In the COVID-19 pandemic, almost all countries globally imposed lockdowns, travel restrictions, and social distancing norms to curb the spread of the virus and reduce the rate of infections. As a result, people were confined in their homes with a lot of leisure time. The idea of DIY home decor gathered pace during these years. Consequently, the home decor sector has witnessed huge growth post-pandemic. People generally opt for renovating their residential spaces as it allows them to express their creativity and demonstrate their styles and preferences.
Moreover, interior designing helps them arrange different aspects of their homes in such a way that the overall comfort level increases and gives a sense of belonging and relaxation to the owners. Home decor also helps people to innovate and experiment with their choices, and learn more about aesthetics, different technologies, and trends in interior design. Ultimately, it helps boost the overall mood and ambiance, not only for the inhabitants but also for the guests visiting the house. Apart from enhancing the visual appeal, it also promotes well-being and health, thus improving the atmosphere and mental health.
Over the years, renovating and redesigning bathrooms and washrooms has become an important component of home decor. This is because sanitaryware has emerged as a major lifestyle statement for people across the globe. The rising awareness regarding health, hygiene, and sanitation has contributed to the growth of this trend. Furthermore, the pace of industrialization and urbanization has increased immensely in developed and developing countries worldwide. This has led to a surge in disposable incomes, thereby changing the lifestyle of people in these countries. Moreover, technological advancements and innovations have led to the emergence of a new concept called smart bathrooms, thus redefining the sphere of home decor.
Increasing focus on smart water management techniques
Smart bathrooms refer to washrooms and toilets that feature smart technologies to offer convenience, luxury, and comfort to the user. At the same time, these techniques improve sanitation and overall hygiene. One major problem with conventional washrooms is that they do not curb the wasteful usage of water, electricity, and other resources. In 2019, DEWA, a public infrastructure company owned by the Government of Dubai, commissioned a study to analyze the status of water usage across the country. As per the survey, around 4 liters of water was wasted every minute due to toilet leakages, while 8 liters were lost per minute due to tap leakages.
Over the years, the problem of water scarcity has aggravated and reports by leading international institutions have shown that around 60% of the global population is expected to live in water-scarce regions. In such a scenario, the importance of intelligent water systems has increased. The main aim of deploying such solutions is to detect leaks in showers, taps, or other washroom equipment, thus preventing wastage. The emergence of the Internet of Things technology has played an important role in improving the efficiency of these systems. For instance, smart faucets, embedded with IoT devices and sensors, help in monitoring water consumption patterns. As per a report published by Allied Market Research, the smart bathroom market is expected to rise at a CAGR of 11.2%, during 2021-2030, due to the increasing integration of IoT technology in smart bathroom systems.
Innovations in smart shower and toilet systems creating new opportunities for growth
Apart from intelligent water systems, the idea of smart showers has become quite popular in recent times. In February 2022, KOHLER, a plumbing products manufacturer, announced the launch of ‘Anthem’ shower valves and controls. Designed to provide an immersive showering experience to the user, these intelligent systems offer various customization options including shower spray, showerheads, body sprays, rain-heads, and hand-showers. The product features a touch-sensitive control panel which allows the user to manipulate the flow, temperature, and spray type easily. The company launched this innovative shower system in different colors such as rose gold, brushed bronze, polished chrome, etc., to provide a wide range of choices for the customers.
Similarly, brands such as Moen and SmarTap have also launched intelligent systems that use thermostats to provide warm water with a steady flow rate. Furthermore, these smart bathroom products are embedded with motion sensors to ascertain if the user is still taking a shower. Once the individual moves out of the bathroom, the sensors send a signal to cut off the water supply, thus nullifying the chance of wastage.
Apart from advanced shower systems, smart toilets, too, are widely being used to enhance hygiene and health. These products use futuristic technologies such as water-saving solutions, motion control, air dying, etc. Nowadays, companies are developing new mechanisms including automatic lids, dual-flush, touchless actuators, seat warmers, etc., to design space-saving and self-cleaning toilets.
In August 2023, SYNSOL, a leading health monitoring brand company, announced the launch of a second-generation smart toilet lineup. The product is integrated with several health tracking features including 6-lead ECG monitoring and electrolyte detection. Dr. Wenchong Wang, the principal scientist at SYNSOL, stated that these medical tests were previously available only in laboratories, and offering this high-tech product is an important step in setting up intelligent bathrooms. In February 2024, Kohler unveiled Smart Toilet Numi 2.0 powered by KOHLER® Konnect technology. The solution offers personalization with different features including automatic flushing, warm-water cleansing, UV sanitation, motion-sensing lid, etc.
The essence
The growing awareness regarding health and hygiene has contributed to the growth of the smart bathroom industry. Furthermore, the rising integration of advanced technologies such as IoT in intelligent water management solutions is predicted to create new investment opportunities in the sector. Additionally, the launch of innovative products by major multinational companies .
✍ **𝑨𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓: Akhilesh Prabhugaonkar
