Smart technology in the bathroom is often overlooked, with homeowners focusing their tech on more front-facing rooms like living rooms, foyers and even kitchens.
This is a real shame, because incorporating just one or two pieces of smart technology into your bathroom can make it so much more user-friendly, making busy mornings less hectic and enhancing your evening routine.
When building a smart home, you need to choose the right products for the types of rooms you'll be putting them in. It's also important to think about who will be using the space — after all, you don't want to spend a lot of money on smart tech you'll never use.
We asked experts for their advice on the best smart tech for your bathroom, so you know where to spend and save.
The best smart tech for your bathroom renovation
Our best bathroom remodeling tip: incorporating smart home technology is a great way to not only future-proof your space, but also ensure it's a room you'll enjoy using.
“Incorporating smart home technology into your bathroom renovation can enhance both functionality and luxury,” explains Darryl Friedman, Global President and CEO of CEDIA.
“When considering adding smart home tech, work with a professional integrator to evaluate what's feasible in your space and help bring your vision to life,” advises Darryl. “Integrators are up to date with the latest technology and can provide insight into how different devices can work together seamlessly, ensuring your bathroom is practical and functional.”
1. Smart control of bathroom lighting
(Image courtesy of Drench)
Smart lighting has many benefits, including helping your overall health, and in your bathroom, anything that helps you get going in the morning and relax in the evening should be a priority.
There are plenty of smart bathroom lighting options out there, but look out for ones that can be pre-set to turn on at different brightness levels depending on the time of day and offer hands-free operation.
“The Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi 2nd Gen motion sensor dimmer gives you hands-free control over your bathroom lighting and even allows you to set different dimming settings depending on the time of day,” explains James Shurte, senior product manager at Leviton. “No more harsh light when you get up to go to the bathroom. Not only that, but you can also use the My Leviton app to fully control the dimmer from anywhere in your home.”
“Homeowners can control their bathroom lighting using devices such as smart bulbs, smart switches and dimmers,” adds Joel Worthington, president of Mr. Electric. “These types of devices are controlled by apps on a smartphone or tablet and can also be controlled by voice assistants or automated schedules. Bathroom light sensors can also be set to not turn on at certain times, such as at night, adding extra convenience and functionality.”
The TREATLIFE Smart Lightbulb on Amazon is a great deal.
Joel Worthington
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Mr. Electric, President of Neighborly®
Joel oversees operations for 170 franchise locations across North America and international master franchisees.
Founded in 1994, Mr. Electric® is a global franchise organization providing electrical installation and repair services. Mr. Electric franchisees provide these services to residential and commercial customers at approximately 200 locations around the world. Mr. Electric is a subsidiary of the Neighborly® family of service franchises.
2. Eliminate mold and condensation with smart ventilation
(Image courtesy of LisaSarah)
If you're always wondering how to clean mold from your shower room, opting for smart technology could make this a thing of the past. When renovating your bathroom, finding and installing the best bathroom ventilation system should be at the top of your to-do list.
Look out for exhaust fans that kick on when they sense excessive humidity and shut off when normal levels are reached. This not only reduces the risk of mold and mildew, but it also cuts down on condensation, making your bathroom an overall more comfortable place to spend time.
“You want to feel comfortable when you're in your bathroom, and the Leviton Humidity Sensor and Fan Control helps make that happen,” says James Shurte. “The product is easy to install and its ability to detect excess humidity in the room will automatically turn your bathroom fan or extractor on or off. This means you can prevent mold growth in your bathroom without having to lift a finger.”
The Leviton DHS05-1LW Humidity Sensor Switch from Amazon automatically turns your ventilation fan on and off.
James Schulte
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Senior Product Manager at Leviton
James Shurte, Senior Product Manager for Leviton's Residential business unit, is responsible for product leadership for Leviton's smart home initiative focused on connected lighting and load control. An avid supporter of all things technology and IoT, James currently manages Leviton's next generation Decora Smart portfolio.
3. High-tech toilets combine practicality with comfort
Planning your bathroom lighting and ventilation is not the only way to smartly upgrade your space. Bathroom sanitary fixtures are now joining the trend, including the most functional item: the toilet.
“In recent years, bathroom remodels often include smart toilets, which are the gold standard for bathroom remodels,” says Danny Hertzberg, a licensed real estate salesperson with Jill's Zeder Group, who recently remodeled an apartment with a focus on taking advantage of all the smart home elements available at the time. “It's important to plan this feature in advance so that electrical connections can be made in the right places for the toilet and smart panel.”
