Bathrooms may be one of the smallest rooms in a home, but they’re packed with elements that require careful consideration and understanding. From fixtures and fittings to materials and layouts, the terminology involved can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if you’re planning a renovation or new installation. To help you navigate this important space with confidence, we’ve put together a comprehensive bathroom glossary.
This A-Z guide covers over 100 key terms, ensuring you have the knowledge to make informed decisions whether you’re selecting the perfect tap, choosing tiles, or exploring the latest in shower technology. Let’s dive in and explore the essentials of bathroom design, helping you create a space that’s both functional and stylish.
A
- Accessible Bathroom: A bathroom designed for people with disabilities, featuring wider doorways, grab bars, and other accessibility features.
- Acrylic Bathtub: A lightweight and durable bathtub made from acrylic material, known for its smooth finish and ease of cleaning.
- Aerator: A device attached to a tap that mixes air with water to reduce water flow while maintaining pressure.
- Anti-Scald Valve: A safety feature in showers and taps that prevents water from reaching scalding temperatures.
B
- Back-to-Wall Toilet: A toilet with the cistern concealed within the wall or a unit, providing a sleek, modern look.
- Basin: A bowl-shaped plumbing fixture used for washing hands and face, available in various materials and styles.
- Bath Panel: A removable panel that conceals the underside of a bathtub, providing access to plumbing and a finished look.
- Bidet: A plumbing fixture designed for personal hygiene, typically used for washing the genital and anal areas.
- Bleed Valve: A valve used to release air from a radiator, improving heating efficiency.
- Bluetooth Mirror: A bathroom mirror equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to play music or take calls.
C
- Ceramic Tiles: Tiles made from clay, commonly used on bathroom floors and walls for their durability and water resistance.
- Chrome Finish: A shiny, reflective coating applied to bathroom fixtures for a modern and clean appearance.
- Clawfoot Bathtub: A freestanding bathtub with four ornate feet, popular in traditional and vintage-style bathrooms.
- Close-Coupled Toilet: A toilet with the cistern mounted directly on the back of the toilet bowl, offering a compact design.
- Composite Basin: A basin made from a mixture of materials like stone and resin, known for its durability and contemporary look.
- Concealed Cistern: A cistern hidden within a wall or furniture unit, providing a streamlined appearance in the bathroom.
- Corner Shower: A shower unit designed to fit into the corner of a bathroom, maximising space efficiency.
D
- Dual Flush Toilet: A toilet with two flushing options, allowing users to select a partial or full flush to conserve water.
- Drop-In Bathtub: A bathtub designed to be installed within a constructed deck, providing a seamless look with the surrounding area.
- Digital Shower: A shower with digital controls, allowing precise temperature and flow adjustments, often featuring programmable settings.
E
- Electric Shower: A shower unit that heats water on demand using an electric element, ideal for homes without a boiler or hot water tank.
- En Suite: A bathroom that is directly connected to a bedroom, providing privacy and convenience.
- Extractor Fan: A fan installed in a bathroom to remove excess moisture and odours, preventing mould and mildew.
F
- Freestanding Bathtub: A bathtub that is not attached to any walls, providing a luxurious and eye-catching focal point in the bathroom.
- Faucet: Another term for a tap, the fixture used to control the flow of water in a bathroom sink or bathtub.
- Floor Drain: A drain installed in the bathroom floor, allowing water to drain away quickly and preventing water damage.
- Floating Vanity: A vanity unit mounted on the wall without touching the floor, creating a sense of space and modernity.
G
- Grab Bar: A sturdy bar installed in bathrooms to provide support and stability for individuals with mobility issues.
- Glass Shower Enclosure: A shower enclosure made of glass panels, offering a sleek and modern look while keeping water contained.
- Greywater System: A system that recycles water from sinks, showers, and baths for non-potable uses like toilet flushing and irrigation.
H
- Handheld Showerhead: A showerhead attached to a flexible hose, allowing users to direct the water flow as needed.
- Heated Towel Rail: A rail that warms towels and provides additional heating in the bathroom, often powered by electricity or the central heating system.
- High-Level Toilet: A traditional toilet design with a cistern mounted high on the wall and connected to the toilet bowl with a long flush pipe.
I
- In-Wall Toilet: A toilet with all plumbing and the cistern concealed within the wall, offering a minimalist and space-saving design.
- Integrated Sink: A sink that is built into the countertop or vanity unit, providing a seamless look and easy cleaning.
