Leading European bathroom specialist Ideal Standard has released a study that sought to improve the practical use of bathroom space. Led by Dr. John Curran, this comprehensive study investigates bathroom behavior in an attempt to grasp a deeper understanding that can be applied in bathroom design.
The findings of Dr. Curran’s studies has implications into many fields and industries. It holds insight into the changing dynamics within households and hints and some future changes that may be expected. Dig deeper as we delve to define your bathroom behavior.
Images Courtesy of Ideal Standard
Bathroom Behaviours; How to Optimise Bathroom Space for Modern Households
Dr. John Curran presented his research, Bathroom Behaviours; How to Optimise Bathroom Space for Modern Households, at ISH 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. Over 4,000 individuals from 4 European countries participated in the study spanning from Italy, England, France, and Germany. With 19 participants, motion mapping sensors were used to monitor the space within the bathroom. This reveals which areas of the bathroom were used the most and which were less frequented. Data was taken from all hours of the day to present comprehensive findings.
“We started with a hypothesis that in many homes the bathroom is not used as well as it could be. The findings seem to confirm what we suspected. Renovating a bathroom often starts with excitement and ends in disappointment. It’s hard to know where to start and harder to see past the limitations of the room.”
-Kerris Bright, Chief Marketing Officer of Ideal Standard International.
This study reveals much about the way that we use the bathroom and reinforces some previously established assumptions. Understanding how the bathroom is used is key to implemented a usable bathroom space that meets our standard of visual appeal while simultaneously sufficing the functional necessities.
“It’s a room that transforms us from one state of mind to another and can therefore mark different personas we have throughout the day. These transformation characteristics mean that the bathroom is embedded in everyday rituals – rituals that help define who we are.”
With this point of view in mind, the bathroom transforms with us throughout the day. In the morning we are businessmen and women headed off to high-stakes meetings. When we return home, we instantly become mom and dad. At this time, the bathroom becomes play time for little ones. See how the bathroom must meet different needs, purposes, and demands even within a single household?
Ideal Standard seeks to fashion a bathroom that transforms with homeowners.
Findings of the Study
Some of the key findings of the report have been murmured among bath designers across the globe. This echo has been heard in the United States where European influence has been seen in emerging 2014 trends and fashions. Here are some of the takeaway points from Curran’s study:
- 40% of people desire a new bathroom but what do we desire the most? It’s not always a larger space but rather a well-organized space that allows us to properly store all belongings. Small bathrooms can elicit that same allure of luxury bathrooms.
- British spend the least amount of time in the bathroom (19m 42s), followed by the Germans (27m 35s) and Italians (27m 33s). The French spend the longest time in the bathroom with an average of 27m 11s spent in the bathroom.
- Couples were the tidiest. Maybe this is to avoid an early confrontation after finding used bath towels on the floor. Maybe it’s just due to the fact that you must be more aware of the impact you have on the personal space of your spouse.
- Young adults spend more time in the bathroom and have been found to be tweeting in the bathroom among the peculiar behaviors observed in the study.
- Young adults are more inclined to sit while using the bathroom. The advent of technology has led us to drop the magazine and pick up iphones and ipads even while inside the bathroom. No wonder cell phones are so dirty!
- Parents with children were found to use the bathroom as a retreat. This was their heavenly oasis to escape from other family members and experience a moment of solace.
- Bathroom renovations often begin with a high level of enthusiasm but end in disappointment. This finding is open to interpretation. Maybe this is because homeowners are ill-prepared or simply misunderstand what a bath remodel fully entails.
How it Can be Applied
Findings from the study can be used by manufacturers who seek to optimize their bathroom products to meet the needs of consumers. Likewise, contractors, interior designers, and home staging professionals can benefit from an inside peak into the everyday citizens bathroom. Among the factors that need to be considered are storage, utilization of space, fitting, aesthetic pleasure, and variation of layout. Understanding how we use the bathroom can lend insight into what homeowners need from their bathroom as a whole.
“The bathroom is a unique space in the home. It stands out from other rooms in the home because it has to meet an array of needs.” -Dr. John Curran
An example from the study and a proposed solution from Rovin Levien.
Conclusion
Although some of these findings can seem to be a bit humorous, it sheds a stream of light on the design strategies that should be implemented in the bathroom. Understanding how, why, and when we use the bathroom can improve ergonomics. Placing an emphasis on areas that receive heavy attention insignificant areas may be drawn back or eliminated completely. The shifts in bathroom design continue to change, reflecting a variable society that is in a state of constant evolution.
Additional Resources:
- Ideal Standard reveals the findings of spy-in-the bathroom study
- Young people spend toilet time on Facebook, says bathroom survey
About the Author
Cheryl Khan is a contributing author to the Tradewinds Imports Blog. Designer by trade and writer by nature, she enjoys keeping up to date with the latest trends, designs, products, and color palettes of the year.