“Smart toilets range from luxury and ultra-advanced to basic and affordable. They come with a variety of features, including heated seats, UV cleaning devices, automatic seat raising and lowering, sensor-enabled night lights and more.”
The DeerValley Smart Soft Close Toilet from Lowes features a night light, built-in odor-eliminating fan and adjustable seat temperature levels.
Danny Hertzberg
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Luxury Real Estate Agent
As a member of the Jills Zeder Group, Danny Hertzberg has received numerous awards and accolades, including being named to Forbes Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list and most recently the South Florida Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” list.
“I bought an apartment in 2013 and renovated it for myself with a focus on using all the smart home elements that were available at the time,” says Danny. “One of the things I'm most proud of is how I fully integrated smart home technology into my morning routine. I set the system to open the blinds instead of an alarm, while simultaneously raising the temperature to make it easier to get out of bed. Then the bathroom lights would dim and the news embedded in the bathroom mirror would turn on. It was a morning symphony of smart home technology carefully orchestrated to start a great day.”
The 3 best smart toilets
Deer Valley Smart Soft Close Toilet
This affordable smart toilet comes with a variety of convenient features, including a night light for when you need to use the toilet at night, a built-in deodorizing fan, a temperature-adjustable heated seat, automatic flushing, high-efficiency flushing, and a soft-close seat.
KOHLER Smart WaterSense Toilet
While it may not be the cheapest option, this toilet is packed with features, including a longer seat design for added comfort, a bidet function, deodorizing features, a heated soft-close seat, and more. This is the only model that offers adjustable seat height.
Uncle Brown's Luxury Smart Toilet
This mid-priced smart toilet features a hygienic bidet function, automatic flushing, a fully adjustable heated seat, warm air dryer, automatic deodorization, as well as a night light and digital display. It also comes with handy instructions for DIY installation.
4. Enjoy all the benefits of a smart shower
(Image courtesy of Grohe)
Smart bathroom technology isn't just limited to toilets – it can also be incorporated into shower room ideas.
“Another element of the smart home bathroom is the smart shower, which can precisely set the temperature and water pressure, filter the water and even play music,” says Danny Hertzberg.
The Doozoler Full Body Shower System from Amazon is a rain shower system that you can control from your smart device using Bluetooth technology, allowing you to play music and scroll through 64 different lighting options. It also features a large rain shower head, a range of body jets, a handheld shower with an extra-long hose for easy cleaning, and a thermostatic lock for safety.
5. Use your mirror for more than just grooming
(Image courtesy of Sanctuary Bathroom)
Bathroom mirror ideas are useful for many purposes apart from showing you a beautiful reflection of yourself, they now come equipped with a variety of smart features.
“Smart mirrors have evolved far beyond built-in TVs,” says Danny Hertzberg. “These smart mirrors come equipped with a wide range of LED light settings, Bluetooth music, and anti-fog technology.”
The GESIPOR Bathroom LED Mirror from Amazon has lights that can be preset to different intensities for different times of the day, can play your favorite music, and even has an anti-fog button that clears the mirror in just a few seconds.
FAQ
What's the next big trend in bathroom smart technology?
If you want to future-proof your home, it's worth taking a look at where smart home technology is headed.
“The evolution of smart homes started with the utility side like lighting, alarm systems, HVAC heating/cooling, and the second wave focused on smart automation with a focus on speaker height, entertainment aspects, and the kitchen,” explains Danny. “The next chapter in smart home technology is definitely AI integration and seamless voice control. Both aspects should be considered when planning your bathroom renovation in the future.”
What smart technologies can reduce energy usage in the bathroom?
Aside from convenience, smart technology in the bathroom can also help reduce energy usage and, ultimately, your utility bills.
“Smart devices that increase energy efficiency include smart plugs and smart exhaust fans with humidity sensors,” says Joel Worthington. “Light sensors in the bathroom can help increase energy efficiency by turning off the lights when the room is not in use.”
“Smart showerheads and smart faucets can be used to track water usage, pressure, and temperature,” Joel continues. “Smart leak detectors monitor for leaks, and certain models can shut off the water supply if necessary to prevent further damage from leaks.”
While you're renovating your bathroom, think about what smart home essentials you could incorporate into other parts of your home – maybe smart lighting in your bedroom would be a great addition, or perhaps the latest technology could improve your home security and protect your possessions.