Technology is infiltrating every part of our daily lives. We can control the heating with our smartphones, manage electricity bills online and internet shopping is commonplace. If you’re thinking about renovating your bathroom soon, here are some great ways of incorporating tech into the smallest room of the house too.</p.
Waterproof TV
What could be better after a long day at work than relaxing in the tub with a movie on the telly? Pulling the family set into the bathroom isn’t a safe option, unfortunately, but there are waterproof televisions on the market which are specifically designed for bathroom use. Prices range from around £250 for a smaller 19 inch model, up to several thousands should you have space for a huge 55 inch screen in the bathroom. You’ll also need to have them professionally fitted, by a qualified electrician who knows what they are doing using water and electricity in close proximity. Fitting electrical items into a bathroom is subject to regulations which you should be aware of.
Demisting Pads
Demisting technology tackles the age old problem of your bathroom mirror steaming up while you’re in the shower or bath. Many bathroom mirrors or mirrored bathroom cabinets are fitted with this tech as standard, and the demisting kicks in at the flick of a switch or when you turn on the lights around the mirror. This is one of the cheaper bathroom technologies too. All of the major bathroom retailers have demisting mirrors at prices around £50 to £70.
Shower Speakers
Shower speakers and radios are nothing new, but you can now get a shower head with built in speakers, maintaining the sleek look of your bathroom. The shower head connects to your phone or MP3 player by Bluetooth, allowing you to listen to your favourite music or even a podcast while you shower. Shower head speakers cost around £170, and are easy to install yourself if you have basic DIY skills.
Mood Lighting
Mood lighting uses LED lightbulbs and makes it easy to change the lighting in the bathroom according to your mood. They work by using special bulbs, but don’t usually require any extra wiring in the bathroom if you have downlighters already. Use the remote control to set the colour – you can even have it cycle through all the available colours if you need something to get you moving in the morning.
Shower Cabins
If you’re looking at new showers, why not build some technology into the bathroom that way? For anything between £1500 and £2000, you could get a high-tech cabinet with a wide range of functions. Most have integrated speakers, and lighting which can be adjusted to several settings. Many come with remote controls – switch the shower on from the comfort of your bed and wait until it gets up to temperature. Some have a steam room function and come complete with a seat for you to relax and enjoy the sauna experience. The sky really is the limit when it comes to shower cabins, just take a look at the wide range online and get inspired.
