| hroom is a room that may have different functions | | | | more comfortable. Alternatively, the floor may be |
| depending on the cultural context. In the most literal | | | | heated, possibly by strategically placing heater |
| sense, the word bathroom means "a room with a | | | | conduits close to the surface. |
| bath". Because the traditional bathtubs have partly | | | | Electrical appliances, such as lights, heaters, and |
| made way for modern showers, including steam | | | | heated towel rails, generally need to be installed as |
| showers, the more general definition is "a room | | | | fixtures, with permanent connections rather than |
| where one bathes". There can be just a shower, just | | | | plugs and sockets. This minimizes the risk of electric |
| a bathtub or both; and often both plumbing fixtures | | | | shock. Ground-fault circuit interruptor electrical |
| are combined in the bathtub. The room may also | | | | sockets can reduce the risk of electric shock, and |
| contain a sink, often called a "wash basin" or "hand | | | | are required for bathroom socket installation by |
| basin" and often a "lavatory". | | | | electrical and building codes in the United States and |
| In the United States, "bathroom" commonly means "a | | | | Canada. In some countries, such as the United |
| room containing a lavatory". In other countries this is | | | | Kingdom, only special sockets suitable for electric |
| usually called the "toilet" or alternatively "water | | | | shavers are permitted in bathrooms, and are labelled |
| closet", lavatory or "loo". The word "bathroom" is also | | | | as such. |
| used in the U.S. for a public toilet. | | | | History of bathrooms |
| In the United States, bathrooms are generally | | | | Although it was not with hygiene in mind, the first |
| categorized as a "full bathroom" , containing four | | | | records for the use of baths date back as far as |
| plumbing fixtures: bathtub, shower, toilet, and sink; | | | | 3000 B.C. At this time water had a strong religious |
| "half (1/2) bath" (or "powder room") containing just a | | | | value, being seen as a purifying element for both |
| toilet and sink; and "3/4 bath" containing toilet, sink, | | | | body and soul, and so it was not uncommon for |
| and shower, although the terms vary from market | | | | people to be required to cleanse themselves before |
| to market. In some U.S. markets, a toilet, sink, and | | | | entering a sacred area. Baths are recorded as part of |
| shower are considered a "full bath". This lack of a | | | | a village or town life throughout this period, with a |
| single, universal definition commonly results in | | | | split between steam baths in Europe and America |
| discrepancies between advertised and actual number | | | | and cold baths in Asia. Communal baths were erected |
| of baths in real estate listings. An additional | | | | in a distinctly separate area to the living quarters of |
| complication is that there are currently two ways of | | | | the village, with a view to preventing evil spirits from |
| notating the number of bathrooms in a dwelling. One | | | | entering the domestic quarters of a commune. |
| method is to count a half bathroom as ".5" and then | | | | Not all ancient baths were in the style of the large |
| add this to the number of full bathrooms (e.g., "2.5" | | | | pools that often come to mind when one imagines |
| baths would mean 2 full baths and 1 half bath). The | | | | the Roman baths; the earliest surviving bathtub dates |
| other, newer method is to put the number of full | | | | back to 1700 B.C, and hails from the Palace of |
| bathrooms to the left side of the decimal point and | | | | Knossos in Crete.[2] What is remarkable about this |
| to put the number of half bathrooms to the right of | | | | tub is not only the similarity with the baths of today, |
| the decimal point (e.g., "2.1" would mean 2 full baths | | | | but also the way in which the plumbing works |
| and 1 half bath; "3.2" would mean 3 full baths and 2 | | | | surrounding it differ so little from modern models. A |
| half baths). | | | | more advanced prehistoric (15th century BC and |
| Types of bathrooms | | | | before) system of baths and plumbing is to be found |
| A bathroom directly connected to a bedroom is | | | | in the excavated town of Akrotiri, on the Aegean |
| often called an en-suite bathroom. Its use is primarily | | | | island of Thera. There, alabaster tubs and other bath |
| intended for the occupants of that bedroom only. In | | | | fittings were found, along with a sophisticated twin |
