Privacy, luxury, and comfort are often associated with the modern bathroom. A quick look at the history of this important room shows that this was not always the case. We often take this room and its inherent comforts for granted, but have you ever stopped to consider how the bathroom evolved?
A Brief History of the Bathroom
When you imagine the history of the bathroom, you might picture an outhouse, but the history of the bathroom began far before that. Here are some interesting highlights from bathroom history:
- 3,000 B.C.: In ancient societies, bathing often played an important role in religious and political ceremonies.
- 1500 B.C.: Ancient civilizations used a combination of portable and public toilet systems. Public squat toilets were often used, offering far less privacy than today.
- Ancient Rome: Bathing was an important tradition in Ancient Roman. This was a public ritual that was done for both hygienic and social reasons. Bath houses typically featured a reception area, a hot room, a warm room, and a cold room.
- 2600 B.C.: Toilets, much like Western-style toilets, were made in Mohenjo-Daro from bricks and a wooden seat.
- 13th Century:Steam baths and bathing were popular in England. Dining, grooming, and other social activities often took place at these communal “stews.”
- 16th Century: When the plague came to England 7 times in 200 years, many of the public bathhouses were closed because it was thought they contributed to the sickness. In 1596, Sir John Harrington invented Britain’s first flushing toilet which was installed in Queen Elizabeth’s castle.
- 18th Century: During this time, many of the rituals performed in the bathroom, such as cleaning and dressing, took place in the bedroom, often while socializing with friends.
- 1750-1900s: Many newer homes are built with a dedicated toilet and plumbed water, and the concept of the modern bathroom space was born.
- Late 19th & Early 20th Centuries: Advances in technology and medicine made bathing with soap and hot water common practice. Middle class families enjoyed bathing in the home with water heaters, whereas poorer families sometimes shared bathing facilities with others in their building.
- 20th Century: More and more luxuries began to appear in bathrooms after World War I and II.
Modern Bathrooms
We have come a long way since the bathrooms of ancient societies. Bathrooms in contemporary America are no longer merely utilitarian. The bathroom space has become an area in which to relax and escape from the stresses of the day. This has impacted its design greatly as more and more homeowners are replacing dull, standard fixtures and materials with sleek designs and efficient equipment that better represents their personal sense of style.
This focus on creating a private and comfortable bathroom space is also reflected in the number of bathrooms that new homebuyers want. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 36% of new single-family homes built in 2013 had three or more bathrooms. This number has steadily increased from 10% in 1987. As bathrooms continue to evolve, more and more families are beginning to recognize the joys and convenience of having private bathroom space.
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