Whether you’re tech-savvy or a technophobe, there’s no escaping the fact that connected smart home devices are here to stay.
From voice-activated assistants in the kitchen to smart televisions in the living room, it is no wonder that by 2025, forecasts suggest that there will be more than 75 billion connected devices in use. And that includes the smallest room in the home – the bathroom.
The trendspotting team over at Victorian Plumbing believe that the bathroom can be as connected as the rest of the rooms in the home, and that goes beyond turning the light on with your phone.
With this in mind, they’ve shared their predictions for the smart bathroom gadgets we’ll all be buying in 2021.
The future is bright, the future is…smart bathrooms
Chromotherapy shower systems
Chromotherapy uses colour and light to promote healing and wellness, and it’s a growing trend. Since 2015, Google searches for Chromotherapy have doubled (+129%) as more people look for alternative ways to feel better, both physically and mentally. For example, orange light is said to relieve tiredness whilst blue light is said to relax and ease muscle tension.
Specialist Chromotherapy shower systems are a way to incorporate colour therapy into your bathroom. They are controlled using a remote or a smartphone, meaning you can blend different colour palettes whilst you shower for a personalised experience. Some Chromotherapy shower systems arrive with pre-set colour palettes so you can select the one that suits you.
Motion sensor smart mirrors
If you’ve ever stepped out of a hot shower and been faced with a steamed up mirror, then a motion-activated heat up mirror could be just the smart bathroom gadget for you.
Some smart mirrors have Bluetooth connectivity too, allowing you to connect your phone or tablet and use your mirror as a bathroom speaker.
Today’s multi-functional mirrors offer much more than just entertainment though. Beauty mirrors are starting to incorporate skin analysis technology. From wrinkles to red spots, these mirrors are providing us with more information about our bodies than ever before.
Smart water sensors
In 2019, it was reported that half of homeowners in the UK have suffered water damage with the average leak causes £976 worth of damage*. As temperatures drop to below freezing this winter, a smart water sensor could be a sensible investment.
Homeowners are advised to place the sensor in areas that are at risk of leaks, such as next to the boiler or underneath a sink. In the event of a leak, the sensor detects the presence of water and alerts the homeowner before the leak develops into a flood.
These sensor-based assistive devices can be helpful for people with visual impairments too and can be set up to alert more than just one person.
Japanese intelligent toilets
Once a common feature in bathroom suites of the 1980s, with intelligent bathroom technology, we’re seeing a resurgence of the bidet through high-tech Japanese-style toilets.
It is estimated that the global smart toilet market size is set to reach $12.7 billion by 2025, showing there is a growing trend for high-tech toilets.
These toilets offer a truly personalised experience, from heated seats and foot warmers, through to music and mood lighting. Smart toilets are more than just a gimmick; they can offer users with mobility issues more independence and privacy than a standard toilet.
Automatic soap dispensers
It’s no wonder that no-touch gadgets have experienced a surge in popularity all over the globe. Between March and August, there was a 640% increase in searches for no-touch soap dispensers as homes and businesses battled with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Automatic soap dispensers have additional planet-friendly benefits too, as you can say goodbye to plastic bottles and simply refill the dispenser as you run out. You can even choose a design that matches your bathroom, so your handwash will never feel out of place.
Stylish smart taps
Save money on your utility bills and tap into smart tech in your bathroom with your bathroom sink. According to the Energy Saving Trust** the average household uses 360 litres of water each day, but through the use of sensor taps, this can be cut by at least 30%***.
Some smart taps are sensor-controlled, meaning that they know when you are there. They also have a lower flow rate and a pre-set temperature feature to keep everyone safe.
Smart taps are a stylish and sustainable solution as they help to reduce the length of time that a tap can run for, as well as reducing the need to touch for a more hygienic trip to the bathroom.
High-tech bathtubs
Baths aren’t just baths anymore. They are filled with tech to make your bathing experience efficient and relaxing at the same time.
Some feature mood lighting, pre-set temperature settings (great if you are bathing small children) and even hydrotherapy massage jets for the perfect end to a long day.
Not only are Hi-Tech bathtubs on-trend right now, but they also go above your normal bathing experience. Designed to enhance your senses, they create a calming and relaxing environment in your bathroom that is perfect for this time of year.
How to incorporate smart tech into your bathroom redesign
These days, we pay just as much attention to our bathroom designs as we do our living rooms and kitchens. Bathrooms should be a space for relaxation but they are also a great place to try out modern trends, such as smart tech.
With this in mind, we asked George Holland, Victorian Plumbing’s bathroom design expert to give us his thoughts on incorporating technology into a bathroom redesign.
Integrate tech into your bathroom without disrupting the atmosphere
The bathroom should be a place of calm, so the technology we incorporate into our space should be both discrete and have relaxation enhancing properties. If your smart mirror has a light, ensure it has a dimmer function to allow you to unwind in the calming glow.
Smart can also be stylish when it comes to fixtures and fittings
If we’ve learned one thing when researching hi-tech gadgets for the bathroom, it’s that they don’t have to look like a gadget. For example, smart taps can blend seamlessly with your bathroom design so that they don’t look awkward or out of place.
Your gadgets can save you time
In a busy family household, time and safety are of the essence so keep this in mind when choosing smart tech to incorporate into your bathroom. A BlueTooth enabled showerhead can speed up mornings if you’re not hanging around waiting for the shower to get to the right temperature.
Keeping electricity and water separate
Whilst it’s great to have all these connected appliances in the bathroom, it’s important to ensure that they are all connected safely through an RCD protection system. A socket with RCD protection responds to the slightest hint of water and switches off the power in a fraction of a second. These can save lives, so it’s important to factor them into your bathroom design.
**https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/why-we-should-all-be-saving-water/
*** https://www.duq.edu/assets/Documents/green-industries/Conserving%20Water.pdf