Geberit’s Sophie Weston examines the findings of the company’s new report into the adoption and use of smart bathroom solutions in the home.

The ‘hotelisation’ of the home has had an enormous impact on the residential property market in recent times. The pandemic has, of course, played its part, with homes transformed into multi-functional spaces that are part gym, office and sanctuary. Indeed, we looked at the impact of this in our new report ‘Why Bathroom Technology is a Smart Choice for Housebuilders’ and what this means for the expectations of today’s homebuyers. Grant Bates, realtor at Hamptons International and contributor to our report, sums it up neatly thus: “Leaving home is a choice, not a necessity for occupants.”

The end result is a buyer whose main consideration is prioritising day-to-day enjoyment of life and one willing to pay a ‘convenience premium’. As Grant points out, “The practicality and convenience of the home are as important as the interior design.”

Smart expectations
When we commissioned a YouGov poll of 1,200 UK homeowners to seek their views on technology and smart devices in the home, the most popular spaces to see such innovations featured were the living room (70 per cent), followed by the kitchen (34 per cent) and home office (29 per cent). Trailing behind at just two per cent was the bathroom.

Yet, we must not underestimate the significance of the bathroom in our lives. For instance, research by Geberit in 2018 found that nearly three quarters of us struggle to find time to relax and, in the quest for some respite, the bathroom was the most popular place of escape. Homeowners are increasingly looking for a sanctuary in their home. If a spa is the brief from today’s consumers, could technology hold the key to unlocking this?  And are homebuyers willing to pay more?

Solutions
We put this question to our respondents. More than a third (35 per cent) told us that they would be willing to pay more for a new home with technology and four in ten of those polled believed that there could be more technology in new homes.

There is clearly, therefore, a desire to see more innovations in new build and a willingness to pay the so-called ‘convenience premium’.

But let’s return for a moment to the bathroom, where only two per cent of homeowners rely on smart devices or technology. The sanctuary of the home. Is there an opportunity to do more in this space?

The good news is that bathroom technologies are generally fuss free solutions. When we asked our respondents what bathroom technology they would expect to find in a new build, odour extraction (39 per cent) topped the list, followed by orientation lighting (34 per cent). More than one in four (28 per cent) expect to see touch-free flush plates and one in five (22 per cent) believe that shower toilets should be a common feature.

Of course, such innovations are nothing new for manufacturers. Geberit’s AquaClean Mera shower toilet incorporates a number of such smart features from odour extraction and built-in orientation lighting to a warm air dryer and user recognition. Infra-red taps, meanwhile, such as Geberit’s Brenta and Piave products remove touchpoints in the space for a premium hygienic finish.

Lighting, too, can provide a simple way for housebuilders to add perceived value across projects. Geberit’s Option Plus and Acanto mirror cabinets have integrated USB ports for charging devices and LED bathroom mirrors can create discreet (and flattering!) lighting. We can expect to see manufacturers continue to innovate with future designs likely to display the news and weather or stream a favourite television show.

It’s worth remembering, however, that technology in the bathroom doesn’t always have to mean connectivity and automation. With new builds getting smaller, architects and housebuilders must meet the challenge of creating attractive and practical bathrooms. Wall-hung toilets and sanitaryware create the illusion of space by lifting products from the floor and can open up greater design flexibility across projects.

Providing the answer
There is clearly a growing expectation from homeowners for more smart innovations in the home as personalisation and technology becoming more important to buyers. Perhaps the bathroom can provide the answer.

Contact Details
To download the report please visit www.geberit.co.uk/technology