- Inset Bath: A bathtub installed within a framed surround or enclosure, offering a built-in appearance.
J
- Jacuzzi: A brand name often used generically to refer to a whirlpool bath or hot tub, featuring jets for water massage.
K
- Kohler: A well-known brand of bathroom fixtures and fittings, known for quality and design innovation.
L
- LED Mirror: A bathroom mirror with built-in LED lighting, providing bright, energy-efficient illumination.
- Limescale: A hard, chalky deposit formed by calcium carbonate in water, often found in kettles and on bathroom fixtures.
- Low-Level Toilet: A toilet design with a cistern mounted just above the toilet bowl, connected with a short flush pipe.
M
- Matte Finish: A non-reflective finish on bathroom fixtures, offering a modern and understated look.
- Mixer Tap: A tap that combines hot and cold water, allowing the user to adjust the temperature with a single lever or handle.
- Mosaic Tiles: Small tiles arranged in a pattern or design, used for decorative effects on bathroom walls or floors.
N
- Niche: A recessed shelf or alcove built into a bathroom wall, often used for storing toiletries in a shower or bath area.
O
- Over-Bath Shower: A showerhead installed above a bathtub, allowing the bathtub to be used as a shower enclosure.
- Overflow: A safety feature in basins and bathtubs that prevents water from spilling over the edge by diverting excess water to the drain.
P
- Pedestal Basin: A basin supported by a pedestal that conceals the plumbing and provides a classic look.
- Pivot Shower Door: A shower door that opens by pivoting on a hinge, allowing for easy entry and exit.
- Porcelain Tiles: Dense, hard-wearing tiles made from refined clay and fired at high temperatures, used for floors and walls in bathrooms.
- Power Shower: A shower system that uses a pump to increase water pressure, providing a more forceful and invigorating shower experience.
- Privacy Glass: Frosted or tinted glass used in bathroom windows or shower enclosures to provide privacy while allowing light to enter.
- Push-Button Toilet Flush: A toilet flush mechanism operated by pushing a button, often featuring dual flush options.
Q
- Quarter-Turn Tap: A tap that opens and closes with a quarter turn of the handle, providing easy and precise water control.
R
- Rain Showerhead: A large, flat showerhead that simulates rainfall, offering a gentle and luxurious shower experience.
- Resin Basin: A basin made from a composite material of resin and other materials, known for its durability and smooth finish.
- Rimless Toilet: A toilet design without a rim around the top of the bowl, making it easier to clean and more hygienic.
- Robe Hook: A hook installed in the bathroom for hanging robes or towels.
- Roll-Top Bath: A freestanding bathtub with a rounded top edge, often associated with traditional bathroom styles.
S
- Saniflo System: A system that allows for the installation of a toilet, sink, or shower in areas where traditional plumbing is difficult, using a macerator to pump waste to the main sewer line.
- Sealant: A waterproof material used to seal joints and gaps in bathroom fixtures and tiles.
- Semi-Pedestal Basin: A basin mounted on a half pedestal, concealing the plumbing without reaching the floor.
- Shower Base: The floor of a shower enclosure, designed to collect and drain water effectively.
- Shower Panel: A panel installed in a shower enclosure, featuring multiple jets and showerheads for a customised shower experience.
- Shower Tray: A shallow base for a shower, designed to catch water and direct it to the drain.
- Sink Waste: The fitting at the bottom of a sink, connected to the plumbing to allow water to drain away.
- Soft-Close Toilet Seat: A toilet seat with a mechanism that slows the closing process, preventing slamming and reducing noise.
- Splashback: A panel installed behind a sink or countertop to protect the wall from water splashes.
- Steam Shower: A shower enclosure equipped with a steam generator, creating a spa-like steam bath experience.
- Stone Resin Bath: A bathtub made from a blend of stone particles and resin, offering durability and a luxurious feel.
- Straight Bath: A standard rectangular bathtub, suitable for most bathroom layouts.
- Sunken Bath: A bathtub installed below floor level, creating a luxurious and seamless look.
T
- Thermostatic Shower Valve: A shower valve that maintains a constant water temperature, preventing sudden changes in temperature.
- Tile Trim: A strip used to finish the edges of tiled surfaces, providing a neat and professional look.
- Tongue and Groove Panelling: Wood panelling with interlocking edges, used for decorative wall coverings in bathrooms.
- Translucent Glass: Glass that allows light to pass through but obscures the view, used for privacy in windows and shower enclosures.
- Travertine Tiles: Tiles made from a type of limestone, known for their natural beauty and durability.
