Future homes: How smart tech is changing the bathroom

Whether you're a tech fanatic who simply loves to have the latest and greatest gadgets and conveniences, or you just want a trouble-free bathing experience adding some of the latest smart tech to your bathroom is a great way to create your own space designed and tailor around your needs and usage. You don't need to be a technical genius to take advantage of these cutting-edge gadgets, either, there is something to suit everybody! rnHigh-Tech Faucetsrn rnWhen thinking about high-tech faucets your mind may go to shopping mall bathrooms with their infrared sensor to turn the water on and off. That's a good idea — it helps prevent the spread of germs — but it's far from the limits of high-tech faucet design. The latest models are can be equipped with everything from timers (to turn the water flow off while brushing your teeth) to lighting tuned to the water temperature. A faucet may seem like a simple item, but with a few modern additions, it can make a big difference to your water usage, helping you to save money and the environment. rnSmart Toiletsrn rnTechnology-enabled toilets were once thought of as a scary thing. Strange buttons and switches were more likely to provide confusion during use than offer any convenience. That's a thing of the past, though! Smart toilets today are easy to use and offer lots of great features to make life easier and help the environment. Simply add-ons to your existing toilet such as a heated seat can be a great idea in colder climates, or if you want to go all out you can opt for a fully singing-and-dancing model with heating, automatic flushing, cleaning, and integrated bidets. rnSmart Bathtubsrn rnWith most homes equipped with a shower for a quick and easy way to clean-up, baths are more and more becoming about relaxing and unwinding. Smart baths further that aim by adding everything from relaxing mood-lighting to spa-like water jets providing a gentle massage. It doesn't stop there, though. The latest smart baths are even equipped with presets allowing you to pour the perfect amount of water at the exact right temperature, making it even easier and faster to jump in and relax the soon as you get home. rnSmart Mirrorrn rnDo you love to check the latest news while getting ready in the morning? Perhaps you like to relax in a hot bath with your favourite TV show. Or maybe you just utilise the time spent cleaning your teeth to multi-task, checking your schedule for the day ahead or the weather to plan your outfit. Sure, you can do all these things with a tablet or phone, but why risk dropping it in the water when there is a much better solution. Smart mirrors are a great way to add additional purpose to the time spent in the bathroom while remaining unobtrusive and risk-free. From mirrors that can tell you the time and update you on the weather to mirrors that light up, you can turn something so simple into the star of the bathroomrn rnHeated Compartmentsrn rnWho doesn't love a warm towel when coming out of the shower or bath on a cold evening? Heated towel racks have become an increasingly popular addition to many bathrooms, but they aren't without their problems. They take up space, usually replace a radiator, preventing the room from warming efficiently when covered in towels and present a burn risk to children and pets. Heated drawers or compartments are the perfect solutions to these problems, allowing you to enjoy the cosy warmth of a pre-heated towel, while remaining safe, discrete, and avoiding wasted space. They also usually come with a child-safety lock to keep curious little hands safe. rnWith smart technology from phones to thermostats, coffee machines to fridges, becoming ever more popular there is no reason the bathroom should be left out. These gadgets and solutions are just a few of the ideas available to bring our bathroom into the modern age.