Steam showers are generally found in self-contained enclosures that don't allow the water vapor into the main part of the bathroom, thus avoiding damage to drywall, paint, or wallpaper. Most steam shower rooms are sold as stand alone shower units with between 12 and 30 jets, while many have additional features such as foot massagers, ceiling rain showers, radios, telephones, and CD players.
Until recently, most bathtubs were roughly rectangular in shape but with the advent of acrylic thermoformed baths, more and more shapes are becoming available. Bathtubs are typically white in color although many other colors can be found.
In plumbing, a sink is a bowl-shaped fixture, usually made of porcelain (or, especially in the kitchen, stainless steel), that is used for washing hands or small objects such as dishes, nylons, socks or underwear. Old sinks were often made of enameled steel or cast iron.
A Belfast sink is a large ceramic sink with a traditional appearance, often set under work surfaces. An automatic sink is a sink fitted in a public restroom that is motion-sensored and detects motion beneath its surface.
Bathrooms can also be a source of decorative inspiration. One can easily decorate the bathroom by choosing shower curtains or cubicles to match a theme.
En-suite (French for in room) refers to a bathroom attached to a bedroom, or shared among several bedrooms. If it is attached to a master bedroom it is known as a master bathroom.
In the UK you can buy bathroom fixtures and accessories from Plumbworld, Cotswold Co and Roper Rhodes.
A low-level access step is essential as is some form of built-in seat as part of a walk-in bathtub The addition of a shower curtain around the tub will make the walk in bathtub into a shower and bars or rails can be added to make the bathtub accessible for those with disabilities and for seniors.
Ground-fault circuit interruptor electrical sockets can reduce the risk of electric shock, and are required for bathroom socket installation by electrical and building codes in the United States and Canada. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, only special sockets suitable for electric shavers are permitted in bathrooms.
Electrical appliances, such as lights, heaters and heated towel rails generally need to be installed as fixtures, with permanent connections rather than plugs and sockets. This minimizes the risk of electric shock.
In addition to acting as a normal shower, a steam shower produces water vapor using a humidifying steam generator. These types of showers provide a pleasant bathing experience that is becoming more and more popular in many countries.
A sauna is a small room often part of a bathroom or adjacent to a bathroom designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions.
A bathroom is a room that may have different functions depending on the cultural context it is used in.
Jacuzzi is a company producing whirlpool bathtubs and spas. Its first product was a bath with massaging jets. The trademarked Jacuzzi name is commonly misused to refer to any bath with water jets, and can thus be considered a genericized trademark. Sometimes spas and hot tubs are also mistakenly referred to as Jacuzzis.