The biggest perks of innovative bathroom technology is that it allows you to adjust the temperature, lighting, and water flow with your voice or the touch of a button. It can add convenience and customize your experiences while saving energy, water, and money.
A high-tech bathroom may also make you feel more at home and comfortable than you expected. Who doesn’t want to be able to dim the lights via voice command without getting out of their bubble bath?!
How do I create a smart bathroom?
A smart bathroom utilizes your smartphone and voice control devices to manage bathroom appliances, even if you aren’t in the bathroom.
To dip your toes into bathroom tech trends, you can place an Echo Dot in your bathroom to listen to music or to add things to your shopping list. Be sure to keep it away from any running water.
While Alexa can’t draw you a bath just yet, she can set your shower temperature or give you the ideal mirror light for applying your favorite lipstick or shaving.
These high-end touches take customization to the next level. You can invest in everything from a smart mirror to a smart toilet.
Smart Toilets
Speaking of smart toilets, did you know they are one of the most popular devices for bathroom technology in 2022? With seat warmers and night lights, you’ll never stub your toe or get goosebumps via a cold toilet seat on a midnight bathroom run again.
Many smart toilets are touch-free with automatic lids, and some are even self-cleaning. They’re a great choice for the environment as water sensors ensure you only use what you need. They also take up less space and can even include a handy bidet. How invaluable would that have been during the great toilet paper shortage of 2020?!
We love the addition of an automatic flush sensor, so only your tush makes contact with your new, high-tech toilet. Your investment for a smart toilet can be between $2,000 to $13,000. But, over time, you can make back your investment in your water bill savings.
Interactive LED Mirrors
One of our favorite bathroom technology trends is interactive LED mirrors. They look like standard mirrors but transform into interactive digital displays at your fingertips.
You can view your calendar, check the weather, ask for traffic updates, and even control other smart home devices. Plus, they’re a bit more exciting than a potty. A smart mirror allows you to prepare for your day while washing your face or styling your hair in the morning.
Pricing varies between $1,000 to $2,000, you’ll save valuable time with a morning routine that prepares you for the day ahead. At first glance, smart mirrors may seem pricey, keep in mind that decorative mirrors are $800+. And a vanity light will cost you around $400. So a lighted smart mirror is roughly the same cost.
Adjustable Privacy Glass
If you’re someone with nosey neighbors, this high-tech bathroom investment is for you. Adjustable privacy glass lets you adjust your window’s transparency. Maybe the instant frost when she’s peering in your windows will help Susan take the hint?!
Unlike curtains or drapes, privacy glass can adjust from transparent to frosted and still let in natural light. You can adjust the coverage with a smartphone or voice assistance to block up to 99% of UV rays and keep your home cool in the summer.
Adjustable privacy glass runs between $85 to $130 per square foot. So if you live in a tight neighborhood, this could be an invaluable investment in both light control and privacy.
Smart Shower
If your shower is your favorite part of the day, you’re going to love smart showers. Smart showers allow you to set your water temperature and flow rate so it’s always just right. No more fiddling around with the knob trying to get the right temperature, or stepping into the shower too early for an icy surprise.
If you have kids at home, a smart shower is the bathroom tech gadget that gives every parent peace of mind. For young kids you can set “kiddie locks” so little ones won’t burn themselves in scalding hot water. For teens who lose track of time, you can set up a shower duration from your phone or smart device.
A smart shower will cost $300 to $2,000+, but it will save you an average of 3%, or up to 50%, on your monthly water use.
Water Recycler
A must-have for our fellow sustainability nerds, water recyclers will recycle up to 95% of the water from your shower, bath, washing machines, and air-conditioner. All that used water is then re-used for your toilets, garden, yard, or swimming pool.
Given Colorado’s terrible drought, this is a smart investment for the future of our state. Not to mention it will save you 45% on tap water and 45% on wastewater.
This high-tech bathroom gadget is an investment, running $4,000+ for purchase and installation. A reduction in your tap and wastewater of almost 50% compounds quickly over time. Depending on your home size and monthly water bill, this bathroom gadget could pay for itself in a matter of years!
Heated Floors
You haven’t felt the luxury of smart bathroom technology until you’ve stepped out of the shower onto a heated floor.
Radiant floor heating uses, as the name suggests, thermal radiation to generate heat. This means you’ll feel the warmth quicker than traditional heating. Plus you won’t have to take up wall space with radiators or vents.
Heated floors cost around $8 – $15 per square foot, but will reduce your energy bills by an average of 15%. They’ll keep your bathroom warmer even on a low setting.
Other Luxury Smart Bathroom Technology We Love
Adding luxury bathroom technology to your home is a great investment and will put you ahead of the curve on bathroom technology trends. A touch of futuristic charm can make a big difference in a little space like the bathroom.
Here are a few other bathroom tech ideas you could also consider investing in:
- Warming drawers so you’ll never embrace a cold towel again.
- Cooled cabinetry to keep your face masks, eye creams, and medication chilled.
- Aromatherapy diffusers to fill your bathroom with a perfect blend of oils.
- Digit faucets for touchless technology that reduces tap flow and controls water temperature.
- Wall mounted towel warmer, for anyone who doesn’t have the drawer space for their towels.
- Automatic soap dispenser – trade touching germs to not touching anything at all!
The Future of Luxury Bathrooms is Technology
The 2021 design trends report from the National Kitchen and Bath Association found that dedicated areas for device charging and viewing, as well as bidets and smart toilets, are leading kitchen and bath additions.
Technology is a top desire throughout our home remodels to fit our busy lifestyles and give us additional control over our spaces. One survey found 46% of people use bathroom tech for convenience, 15% use it to lower bills, and 16% use it for security.
For those interested in selling, it’s worth noting 77% of homebuyers are looking for a home with “smart” innovations. There’s a high likelihood that this trend will only increase as Gen Z heads towards purchasing their first home.
If you’re ready to upgrade to smart bathroom technology in 2022, contact Spark Interiors for expert design guidance on creating a bathroom with high-tech innovations.
If you’re worried about the environmental impact of replacing your current bathroom fixtures, check out our post How to Dispose of Unneeded Items After a Remodel.
