,” says Ellen Thomas, an interior designer at SmarterBATHROOMS+. “It’s all about customising elements in a bathroom so they’re just the way you like them.
“In a smart bathroom, products go beyond aesthetics to deliver an enhanced experience. Think smart showers that can be programmed to recall your preferred heat and pressure settings to save you time in the mornings, sensor taps to the basin [that turn on with a wave of your hand], smart toilets, and bluetooth connectivity for heaters and lighting,” she says.
Automating elements in your bathroom can make life easier in other ways too, says Thomas. “A vanity with sensor lighting underneath it will help you make your way to the bathroom in the dark without needing to turn on the lights.”
Is your bathroom ready for an upgrade? Find a local bathroom designer on Houzz
Is your bathroom ready for an upgrade? Find a local bathroom designer on Houzz
What are some of the features you’d expect to see?
Thomas says:
Thomas says:
- Smart glass: You can specify glass to windows and showers that changes from clear glass to translucent privacy glass when you’re showering.
- Smart mirrors: You’ll find LED mirrors that incorporate the concept of a ring light and allow you to change the type of light (warm, cool, soft or bright) to suit your skin tone and make-up application needs.
- Smart mirrors: These are mirrors you can set to tell you the time and weather.
- Smart underfloor heating: This can be controlled via bluetooth or programmed to turn on and off at certain times of day for maximum comfort and energy-efficiency.
- Smart toilets: These range in types of functionality from your basic wash and dry to a remote control full of options, including seat heating and music that will play to help disguise noises.
According to Tim Fant, product manager for Clipsal by Schneider Electric, you might also expect to see the following:
- Smart lighting: This can be set to come on in the morning to suit your schedule, or can be paired with a motion or humidity sensor to trigger certain actions when you’re in the room.
- Smart heated towel rails: Set them to heat up ahead of your morning shower or bath.
- Water-leakage sensors: A good safety precaution that sends an alert to your phone should a pipe burst, a bathtub overflow or if the kids splash around too much.
- Humidity sensors: These can also be set to activate extractor fans if you forget to turn them on. This will help keep mirrors steam-free and reduce the opportunities for mould growth.
Reece Roca Smart Toilet
Tell us more about smart toilets
“Smart toilets combine the function of a normal toilet with the cleaning advantages of a bidet,” says Daniela Santilli, bathrooms and kitchens merchandising leader at Reece Bathrooms.
“For example, the Roca In-Wash Inspira smart toilet gives you the ability to control pressure, air and water flow. It also cleans itself with a self-sanitising nozzle after every use, and has a built-in light for easy night access,” she says.
“Meanwhile, the American Standard SpaLet E-Bidet Seat is essentially a bidet toilet seat that includes nozzles for rear and feminine cleaning, adjustable seat and water temperature functionality, adjustable spray strength and nozzle position, and convenient self-cleaning functions,” she says.
Tell us more about smart toilets
“Smart toilets combine the function of a normal toilet with the cleaning advantages of a bidet,” says Daniela Santilli, bathrooms and kitchens merchandising leader at Reece Bathrooms.
“For example, the Roca In-Wash Inspira smart toilet gives you the ability to control pressure, air and water flow. It also cleans itself with a self-sanitising nozzle after every use, and has a built-in light for easy night access,” she says.
“Meanwhile, the American Standard SpaLet E-Bidet Seat is essentially a bidet toilet seat that includes nozzles for rear and feminine cleaning, adjustable seat and water temperature functionality, adjustable spray strength and nozzle position, and convenient self-cleaning functions,” she says.
Reece Hideaway+ Sensor Button touchless toilet
With a greater emphasis on hygiene generally, touchless toilet buttons are also on the rise, according to Santilli. “Sensor toilet buttons feature hands-free technology, which reduces the transfer of germs in the bathroom.
“Simply wave your hand in front of the half- or full-flush button to operate – examples include the Geberit Sigma 80 touchless dual flush buttons and Hideaway+ Sensor Button/Plate,” she says.
With a greater emphasis on hygiene generally, touchless toilet buttons are also on the rise, according to Santilli. “Sensor toilet buttons feature hands-free technology, which reduces the transfer of germs in the bathroom.
