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The bathroom is a place to enjoy, steam and enjoy. It’s not a space that we think is cluttered with gadgets. But the latest devices are now creeping into this formerly tech-free zone.
Says Faye Young, senior designer at Ripples bathroom design, “Bathroom technology, such as adjustable mood lighting and music, helps create a sense of relaxation and retreat that you could only previously experience in a luxury hotel. or spa.’
So, here are some of the latest technological advancements to transform your bathroom.
Mirror, mirror on the wall: the Luka smart mirror has an integrated Amazon Alexa and a windscreen heater
Smart mirrors
You are a busy person, so don’t waste a single second of the three minutes you spend brushing your teeth in the morning.
Instead, as you brush, you can watch the news headlines scroll across the surface of your mirror, or ask it to update you on traffic conditions for your commute.
Luka’s smart mirror has Amazon’s voice-activated Alexa built in, along with a defogger – so you can always do your hair right. Available for £415 from Wickes. Or the Ad Notam Miralite Connect 60, which displays content from the web (£349, My Smart Mirror).
Bathroom TVs
What could be better than enjoying an hour in a large bath? Well, how about enjoying two hours while watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster?
Bathroom televisions are placed in the wall, encapsulated and connected directly to the electricity supply, so that no steam can enter the device.
ProofVision has a good range (as well as waterproof outdoor TVs, if you want one for the garden). The 24in unit is available for £1,123 from Victorian Plumbing.
Or the bathroom TV’s 24-inch WaterVue, with heated screen, available for £799.
Wash and watch: Bathroom TVs are recessed into the wall and protected from steam
Digital loose
Heated seats, integrated bidet functions, self-cleaning, air-drying, odor removal, massages, even speakers to play music while you use them – there’s a long list of services you can add to your toilet, all activated from a keypad.
Welcome to the world of smart toilets or Japanese toilets.
The Sensia Arena from the German company Grohe is a wall-hung rimless design with a night light and a self-opening lid.
You can personalize the settings from your smartphone (£2,375, Victoria Plum).
But if you don’t want to replace your toilet, you can buy a smart seat from Washloo, which has most of the functionality you could wish for.
The classic bidet toilet seat costs £399.
Water recyclers
A recycler takes what you had in your bath or washing machine and uses it to flush the toilet or water your roses.
They are not cheap, but if you have a water meter, you can see how much money you save and you also do a little for the environment. Try a Hydraloop recycling system, £5,249, from Free Flush.
Smart showers
Set your shower’s temperature, duration and radio station from your phone or via Amazon Alexa.
Most systems need to be installed from scratch, but some can be retrofitted to your existing shower, such as the Aqualisa Quartz smart system, £701 from plumbnation.co.uk, or the SmarTap, £699 from Super Baths.
Sensor taps
You don’t even have to touch the taps to keep the water flowing with these items. Instead, an infrared sensor tells you when your hands are under it and the water starts running (the temperature is set by a lever).
The battery operated Armitage Shanks Sensorflow E mixer tap is available for £185 from Victorian Plumbing.