Taking your Bathroom into the 21st Century

Today, everyone’s homes seem to have the latest and greatest gadgets. When remodeling your home, you might want to upgrade, installing a few new TVs, computers, and other special electronics. Did you know that these 21st century gadget even have a place in bathroom remodeling? Taking your bathroom to a new level electronically isn’t cheap, but if you have the money to spend, these changes can really wow your guests and keep you feeling luxuriously pampered in your own home.

It’s All About the Remote

One of the easiest ways to upgrade your bathroom’s technology is to install remote controls. You can put anything in your bathroom on a remote control with the proper know-how, and thankfully DIY kits are pretty easy to understand. Consider the following ways you could use a remote control in your bathroom:

• Are the lights a little too harsh as you’re soaking in your tub? Use a remote control to dim them a bit more without getting up.
• Need some music? A remote control connected to your home’s sound system can pipe tunes into your bathroom.
• Worried about catching a chill? Before you get out of the shower or tub, use a remote control to raise the room’s temperature.

You can also use a remote to control the settings on a larger whirlpool tub in your bathroom. Against, this kind of technology is relatively simple to install, and can be quite reasonable when it comes to price.

Adding Some Screens

A TV in your bathroom might seem like overkill, but it is actually more common than you think! Because the bathroom is, in general, a wet environment, it can be tricky to include an expensive plasma or LCD screen in this room. You don’t want your money to go to waste just a few months in when the screen shorts due to water damage. After all, you have to keep in mind that most warranties won’t cover a replacement under those conditions. So how do you put a television in your bathroom? Here are some tips:

• Choose a TV made for the bathroom. Yes, there are manufacturers that create televisions specifically to be used in adverse environments. These usually have special layers to protect them more from water while still giving you a great picture.
• Looks specifically for a screen that is “fog free.” When it gets steamy in your bathroom, you don’t want to have to wipe the screen every few minutes to watch your favorite program.
• Have a professional do the installation. When it comes to electrical work, adding water to the mix can make things tricky, even for a TV made for the bathroom. Have a professional install the screen and work out a system to hide the cables and keep everything dry.

When choosing a TV, size matters, but so does placement. Some bathrooms just aren’t set up in a way that a television makes sense. Typically, the best bathroom candidates are those with the shower stall separate from the tub, since it is more likely that you’ll use the TV while bathing.

Going Green

You might not equate technology with the environment, but in this day and age, going green is very important in any room of the house. If you have the money, there are some neat technological advances that can help you be even greener in your bathroom, including the following:

• Water-Saving Flushers: Instead of a toilet with a traditional flushing device, think about installing a toilet that gives the user options. When needed, the user can choose a full flush option that uses a tank of water, but when possible, the user can instead opt for a half-tank flush. Toilets of all styles can be equipped with two-choice flushers, and you’ll be amazed at the water you save every month.
• Green Lighting: They may be slightly more expensive upfront, but CFL bulbs are actually huge money savers over time. You can purchase CFLs in many different wattages to accommodate all of your needs, and they work on dimmers just like regular light bulbs. You can also consider LED lights. LED lighting fixtures are often on the high-end of the price spectrum, but they look great and will save 40% of more in energy costs.

Don’t forget that you can also look into going green with the actual construction of your bathroom. Choose a green builder and use green materials, like natural stone over vinyl.

More Technology

Yes, there are even more technological changes you can make to help your bathroom stand out. On the low-budget end of things, even small upgrades like a heated towel rack or iPod-docking station can make a space feel special. The sky is the limit, though! Almost anything you can imagine in other parts of your house can also be done in your bathroom.

For more information on how you can get the best bathroom for you home or ensuite consult our Contractor Directory or Post Your Project and have professionals contact you.

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