Technology and bathrooms are two words that you wouldn’t often associate with each other. Let's face it, when you think of technology and then water, your first reaction is that they do not go well together.
But another reason why we don’t tend to associate bathrooms with technology is because manufacturers and designers haven’t given us much chance to bring the latest technology into our bathrooms, until now.
Times are changing, however, and you'll be pleased to know that things are getting much more advanced in the bathroom. So, without further ado, let us delve into the treasure trove that is the must have pieces of bathroom technology.
1. Harbour Glow LED Bluetooth™ Mirror with Demister Pad & Shaver Socket
The humble bathroom mirror might not be first place you would expect to find a flurry of tech. But, there are now more modern versions that are so packed with technology, it’s a wonder they can still hang on the wall.
The Harbour Glow mirror is one such mirror. With LED lighting, heated demister pads and shaver sockets built in, this stunning mirror also has Bluetooth™ speakers!
With the ability to play ambient music or the latest audiobook or podcast, your evening bathe just got even more relaxing. And there's no worry of your phone falling in and getting wet or getting damaged from the humidity in your bathroom, either. Bliss.
But think of this - in the morning - how much more energising would your wake-up shower be if you could be singing along care-free to your favourite beats or classic S Club 7?
With the built-in Bluetooth™ speakers on the Harbour Glow, you can have your phone safely in another room whilst still getting crystal clear sound.
2. Harbour Virtue 800mm Wall Hung Vanity Unit with LED Illumination
With its modern and minimalist design, this vanity unit attaches to the wall for effortless style in your bathroom.
But the best bit? A battery operated LED illuminated drawer so you'll never lose your favourite lippy or struggle to find that pain relief in the middle of the night. The light in the drawer has its own on/off sensor also so will light up immediately when it's opened.
It's easy to match this unit to your existing decor, too, thanks to four finish options: rustic oak, grey oak, matt grey and matte white.
What we also love about this unit - aside from its clever lighting feature - is the super streamline design; the drawer is almost invisible making it a chic addition to any bathroom space - large or small.
Just think how great it would be to have all your toiletries at hand for the morning rush - you've just got to remember to put them back in the drawer!
3. Dual Flush Cisterns
There are millions of homes in the UK that still use standard full flush cisterns and with water prices set to rise again this year, there's never been a better time to switch to dual flush.
If you don’t have a dual flush cistern, you could be using as much as 15 litres of water every time you flush the toilet. Now, compare that to our Vellamo Universal concealed dual flush cistern which is WRAS approved and uses just 6 litres for a full flush and 4 litres for a ‘half’ flush. And, if you thought that was impressive, the dual flush cistern that comes with an Imex close coupled toilet has an even more ecological 4 litre full flush and 2.6 litre ‘half’ flush.
It’s estimated that the average family of four could save 15,000 litres of water a year just by switching to a dual flush cistern. They are so effective that they are currently compulsory in all new build homes in Australia.
4. Rimless Toilets
The popularity of rimless toilets has skyrocketed lately. And, with more and more manufacturers moving exclusively to rimless designs, we’re confident that within a few years, every new toilet sold here at Tap Warehouse will be a rimless toilet.
Rimless toilets are universally accepted to be cleaner, more hygienic and more environmentally friendly than ‘standard’ toilets. You can read more about this in our blog: Rimless Toilets: What’s All the Flush About.
Here's a few of our favourite rimless toilets:
5. Thermostatic Bath Taps
Is there anything more frustrating than starting to run a bath, leaving the water running for a few minutes whilst you go and get ready, and then coming back to a tub full of cold water?
Well there is a way to avoid that without having to stay and constantly check and adjust the hot and cold water. The answer lies in investing in a thermostatic bath tap. This type of tap enables you to set the perfect water temperature as it comes through the faucet so you can let your bath run in confidence knowing it will be at exactly the right temp when you dip your toes in.
Thermostatic bath taps and bath shower mixers are the safest way for you and your family to bathe and shower. When you’re bathing a child, you no longer have to worry about having the water too hot or too cold as they keep the water at a constant temperature, even if elsewhere in the house someone is using another tap or flushes another toilet!
The thermostatic cartridges in these taps also shut off the water in case of a failure, so if your cold water suddenly fails, you won’t be scalded by hot water.
6. Ceramic Cartridges
When we talk about technology in the bathroom, ceramic disc cartridges are probably the smallest and least technologically advanced piece of technology on this list, but having them in your bathroom is one of the best things that you can do. If you’re not too sure what ceramic disc cartridges are, our handy blog will explain all about them.
Most modern taps - both bathroom and kitchen - now come with ceramic disc cartridges. These tiny porcelain valves make turning your tap on and off much easier. There’s no more twisting to turn the tap off, worried that something’s going to snap; and once the tap has been turned off, that’s it, it’s off. You won’t be kept up at night by the constant dripping of your tap, and because taps with ceramic disc cartridges are so easy to turn off, you won’t have to worry about your children not being able to turn the taps off after they’ve used them.
7. Underfloor Heating
Stepping onto a cold bathroom floor first thing in the morning is not the nicest feeling, and neither is stepping out of a cosy, warm shower onto that same cold floor. With underfloor heating, you can step out of your warm shower onto a warm floor. Underfloor heating systems can sit under almost any type of floor - stone, tile, wood and carpet - and comes in two main types, electric underfloor heating and water underfloor heating, sometimes referred to as wet and dry systems respectively.
Underfloor heating doesn’t have to be confined just to your bathroom, although that’s where it’s most popular. One of the best things about underfloor heating is that it doesn’t just heat the floor; the heat also rises slowly and can heat a whole room, whereas a radiator often just heats a solitary area. Whilst underfloor heating can be retrofitted, although this is pricier to install than if you were to put it in a brand new room.
8. Digital Showers
A digital shower is a must for any technology fan - or for anyone that hates the time between getting out of bed and waiting for the shower to warm up.
The most modern digital showers don’t just have fancy touchscreens where you can set everything from the temperature to the colour of the mood lighting; they can also be controlled by an app on your phone so can turn your shower on and have it set to the perfect temperature before you even get out of bed. From the touchscreen control in the shower, you can also divert the water to any other outlets you might have connected to the shower. A digital shower makes for a seamless showering experience.
Have a look at some of our top picks below.
