We tend to think of a bathroom as being an enclosed room. There is one door in and out, and we may decide to lock it for privacy while we are using the room. We would almost certainly shut the door.
But it seems as if that might be about to change – at least where hotel rooms are concerned. More and more news stories are coming through that are revealing an ever increasing number of hotels trying something a bit (well, a lot) different.
The Big Change
So what is the big change? It seems as if they are starting to make the bathroom part of the actual bedroom.
Now that might sound crazy and some would say that is exactly what it is. But make no mistake – it IS happening. Some hotels are choosing to put a glass wall in between the bedroom area and the bathroom area. It doesn't give you a lot of privacy when you need to use the loo, but it does apparently add a sense of style. Some claim it can be more luxurious too, although that point is most certainly still up for debate.
Design Innovation
Some thoughtful designers have added another feature however, in case modesty may become too much to cope with. This takes the form of a screen, or blinds in some cases. These can then be lowered to provide a more solid 'wall' in between the two areas of the room.
Future Trends
So is this something we can look forward to seeing more of in the future? Many people would hope not – and it would seem to be some way off if it were to happen. After all most of us do prefer our privacy, and while it might be forward thinking to start knocking down walls, given the choice many people would still opt for hotels with the two essential parts of the room separate.
It should be noted as well that most of the hotels that have opted for this type of layout are, shall we say, at the more posh end of the market. These are hotels where design and form are both prominent and important. Your average hotel chain isn't going to opt for such features because it knows that its customers won't actually like them.
Luxury Hotels
High-end establishments leading the trend
Privacy Concerns
Balancing style with personal comfort
Floor-to-Ceiling Windows
Another feature of these ultra modern open plan bathrooms isn't quite so bad. This feature will only work in a multi storey hotel, since it could create no end of problems on the ground floor. Some hotels are opting to position the bath right in front of a huge floor to ceiling window. As we said, this would be ideal on the 15th floor, but not so good when you are looking out directly onto the street.
Consideration Required
So it remains to be seen whether these glass walled bathrooms are simply a fad or whether they will become more and more popular as time goes by. It's safe to say that only a portion of the more expensive hotels will probably even consider going down this route though.
Conclusion
Thankfully, this trend appears to be limited to luxury establishments where design innovation is prioritized. For most travelers, traditional bathroom privacy remains the preferred option.