Smart bathrooms: How technology is making its way into the restroom

Homes around Australia have been including more and more smart technology recently. Smart TVs were the first smart tech to be widely adopted, but now smart locks, fridges, air conditioning, espresso machines, dishwashers and speakers are common. 

We believe the next frontier for home smart tech could be the humble bathroom. Here’s a quick guide. 

Underfloor heating

Smart underfloor heating is already hugely popular in bathrooms around Australia, and with good reason. It can be controlled via an app, or a display in the bathroom, to either turn on remotely, or at certain times of the day when the bathroom will be used (like morning or evening). This makes it extremely convenient and cost effective to use, and means no more cold feet on bathroom tiles in the morning. 

Towel rails

Heated towel rails can use a lot of power, but the smart versions significantly reduce energy consumption. They can be set to turn on at scheduled times (such as before your usual shower) so that your towels are always dry but your rail isn’t always on. 

Mirrors 

Smart mirrors aren’t commonplace yet, because we’ll admit – it’s a strange concept! But if you’re looking to build the ultimate smart bathroom they’re worth considering. 

Some include dimmable LED lights, time and weather, defoggers, and temperature displays and are controlled via bluetooth with your phone. Others are simply smart screens that display a mirror with a built-in camera, then transform into a large tablet when you touch them. 

With these more advanced smart mirrors you can stream content, edit your to-do list, check emails, or listen to music. You may even be able to control your entire home if you have a home automation system installed. 

Toilets

Have you ever been to Japan? They are the ultimate early adopters of smart toilets – there’s one in almost every bathroom. Australia is a bit behind but we’re starting to come around to the idea. 

Smart toilets often include bidets and air dryers with customisable water and air temperatures, automatic sensor flush and seat up-down functions, automatic cleaning, and automatic night lights.

Lighting

If you only make one thing in your bathroom smart, we recommend lighting. There are a huge variety of options for smart lighting with several different functions – but we love being able to dim lights automatically for evening baths and showers, voice activate lights, or change the tone of light for extra relaxation.

Leak detectors

Smart leak detectors are small unobtrusive gadgets that can be placed near sinks, toilets, showers, hot water cylinders and other risk areas to detect leaks before they become a problem. You’ll simply hear an alarm or receive a smart phone notification if moisture levels in your home change – which could save you thousands due to costly water damage. 

Get the basics right first

Smart bathroom technology is only worthwhile if you get the basics right first. Read the Abey blog for more design inspiration, or visit your nearest Abey showroom to view premium Australian-designed fixtures and fittings in person.