Modern Bathrooms Have A Huge Design Flaw...

We love designing bathrooms. It's a space can that be beautiful, functional and, at the same time, a great escape from the world. Where else can you lounge in a gorgeous deep soaking tub, indulge in an at-home spa treatment or spend precious time just relaxing and contemplating life... away from the day-to-day that waits for you outside the door. A bathroom can be a retreat, even if it's small and even if it's simply and economically designed. 

So... here's the big question, why on earth is there a toilet anywhere in the same vicinity as this beautiful, restful space we created? We all put toilets in bathrooms (myself included) but just think for a moment, why is the toilet in the bathroom? The room is named after its main function... bathing. It should be a space for cleanliness and relaxation. A place to refresh for a new day or to get ready to rest at the end of your day. How exactly does a toilet fit in?

The answer of course is that it doesn't. Toilets were originally housed in the same room alongside sinks and baths for ease of plumbing. That's right... plumbing. Why spread out all of the pipes when you can efficiently house them in one room? Water comes in, water goes out, all in one room. As time went on, we never changed this type of design planning and now here we are today, still combining everything into one room. Yes, we install partitions for privacy, even a separate room inside the bathroom (even with a sink!) but why is the toilet still in the bathroom?

Well, the short answer is because that's what we're used to. The longer answer involves existing plumbing when it's a renovation, cost and space considerations if it's a smaller house or a smaller budget but, for mid-sized and larger homes the big reason is because that's what we're used to doing. Thinking back, my grandparents' house in England had one bathroom and a separate toilet room, next to each other, but with separate doors off the same hallway. It was great not to have to wait for someone to finish taking a shower just so you could, well... Why share your lovely bathroom space with a toilet? And, I would argue, it's much more efficient for smaller homes too... now two people (especially those who aren't related) can use two components of what was once one space.

So, how about a mindset shift? For new homes or moderate renovations with flexible space, let's let the bathroom be the bathroom... a clean, restful, calming space. The ritual of cleansing and relaxation should be far from waste management, both mentally and physically.

Sustainability Side Note: Water is a very limited resource. What leaves the toilet is called blackwater. What leaves our sinks and showers is called greywater. Blackwater cannot be used for anything else in your home but greywater could be recycled if only for the toilet (but there are plenty of other uses). All of the water that leaves our homes is mixed together, no matter where it comes from, and we flush our toilets with fresh, clean water... But that's for another time.

* This question of toilet placement led to some rabbit-hole research on my part and among my findings I was inspired and informed by a wonderful article I read in The Guardian, check it out here.

We want to know what you think! Let us know what you would do with a newly built or renovated bathroom. Do you like keeping everything in one room?

And, speaking of indulging in the bath, we recently spoke with the creator of one of our favorite skincare brands at Domain, Earth Elements, about what she likes to do to relax. Check out our story highlights on Instagram to see how Kelly balances her day and her mind. (For me, it's with her Citrus Scrub!)

Thanks for reading, see you soon!

Laura