The Well-Connected Bath

Comfort meets technology in today’s new homes.

Today’s bathrooms do more than get you ready – they help you relax, recharge, and stay connected. From streaming music in the shower to personalized lighting and smart fixtures, the bathroom is quickly becoming one of the most tech-forward spaces in a new home.

Why Bathrooms Are Getting Smarter

We bring our phones everywhere – even into the bathroom.

San Diego–based kitchen and bath designer Jamie Gold says she’s seeing more connected bathrooms at every price point. “There’s a growing importance of technology in our everyday lives,” she says. “People don’t want to be separated from their cellphones and tablet devices.”

Personalization plays a big role. “We’ve gotten accustomed to customizing and personalizing things to exactly the way we like it,” Gold says – and homeowners now expect the same control in their bathrooms.

Make It Rain: Personalized Showers

Showers are no longer one-size-fits-all.

John Petrie, National Kitchen & Bath Association, says digital shower systems allow each family member to customize their experience.

With a digital control panel, such as one from Moen’s ioDigital line, homeowners can preset water temperature, pressure, spray settings, and even lighting.

Shower Sound, Simplified

Music in the shower used to mean bulky radios or expensive built-ins. Not anymore.

Kohler’s Moxie showerhead is Bluetooth-enabled, letting homeowners stream music or news directly from a smartphone or tablet.

For bath lovers, Kohler’s VibrAcoustics bathtubs take relaxation further by using sound waves – not bubbles – for massage, with the option to upload your own music.

Create a Mood With Lighting

Lighting does more than illuminate – it sets the tone.

Gold says LED lighting is increasingly popular in bathroom designs, especially as energy standards tighten. But efficiency isn’t the only benefit.

Homeowners are using lighting to create mood and atmosphere, with options like:

• Color-changing LED lights in showers

• Backlit walls or vanity mirrors

• Integrated lighting in shower floors or drains

The result: a bathroom that transitions from energizing mornings to calming evenings.

High-Tech Toilets, Elevated Comfort

Toilets have quietly become some of the smartest fixtures in the home.

The Toto Washlet S400, for example, features a bidet, heated seat, foot-warming heater, automatic lid, and auto-flush. High-tech, yes – but designed for everyday comfort and convenience.

What’s the News? Built-In Bathroom Screens

Bathroom TVs aren’t new, but today’s designs are more discreet.

Kohler’s medicine cabinet mirror with a built-in Robern TViD features a seven-inch screen tucked into the lower corner. Travis Rotelli, senior interior designer at the Kohler Design Center, says it allows homeowners to catch the news while getting ready – without clutter. “It’s a great way to have that kind of technology in the bathroom, without having a lot of extra wires or other hardware,” he says.

Designing for the Future

As new homebuyers plan their bathrooms, connectivity is becoming a long-term consideration.

“Younger generations have grown up with all of this technology,” Rotelli says. “They always had cellphones and computers around. We will continue to see this more and more because younger generations will demand it.”

For buyers building new, a well-connected bath isn’t a luxury – it’s an investment in comfort, customization, and future-ready living.

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