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Title: Bathroom  
Author: World Heritage Encyclopedia
Language: English
Subject: Bedroom, Jack and Jill bathroom, Twyford Bathrooms, E.Bon Holdings, Bidet
Collection: Bathing, Bathrooms, Public Toilets, Rooms
Publisher: World Heritage Encyclopedia


An average-sized U.S. residential bathroom

A bathroom is a room for personal hygiene activities, generally containing at minimum a toilet and sink. A bathroom may also contain a mirror, a bathtub or a shower, and possibly also a bidet. In North America and some other regions, it characteristically contains at least a toilet and a sink; hence in North American English the word "bathroom" is commonly used to mean any room containing a toilet, even a public toilet (although in the United States this is more commonly called a restroom). In other countries, including the UK, Australia, France and Japan, homes may have a separate toilet room. In Iran almost all homes have two distinct rooms for the bathroom and the toilet room. Bathrooms often have one or more towel bars or towel rings for hanging towels. Some bathrooms contain a medicine cabinet for personal hygiene products and medicines and drawers or shelves for storing towels and other items.


  • History 1
  • Variations 2
    • Powder room 2.1
    • Shower room 2.2
    • Ensuite 2.3
    • Family bathroom 2.4
    • Jack and Jill bathroom 2.5
    • Wetroom 2.6
  • Differences 3
    • Regional 3.1
      • Australia and New Zealand 3.1.1
      • Terminology in the United States 3.1.2
  • Design considerations 4
  • See also 5
  • References 6


The Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro


According to Teresi et al. (2002):[1]

Virtual Historical Reconstruction of the Roman Baths in Weißenburg, Germany, using data from laser scan technology
A bathroom in the Beamish Museum near Durham, United Kingdom


The Roman attitudes towards bathing are well documented; they built large purpose-built thermal baths, marking not only an important social development, but also providing a public source of relaxation and rejuvenation. Here was a place where people could meet to discuss the matters of the day and enjoy entertainment. During this period there was a distinction between private and public baths, with many wealthy families having their own thermal baths in their houses. Despite this they still made use of the public baths, showing the value that they had as a public institution. The strength of the Roman Empire was telling in this respect; imports from throughout the world allowed the Roman citizens to enjoy ointments, incense, combs, and mirrors.

In fact throughout the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, the use of public baths declined gradually in the west, and private spaces were favoured, thus laying the foundations for the bathroom, as it was to become, in the 20th century. However, in Japan shared bathing in sento and onsen (spas) still exists; the latter being very popular.


A Hong Kong bathroom saves space by combining the shower and rest of the bathroom

Powder room


Shower room




Family bathroom


Jack and Jill bathroom

A Jack and Jill bathroom is a bathroom with two doors, accessible from two bedrooms, or sometimes three doors, the third one leading into the hallway.





Australia and New Zealand

In Australia, New Zealand and other British Commonwealth countries it is common for a bathroom to not contain a lavatory; but with a separate 'toilet' next door (a very small room with only a toilet and perhaps a tiny hand washbasin).

Terminology in the United States


Design considerations


Electrical appliances, such as lights, heaters, and heated towel rails, generally need to be installed as fixtures, with permanent connections rather than plugs and sockets. This minimizes the risk of electric shock. Ground-fault circuit interruptor electrical sockets can reduce the risk of electric shock, and are required for bathroom socket installation by electrical and building codes in the United States and Canada. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, only special sockets suitable for electric shavers are permitted in bathrooms, and are labelled as such. UK Building Regulations also define what type of electrical light fittings (i.e. how water-/splash-proof) may be installed in the areas (zones) around and above baths, sinks and showers.

Bathroom lighting should be uniform, bright and must minimize glare. For all the activities like shaving, showering, grooming etc. one must ensure equitable lighting across the entire bathroom space. The mirror area should definitely have at least two sources of light at least 1 feet apart to eliminate any shadows on the face. Skin tones and hair color are highlighted with a tinge of yellow light.[2]

See also


  1. ^ Teresi et al. 2002
  2. ^
  • Dirk Hebel & Jörg Stollmann (eds.) (2005) Bathroom Unplugged: Architecture and Intimacy (German/English dual language edition) Bad ohne Zimmer: Architektur und Intimität - Birkhäuser, Basel ISBN 3-7643-7232-X
