Revealed: The bathroom of the future

We asked 1,100 consumers which innovations they’d most like to see in the ‘bathroom of the future’ and automatic facial recognition topped the list.

We found a consensus of excitement that tech will transform our homes, with one in five (46%) thinking the most exciting changes will be in the bathroom. A further 28% said that the kitchen is most ripe for innovation and just 9% believe that the living room will see most technological change in future.

Half of people also claimed that they would be more likely to shop with a brand that offered them access to technologies such as augmented reality (AR) or artificial intelligence (AI). This figure rises to 59% among 25–34 year olds.

Despite this, when questioned on their current bathroom tech, 68% of people said they believe their bathroom is outdated — with 42% of these even stating that it is very outdated. Just 14% thought their space was of a modern standard and only 6% believed it to be very modern.

Manufacturers and retailers therefore have a lot to gain if they can offer exciting, new and ground-breaking innovations to this audience, and encourage them to upgrade.

When asked which innovations they would most like to see in the next 10 years, 18% said that facial recognition, which automatically sets the user’s preferred lighting or water temperature variables when entering the room, would top the list.

A further 16% of people said they would love to see an in-shower voice device, which allows them to add shampoo, toothpaste and other essentials to their shopping list when they are running low.

An AR simulator, that shows how a hairstyle could look and provides step-by-step instructions on how to achieve it, came third on the list.

Which innovations would you like to see in your future bathroom? Take a look at the list below and let us know any suggestions in the comments section.

The top 10 bathroom innovations consumers would love to see in the next 10 years

1. A face recognition system which automatically adjusts water temperature and pressure to your personalised settings
2. A hovering drone mirror which allows you to style the back of your hair with ease
3. An in-shower voice recognition that allows you to add shampoo, toothpaste and other essentials to your shopping list when they are running low
4. An augmented reality simulator that shows how a hairstyle could look on your head and provides step-by-step instructions on how to achieve it
5. A pep-talking mirror that gives you advice on your outfits based on a link to your personal calendar
6. Three taps — one for hot, cold and ‘just right’
7. A dressing machine that chooses your outfit and dresses you
8. A full body air-dryer
9. A height-adjustable sink, toilet and mirror that moves up and down depending on who is using them
10. An ambient display which allows you to make a cup of coffee and answer the doorbell from the shower