What’s the first thing customers consider when setting up their smart homes? Maybe security features like smart doorbells and smart lighting; or entertainment options like smart TV and a connected stereo. Whatever it is, their wishes should be taken into account when planning installation of wall outlets and their central media panels.

Soon, they may be adding smart bathroom features to their list of must-haves. Which means two things for you. You may need to modify their network to ensure they have good coverage in their bathroom. And you’ll need to know what’s out there in the market.

Smart bathrooms have become a big topic in the industry since Kohler, one of North America’s leading kitchen and bathroom fixture suppliers, announced Kohler Konnect, a suite of voice-controlled bathroom devices earlier this year.

“Voice services and connected devices have become integrated into every facet of the home – with the notable exception of the bathroom, until now,” said David Kohler, President and CEO of Kohler Co.

While Kohler is the first company to offer a complete suite of smart options, they are not alone in moving smart tech into the bathroom.

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Kohler’s Verdera Voice Lighted Mirror has Amazon’s Alexa built in. While your customers adjust the lighting in the mirror, they can also pose questions to Alexa.

The Luv Mirror by Duravit has a touchless control system that uses gestures to dim or brighten the lights on the mirror and turn on heat.

Some mirrors on the market function as smart beauty devices. The HiMirror has adjustable lighting, and the makers claim it will also analyze user’s skin. Panasonic has released an interactive mirror that scans your customer’s face and provides advice on the best makeup options for them.

The DUO AI Mirror takes an entirely different approach. It has a 27-inch display with touch controls for accessing weather, music, and video.

Smart mirrors have the potential to collect physical data that could be used to identify health issues. Google has invented an optical sensor that can track blood flow and identify cardiovascular issues.  

Energy-efficient bathing

Smart showers use water and energy more efficiently, and they can make your customer’s shower more enjoyable. The U shower by Moen was the first Wi-Fi connected shower, and it now includes voice control capability that works with either Alexa or Siri.

Kohler’s shower system allows users to adjust water temperature, pressure, time and even music using voice commands. Kohler also offers a bathtub kit called PerfectFill that can automatically fill a bath to your customer’s preferred depth and temperature.

Roca has made a smart showerhead with a built-in Bluetooth speaker. The H2O Vibe shower also features Bluetooth. And for your customers who want a little more excitement in their showers, the Deamspa shower comes with coloured LED lights.

Hands-free toilet

The most obvious advantage to a smart toilet is the hands-free aspect. This will appeal to your germ-aphobic customers. Most smart toilets also come with a bidet feature, which will go a long way in reducing waste, and most of them use less water than a standard toilet.

There are many to choose from: Kohler Touchless Toilet, the Kohler Veil, the Oves Decors, the Euroto Luxury Smart Toilet, the Dyconn Faucet Aqua Tankless, and even one called the Glowbowl that doubles as a night-light.

Toilets have the potential to be used to monitor your customer’s health. They could identify pregnancy, dietary issues, and could provide early diagnosis for serious health problems.

The bathroom is the most private room in your customers’ homes. Some may be reluctant to load it up with sensors and cameras, but the germ-reducing features and the health benefits might outweigh privacy concerns.