U
- Underfloor Heating: A heating system installed beneath the floor, providing even and efficient heating in the bathroom.
- Undermount Basin: A basin installed below the countertop, offering a sleek and seamless look.
- Urinal: A plumbing fixture used for urination, typically found in public or commercial bathrooms.
V
- Vanity Unit: A combination of a basin and storage cabinet, providing a functional and stylish addition to the bathroom.
- Ventilation Fan: A fan installed in the bathroom to remove moisture and odours, improving air quality and preventing mould.
- Vinyl Flooring: A water-resistant flooring option made from PVC, available in various styles and patterns.
W
- Walk-In Shower: A shower without a door or enclosure, providing easy access and a modern, open feel.
- Wall-Hung Basin: A basin mounted directly to the wall, creating a minimalist look and saving floor space.
- Wall-Mounted Toilet: A toilet attached to the wall with a concealed cistern, offering a sleek and space-saving design.
- Water Closet: Another term for a toilet or toilet room, often abbreviated as WC.
- Water Softener: A device that removes minerals from hard water, preventing limescale build-up in pipes and fixtures.
- Wet Room: A bathroom with an open shower area, designed to be fully waterproof and easy to clean.
X
- Xeriscape: Landscaping designed to reduce water use, which can include features like drought-tolerant plants and permeable paving for bathroom courtyards or outdoor shower areas.
Y
- Yellowing: Discolouration that can occur in bathroom fixtures or surfaces due to age, exposure to sunlight, or chemical reactions.
Z
- Zinc Alloy Tap: A tap made from a zinc alloy, known for its durability and resistance to corrosion.
- Zero Entry Shower: A shower with no threshold or step, providing easy access and a seamless transition from the bathroom floor.
- Zoning: Dividing a bathroom into different areas for specific functions, often used in large bathrooms or wet rooms.
Additional Terms
- Air Bath: A bathtub with air jets that create a gentle massaging effect.
- Bath Bomb: A scented, effervescent tablet used in bathtubs for a relaxing and aromatic experience.
- Composite Shower Tray: A shower tray made from a blend of materials like stone and resin, offering strength and a sleek finish.
- Digital Thermostat: A thermostat with digital controls, allowing precise temperature settings in a bathroom.
- Eco Flush: A water-saving toilet flush option that uses less water per flush.
- Frameless Shower Door: A glass shower door without a metal frame, providing a clean and modern look.
- Greywater Recycling System: A system that reuses water from sinks, showers, and baths for toilet flushing or irrigation.
- Hand Towel Rail: A rail or ring installed in the bathroom for hanging hand towels.
- Instant Hot Water System: A system that provides hot water on demand, eliminating the need for a storage tank.
- Jet Tub: A bathtub with jets for water or air massage, similar to a jacuzzi.
- Kohler Intelligent Toilet: A high-tech toilet with features like automatic flushing, bidet functionality, and heated seating.
- Low-Flow Showerhead: A showerhead designed to use less water without compromising on water pressure.
- Modular Bathroom Furniture: Furniture units that can be configured in various ways to fit different bathroom layouts.
- Nano-Glass Coating: A protective coating applied to glass surfaces, making them easier to clean and more resistant to stains.
- Odour-Resistant Drain: A drain with a design or feature that prevents unpleasant smells from escaping.
- Pedestal Bathtub: A freestanding bathtub mounted on a pedestal base, offering a stylish and elevated look.
- Quick Release Toilet Seat: A toilet seat that can be easily removed for cleaning or replacement.
- Remote-Controlled Shower: A shower system that can be operated with a remote control, allowing for pre-set temperatures and flow rates.
- Smart Mirror: A mirror with integrated technology features like lighting, temperature displays, and voice control.
- Tempered Glass: Glass that has been treated to increase its strength and safety, often used in shower enclosures.
- Ultraviolet Steriliser: A device that uses UV light to kill bacteria and viruses, sometimes found in high-end toilets.
- Vanity Top: The surface or countertop of a vanity unit, often made from materials like stone, ceramic, or composite.
- Waterfall Tap: A tap that creates a cascading water effect, adding a touch of luxury to the bathroom.
- Xylophone Shower Panel: A novelty shower panel featuring musical notes or xylophone keys, providing entertainment and fun.
- Yield Point Drain: A drain designed to handle a maximum flow rate, ensuring efficient water removal without overflow.
- Zero Clearance Shower Door: A shower door with a minimal gap between the door and the floor or shower tray, providing a watertight seal.
