The Difference In Bathroom Furniture Across Regions

Bathroom furniture can differ significantly depending on the cultural context, as well as personal preference. Literally, the term bathroom means either a room with a bath, or a room where one bathes, as showers have replaced baths in some bathroom.

A particularly strong regional difference in bathroom furniture is the presence or absence of a lavatory. In countries within the British Commonwealth the term bathroom generally refers to the room that contains either a bath or a shower. In many cases this room does not house a lavatory; instead this is housed in a toilet room, a small room next door that houses the lavatory and perhaps a small washbasin. In the United States, bathroom furniture almost always includes a lavatory.

One important piece of bathroom furniture is the shower or bath. This is the fixture that is used for cleaning oneself. In modern times, the range of options is large. One almost universal feature is a shower. There are many different types of showers, the primary feature of which is an area where one washes under a spray of water. In some cases steam showers have replaced traditional showers, these use water vapour to clean, and must be completely self-contained to prevent damage to the rest of the bathroom. A traditional shower may be present in a walk in shower stall or area; many times they are present above baths, resulting in the shower and bath being a combined piece of bathroom furniture. Occasionally shower nozzles are present above drains in the floor, either to save on cost or for elderly or disabled who have difficulty entering and exiting traditional showers.

Other bathroom furniture generally includes a wash basin; many times there are drawers or cupboards below this for storage. Generally a bathroom will have a mirror, particularly useful for men shaving or for women applying makeup. A bathroom cabinet (also called a medicine cabinet) is a cabinet that is often placed above the wash basin that is used to store personal amenities and is often fronted with a mirror.

There are many decisions when it comes to style and practicality of bathroom furniture. In lower income households, bathroom furniture is generally chosen for practical purposes, so the items are functional. In higher income households, furniture choices are often focused on the aesthetic value, as well as on additional functions. For example, many high income bathrooms will have spa baths, or steam showers.

Bathroom furniturediffers from the standard when considering half-bathrooms or ensuite bathrooms. These are bathrooms that are separate from the main bathroom in the house, and often contain a reduced amount of furniture. Some ensuite bathrooms may simply contain a toilet and washbasin, while others may be more elaborate versions of the main bathroom, with more bathroom furniture, such as two lavatories