The Home Bathroom :
First in a series of Bathroom Experiences : Bathroom Blogfest 2007

I recently moved, and now I have a new bathroom. It’s completely new…new construction, new fixtures, and as a result…new habits. I have to say, the master bath has “wow” factor. I also have to say that it’s very clear that it was designed with a total disregard of efficiency and usability. And yet, I love it. How can that be?

The space design clearly shows who the architect thought the new homeowner would be: working couples (without kids) who want a place to relax and unwind within an atmosphere of modern, clean design and a green sensibility. It’s like the bathroom is whispering…”come in and experience bliss, comfort, delight and relaxation…I’m your personal spa.”

Stuff that makes my bathroom feel like an oasis:

  • no door…open floor plan
  • strong aesthetic impact
  • clean lines
  • huge mirror
  • sleek sinks
  • open, clear glass shower
  • big soaking tub
  • separate toilet room

the positive view

My new bathroom experience is no longer about simple hygienic utility and having a place to put my stuff. Now it’s about pampering myself and unwinding after a stressful day. Definitely a behavioral change!

Emotional result? I truly enjoy being in the space…I feel relaxed, I work to keep the space clean and pretty, I unwind with a soak in the tub, and I feel pride, delight, pleasure…I’m calmed. Overall experience? Thumbs up.

So what’s the punch line?
The lack of attention to all the mechanics. The space is clearly not designed for efficiency, effective storage or overall utility.

Stuff that makes my bathroom totally inefficient:

  • no door…open floor plan
  • no medicine cabinet
  • no storage
  • insufficient towel racks
  • bath body sprayer gurgle-leaks when you turn it off
  • sinks splash
  • sinks don’t hold water when drain is in
  • glass on shower looks scudgy quickly

the dark side

The usability aspect is like a high-pitched whine that requires attention. Some things I’ve done to address the issues? Some new furniture and lots of daily behavior change:

  • get rid of all the bathroom stuff that isn’t absolutely needed…space is just too limited
  • under-the-sink furniture to hold stuff that I have to have nearby…all the overflow stuff goes down the hall in the clothes closet
  • A daily squeegee + Method glass spray to keep the endless stretch of shower glass sparkly
  • ugly plastic drain covers to use when need to fill the sink (hidden under the counter when not in use)
  • new hand habit to turn on sink faucet slllooooooowwwwllly to avoid ultra-splashing
  • after-bath technique: drape the body sprayer over the edge of the tub until it stops gurgling & spitting
  • On the list: install additional towel rack that jives with the overall design aesthetic

Emotional result? I have a constant mental to-do list for how to overcome the irritations…there’s head-shaking, grumbling, frustration at the designers. I have to go out of my way to do things that should be easy to do (who wants to change their faucet-turning-on-habit?) Overall usability? Thumbs down.

Now, of course, this shouldn’t be a tradeoff at all. It’s possible and preferable to design for emotion, beauty and experience without ignoring the basics of how things should work well. And designers have the responsibility to do both.

But y’know? When I think of my bathroom, I smile. I know that I’ll solve the issues that annoy me (towel rack, anyone?) but if I also know that if I had just started with a “usable bathroom”, I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to make it feel like a place of comfort and respite. Usability isn’t enough…experience is the goal. The design has shifted my expectations and changed my behaviors to focus on relaxation rather than simply efficient hygiene.

Feeling relaxed has a lot more value me than simply being clean. I have a place designed to be a sanctuary to self, and I love it.

Participants in Bathroom Blogfest ‘07

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