“Simply wave your hand in front of the half- or full-flush button to operate – examples include the Geberit Sigma 80 touchless dual flush buttons and Hideaway+ Sensor Button/Plate,” she says.
Are smart bathrooms getting more popular?
Yes, says Thomas. “We’re getting many requests for them. A lot of people want to be able to control bathroom lighting from their phones, whether it’s changing the lighting while taking a bath or adding to the rest of their home’s smart-lighting set-up,” she says.
Browse more images of beautiful bathrooms on Houzz
Yes, says Thomas. “We’re getting many requests for them. A lot of people want to be able to control bathroom lighting from their phones, whether it’s changing the lighting while taking a bath or adding to the rest of their home’s smart-lighting set-up,” she says.
Browse more images of beautiful bathrooms on Houzz
Reece Kado Aspect LED mirror
“Homeowners are still getting used to smart technology and what it can do,” says Ryan Stoddart, an electrician and managing director at Stoddart Electrical. “Once people understand the potential of home automation, they quickly move from basics like lighting and heating to elements such as smart blinds and humidity or motion sensors in bathrooms.”
“Homeowners are still getting used to smart technology and what it can do,” says Ryan Stoddart, an electrician and managing director at Stoddart Electrical. “Once people understand the potential of home automation, they quickly move from basics like lighting and heating to elements such as smart blinds and humidity or motion sensors in bathrooms.”
In what way has smart home functionality improved in recent years?
“Traditionally, installing home automation has meant ripping up floorboards and opening up walls to fit cabling into the fabric of the home. Wireless systems such as Clipsal Wiser Smart Home are fitted directly into power points and switches, making them easier and cheaper to install,” says Fant.
“Because of this, it can be scaled up over time, so you may decide to only do your kitchen lighting, then add automated blinds, or lighting elsewhere down the track.”
“Traditionally, installing home automation has meant ripping up floorboards and opening up walls to fit cabling into the fabric of the home. Wireless systems such as Clipsal Wiser Smart Home are fitted directly into power points and switches, making them easier and cheaper to install,” says Fant.
“Because of this, it can be scaled up over time, so you may decide to only do your kitchen lighting, then add automated blinds, or lighting elsewhere down the track.”
What’s good to know if you want a smart bathroom?
When it comes to your set-up, there are two main systems to choose from, says Stoddart:
When it comes to your set-up, there are two main systems to choose from, says Stoddart:
- A wired system: Such as C-Bus by Clipsal, which is suited to luxury homes with large footprints. This is an expensive option that needs to be installed in one go, so an understanding from the outset of what smart functionality you’ll need in your home is essential.
- A wireless system: For example, Clipsal Wiser Smart Home, which uses the home’s standard wiring and wirelessly connects components to control lighting, heating and cooling, electrical sockets, blinds and other electrical components via a single central hub. It’s affordable, can be retrofitted and only requires a basic wifi or ethernet connection to operate.”
Any insider tips?
“Make sure the system you choose is adaptable,” says Stoddart. “Most people only understand what they can achieve with home automation or identify what they need after the system is installed, so the ability to scale up the system is essential.”
“Make sure the system you choose is adaptable,” says Stoddart. “Most people only understand what they can achieve with home automation or identify what they need after the system is installed, so the ability to scale up the system is essential.”
Your turn
Are you thinking of going smart in your bathroom? Which features would you want to include? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want more on bathrooms? Check out this story: The Laundry-Bathroom Combo: How to Design and Do It Well
Are you thinking of going smart in your bathroom? Which features would you want to include? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want more on bathrooms? Check out this story: The Laundry-Bathroom Combo: How to Design and Do It Well
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After a trip to Japan pre covid, we converted our toilets to smart toilets using seat conversions from Bunnings. We could never go back and hate having to use public toilets.
People have their phones in the bath! "A lot of peoplewant to be able to control bathroom lighting from their phones, whether it’s changing the lighting while taking a bath ..."
Smart toilets are becoming very popular at the moment! We have also seen many have phone chargers placed in their shower screens so they can stay connected in the shower!