Earlier, restroom designs and fixtures were mostly functional, but recently, restrooms have evolved into integral elements of interior design for commercial and residential spaces. Today, they incorporate some of the most innovative designs of the modern era.
Restrooms are emerging as an integral and important area of any facility – public or private. Given the latest technologies and innovations, these spaces are transforming into a hygienic, chic and comforting zone. Smart, touchless solutions such as soap dispensers, faucets, flush meters, hand dryers and more offer a scintillating range of styles catering to all pockets and preferences.
Making first impressions count
Consider commercial restrooms. As one of the most-frequented areas in commercial structures, the restroom can make or break any building’s overall perception. Therefore, the first impression must be pleasant and positive through elegant designs as well as hygienic, water-saving, smart solutions. Most smart products have immense water and electricity savings potential, which benefits both the ecology and economy.
Adhering to these overarching guidelines, interior designers and architects are making sure restrooms are built around compatible aesthetic elements. Simultaneously, manufacturers are innovating in creating products with elegant designs and advanced fixtures that are durable and eye-catching too.
Keeping functionality in mind, monochrome colour schemes coupled with angular designs and curves are preferred nowadays. Furthermore, AI-enabled fixtures ensure a user can control restroom objects such as showers, faucets, lights, hand dryers, WCs, etc., via voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri through smartphone apps. The ambient lights and water temperature can also be adjusted through these smart tools.
Although smart toilets have been in the market for some time, manufacturers are augmenting their restroom products with additional features in making them more user-friendly. Here, the finish and material are two crucial elements. Conventionally, polished chrome has been most popular for fixtures in the commercial restroom.
However, to take the design aesthetics to higher orbits, manufacturers are offering custom-finish choices varying from brushed nickel and graphite to polished brass. These materials help in fostering a sense of luxury across the range of restroom products. Presently, premium products are the rage because brands consider every space within any facility, including restrooms, to extend their brand personality.
For example, companies can choose faucets and flush meters containing laser-etched engravings that augment their unique brand elements. As a result, companies differentiate themselves even in such high-traffic areas through customised products containing their logos and allied branding. Be it in restaurants, airport lounges, fitness centres, high-end hotels or developers’ offices; customised restrooms leave a positive, long-lasting impression on users.
Varied material options
Of course, these products are also available for residential restrooms where homeowners seek to create a luxurious ambience. Whether residential or commercial, manufacturers are using the best materials and finishes. Considering the frequency of usage and constant exposure to water, the long-term durability of items is essential so that their lustre remains undiminished and free from scratches or corrosion even years later.
Accordingly, manufacturers utilise the PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) process for bonding a product’s finish at a molecular stage. PVD enhances product resistance to various chemicals and abrasions that are likely to occur due to daily cleaning. What’s more, PVD technology helps facility maintenance crews ensure cohesion in the long run across entire product sets in restrooms.
To elaborate, if any restroom has a dozen PVD faucets and two need to be replaced years later, the new faucets will sport the same sheen as the others. Consequently, it is difficult for users to spot the replacements. Conversely, if the faucets had a different finishing process, the lustre would fade in due course. Thereby, a new faucet, flush meter, hand dryer or soap dispenser would stand out immediately from the previous ones, spoiling the restroom aesthetics due to the mismatch.
Similarly, a brushed nickel finish imparts an element of comfort to commercial or residential restrooms while incorporating varied design aesthetics. Since brushed nickel does not reveal fingerprints or watermarks, the material is ideal for all high-traffic settings.
Polished brass is another durable material imparting a high-end style look, transforming the restroom. The warm, luxurious finish is most attractive. Given a dash of gold, the design is elevated even more with polished brass.
The other option to refine restroom design comes with brushed stainless, which recreates a classic restroom experience that remains undiminished over time. The brushed stainless finish camouflages almost all fingerprints and watermarks, ensuring a clean restroom despite a high-traffic environment.
Ultimately, comfort, convenience, contemporary designs and consciousness about the environment are the main drivers for restroom products innovations.
