As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, so does our desire to integrate these benefits into our homes. Today’s cutting-edge home products are crafted to enhance convenience, boasting advanced features and functionality that streamline our busy lifestyles. However, with such an influx of new technology, how do we balance the features we want with the amount of tech on display?
In recent years, the bathroom has transformed into a wellness space, providing a sanctuary away from the barrage of emails, social media, and messages. This shift has driven an increasing desire among homeowners to subtly incorporate technologies that provide comfort and convenience without making the environment feel overstimulating or “tech-heavy”.
Other areas, like the living room, have also seen a similar shift towards an analogue feel, with hidden TVs, ceiling speakers, and voice-activated controls gaining significant popularity.
Incorporating these innovations in the bathroom allows for a sleek, clutter-free aesthetic that delivers contemporary functionality, blending modernity with the timeless appeal of a serene space. As our desire for hidden tech grows, a strong trend has emerged in which homeowners are ‘masking’ technology for a more streamlined, relaxed living environment overall.
Lewis Neathey, leader, product management at LIXIL EMENA & GROHE UK, comments: “As the trend for spa bathrooms continues to grow, homeowners increasingly seek features that promote wellness and relaxation while being neatly and discreetly designed. Technologies that subtly offer added functionality are becoming integral to this experience, offering a moment of relaxation away from the digital noise of everyday life, while keeping the bathroom a more analogue feeling space.”
Trending insights
In a recent “Behind the bathroom door” study conducted by the Bathrooms Manufacturers Association, a survey of 48 UK residents revealed that nearly half (48%) of the participants preferred their bathroom as a tranquil sanctuary free from distractions. Additionally, 37% regarded their bathrooms as practical spaces to get clean quickly. Only 13% expressed a desire for more technology in their bathrooms, and this preference was primarily for enhancing comfort and relaxation. Desired tech features included playing music or setting mood lighting rather than incorporating external information such as weather forecasts or traffic updates.
There was also interest in features that enabled users to understand their water usage in the bathroom and products that helped them save water without sacrificing comfort or product performance. This is not surprising, as a 2023 study conducted by YouGov commissioned by GROHE found that 67% of people surveyed noted that they are conscious of their environmental impact when showering / bathing.
How to incorporate ‘Tech-Masking’ in the bathroom
From water-saving taps to app-controlled showers and toilets, ‘Tech-Masking’ is all about enjoying modern comforts and the convenience of technology without it being obvious to the naked eye or detracting from the room’s relaxation factor.
Combining all the benefits of this trend with our increasing need to futureproof within the UK, shower toilets are just one of many new solutions that have come to market incorporating this design approach.
GROHE’s new Sensia Pro shower toilet presents as a standard wall-hung WC in a sleek Alpine White finish, however, is full of integrated technology and is conveniently operated by a remote control. Offering two self-cleaning spray heads, that can be adjusted in position, intensity, and temperature, along with providing oscillating and massage spray options and a warm air dryer function, users are taken to the next level of personal care and hygiene. The shower toilet also has an automatic open-close function for the seat and lid and a night light to guide users, enhancing user convenience further.
Elsewhere in the bathroom, showering has become a ritual that brings happiness into our daily lives; however, that happiness is different for every user, just like the features that can contribute to it. In a 2024 European survey conducted by GROHE, it was found that in addition to cleansing, 64% of respondents associate showering with relaxation, followed by wellness (41%) and me-time (40%). As shower designs evolve to cater to more requirements, the integrated technology is expanding, covering everything from safety features such as temperature limiters to hidden filters that enhance skin and hair.