Bathrooms around the world
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Carpets or tiles?
In a bathroom there will always be water spilt on the floor. That's universal! Hence bathroom and WC floors are usually tiled. Sometimes moisture-resistant laminate or waterproof parquet flooring is used, and in some countries there's a preference for warmth and comfort, so bathmats made of fabric, wood or natural fibres are commonplace.
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While tiled floors are the norm in most countries, a fluffy bathmat can help on winter days. People in the UK aren't the only ones who prefer to have a cosy carpet underfoot after taking a bath.
Fixed or flexible
Speaking of showers – in the USA the shower head is usually fixed to the wall, while in Europe, showers with flexible hoses are commonplace. And in Denmark there's no shower cubicle at all, simply a curtain that separates the shower from the rest of the room. A slight gradient in the floor means the water runs into the drain in the middle of the room.
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The shower is a must in the majority of bathrooms worldwide. However, the shower head itself is not always permanently attached to the wall, but can be on a removable flexi-hose
One, two or three
In Japan, the bathroom is made up of two or three rooms rather than a single space, and is typically divided into a dry area with a separate toilet and a fully tiled wet area with a compact bath (called an ofuro). Before getting into the bath, everyone has a shower first, as the bath is simply used as a place to relax. And it's not only the Japanese who divide the bathroom into several rooms – the Chinese theory of harmony (feng shui) also recommends that the toilet is kept separate.
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To prevent an outflow of energy, feng shui requires that the toilet lid remain closed – except when in use, of course!
Trend reversal in France
Likewise in France, the toilet is increasingly found in an area that is separate to the rest of the bathroom. The country has witnessed something of a trend reversal recently: in the past, bidets were standard bathroom fittings but today, they are becoming increasingly rare. With the toilet commonly housed in a separate room, or discrete cubicle in the bathroom, there's often no room for the bidet. Italy and Portugal are now the leading users of bidets.
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In many European countries, the toilet has long been an integral part of the bathroom. Now it's increasingly installed in a bespoke room, or separate from the rest of the bathroom.
More about living habits around the world:
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Bathrooms are big sellers
Sales figures in the bathroom fittings sector vary widely around the world. China leads the way with sales of 31 billion euros, followed by the USA. India and Japan occupy third and fourth place respectively. Germany (EUR 1.43 billion) comes in fifth, which is remarkable considering its comparatively small population. Incidentally, while the trend is towards smaller apartments, the size of the average bathroom in Germany has grown from 7.8 square meters in 2006 to 9.1 square meters in 2024.
A global need
No matter which bathroom you're in, one thing is always in demand – storage space. Especially for anyone living in a small apartment. It's therefore essential that planning be carefully tailored to the individual needs of the user. There are different ways of using bathroom furniture to store items:
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Whether in the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen or cloakroom, the tall cabinet is the classic way to store things neatly. The ideal choice is a cabinet with internal pull-outs, such as the SPACE TOWER by Blum, because this ensures shampoo, soaps, towels and the like are within easy reach – even if they're right at the back of the drawer.
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Drawers are an easy way of making sure the space beneath the washbasin doesn't go to waste. Inner dividing systems, such as AMBIA-LINE from Blum, also help to keep things neat and tidy.
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A mirror cabinet is a great way to create additional storage space in the bathroom. But if you're worried about knocking your head against the mirror when brushing your teeth in the morning, it's best to opt for a wall cabinet lift system in place of doors. This allows the mirror to pivot up and out of the way. Solutions such as AVENTOS HK-XS from Blum are the ideal choice here.
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Large, bulky appliances like the washing machine are often found in the bathroom. And ingenious solutions mean that they can be cleverly accommodated – for example by installing a space-saving tumble dryer and washing machine placed one on top of the other. Featuring MOVENTO from Blum, a pull-out shelf makes it easier to empty the laundry basket.
Four factors for perfect storage space in the bathroom:
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Differences at a glance:
The majority of bathrooms around the world are tiledor fitted with waterproof flooring.
In Europe, it's most common to find flexible shower heads, while in the USA these are generally fixed to the wall..
The bathroom doesn't always consist of a single room. In Japan, for example, three rooms are used.
Italy and Portugal are the leading users of bidets, which are less common in France these days.
Solutions like a spacious cabinet, vanity units, mirror cabinetsor washing machine cabinets offer additional storage space.
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