| French the term "en-suite" literally means "a | | | | plumbing system to transport hot and cold water |
| following", in this case referring to the bathroom | | | | separately. This was probably because of easy |
| being part of the bedroom to which it is attached. A | | | | access to geothermic hot springs on this volcanic |
| bathroom adjacent to or directly connected to a | | | | island. Both the Greeks and the Romans recognised |
| master bedroom in a private home is generally called | | | | the value of bathing as an important part of their |
| a master bathroom, unless it is shared by other | | | | lifestyles. Writers such as Homer had their heroes |
| bedrooms or is the only bathroom in the home. An | | | | bathe in warm water so as to regain their strength; it |
| en-suite bathroom attached to two bedrooms is | | | | is perhaps notable that the mother of Achilles bathed |
| sometimes referred to as a "Jack and Jill bathroom". | | | | him in order to gain his invincibility. Palaces have been |
| Travelers often get confused regarding different | | | | uncovered throughout Greece with areas that are |
| types of bathrooms when booking rooms in hotels | | | | dedicated to bathing, spaces with ceramic bathtubs, |
| and bed and breakfast accommodation. Some | | | | as well as sophisticated drainage systems. |
| common questions relate to en-suite, "private" and | | | | The Roman attitudes towards bathing are well |
| "shared" bathrooms (sometimes called "facilities"). | | | | documented; they built large purpose-built thermal |
| Both en-suite and private bathrooms are for the | | | | baths, marking not only an important social |
| exclusive use of the occupants of a particular | | | | development, but also providing a public source of |
| bedroom. An en-suite bathroom is accessed from | | | | relaxation and rejuvenation. Here was a place where |
| within the bedroom, however, whereas a private | | | | people could meet to discuss the matters of the day |
| bathroom is accessed from outside the bedroom but | | | | and enjoy entertainment. During this period there was |
| is normally adjacent or near to the bedroom. A | | | | a distinction between private and public baths, with |
| shared bathroom is a bathroom outside of any | | | | many wealthy families having their own thermal baths |
| bedroom that is shared between guests staying in | | | | in their houses. Despite this they still made use of the |
| two or more separate bedrooms. Although the word | | | | public baths, showing the value that they had as a |
| bathroom may be used, this room may have a | | | | public institution. The strength of the Roman Empire |
| shower stall instead of a bathtub. The bathroom | | | | was telling in this respect; imports from throughout |
| would also normally include a toilet as well as washing | | | | the world allowed the Roman citizens to enjoy |
| facilities. | | | | ointments, incense, combs, and mirrors. |
| Design considerations | | | | Although some sources suggest that bathing declined |
| The design of a bathroom must account for the use | | | | following the collapse of the Roman Empire, this is |
| of both hot and cold water, in significant quantities, | | | | not completely accurate. It was actually the Middle |
| for cleaning the human body. The water is also used | | | | Ages that saw the beginning of soap production, |
| for moving solid and liquid human waste to a sewer | | | | proof that bathing was definitely not uncommon. It |
| or septic tank. Water may be splashed on the walls | | | | was only after the Renaissance that bathing declined; |
| and floor, and hot humid air may cause condensation | | | | water was feared as a carrier of disease, and thus |
| on cold surfaces. From a decorating point of view the | | | | sweat baths and heavy perfumes were preferred. |
| bathroom presents a challenge. Ceiling, wall and floor | | | | In fact throughout the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, |
| materials and coverings should be impervious to | | | | the use of public baths declined gradually in the west, |
| water and readily and easily cleaned. The use of | | | | and private spaces were favoured, thus laying the |
| ceramic or glass, as well as smooth plastic materials, | | | | foundations for the bathroom, as it was to become, |
| is common in bathrooms for their ease of cleaning. | | | | in the 20th century. However in Japan shared bathing |
| Such surfaces are often cold to the touch, however, | | | | in sento and onsen (spas) still exists; the latter being |
| and so water-resistant bath mats or even bathroom | | | | very popular. |
| carpets may be used on the floor to make the room | | | | |