500 years of bathroom design in 6 illustrations

Designers from QS Supplies showedwhat a stylish bathroom looked like during different periods of British history. This project serves as a great reminder that the flush toilet is one of the most important inventions.

1520-1620: The bathroom at home is a dubious luxury

In the 16th century, a private bath was a luxury item available only to the rich (they came into fashion quite forcedly: during the plague pandemic, public bathrooms were closed). Hot water taps and warm floor did not exist yet, so the water was heated in vats, and wooden bathtubs were placed next to the fire so as not to freeze during washing.

The toilet here is a hole hanging over the street in a secluded corner (called the wardrobe) on the right side of the image. People used sink-bowls (lavabo) or jugs with basins for washing hands. Lavabo was often made of brass and hung on a hook above the fireplace.

1620-1720: Smells become a problem

By the 17th century, public bathrooms were out of fashion. Instead, families took turns using the same hot water in their home bath, which will now be lined with steel to keep it warm for longer. It was troublesome, so even those who had a bath did not bathe often. To hide the odors of an unwashed body, they used perfume.

The first toilet with a flush cistern appeared in the 1590s, but such models did not receive much distribution until the 19th century. Prior to that, the bedrooms were equipped with chamber pots - which in wealthy families were combined in style with water jugs and washbasins.

1720-1820: Mirror - Status Item

By this time, chests of drawers are spreading - a seat or a box with a hole. A porcelain or copper pot was placed under the hole to collect waste. However, in 1775, a watchmaker named Alexander Cummings invents the S-shaped tube. This was one of the key advances that led to the proliferation of cisterns and the emergence of bathrooms that are already more modern.

Until the end of the 18th century, mirrors were expensive to make, so few could afford them. The mirror was a status symbol, sometimes even draped with curtains to add glamor and mystery. But with the development of technology, mirrors began to become cheaper and more widespread, and more elegant and decorated models were considered fashionable.

1820-1920: Toilet paper is for the rich

The 19th century saw the industrial revolution, population skyrocketed, and Britain faced a health crisis. In some overcrowded cities, one toilet could be used by up to a hundred people, and waste was poured onto the streets and rivers. The government passed legislation to raise standards, and the development of sewerage and domestic plumbing has increased the number of flush toilets.

The pipeline put an end to the chests of drawers and basins. This is how the modern bathroom with stationary sinks and bathtubs was born. Open pipes became popular interior elements and were glazed or gilded to heighten the effect. But toilet paper was patented in 1880 and sold in expensive and fashionable Harrods department stores - not an affordable pleasure.

1920-2020: Tiles everywhere

Bathrooms became modern and accessible in the 20th century - and with them modernism, interior design and consumer culture flourished. Designers and manufacturers have capitalized on countless bathroom additions: towel, toothbrush and soap holders, dressing tables, shower mats and curtains. By the start of World War II, electric lighting had become available - which means it's worth the investment. decorating the bathroom in peach, mint green or pink, which will now be easy consider.

Tile became the standard in bathroom furnishings in the 1950s. The ceramic tiles were laid so well that many of them still remain. For some time, the scarf was also made of plastic, which was considered the main material of the space age. The tiles were and still are bright, hygienic and waterproof. Even if you want to change the color scheme of the bathroom, you just need to replace the furniture and textiles, and you don't have to touch the tiles.

2021: Airy design

We've come a long way from barrels and brass baths. Today, 3D visualization software allows you to plan and organize even the most inconvenient space. Materials that were not yet available at the turn of the century now allow you to create any form and solution. Fiberglass, acrylic and porcelain finishes create style and practicality. The apron-covered bathtubs that dominated the 20th century have gone out of fashion, now the freestanding, open-sided ones with flowing shapes are popular.

The freestanding bathtub is complemented by a floating sink, which is a modern take on the theme of vintage sink stands. This sink frees up space, making even a small bathroom spacious and stylish. A wall-hung toilet without a cistern complements the picture. Such a bathroom looks good, and it is easier and more convenient to clean it.