Shifting Trends in Hotel Bathroom Designs

Hotel rooms are undergoing some surprising redesigns these days.

Across various hotel chains, standard bathroom doors are being swapped out for sliding panels, frosted glass, curtains, or, in some instances, there’s no barrier between the bathroom and the sleeping area at all.

The motivation behind these changes seems to be linked to rising costs related to construction, maintenance, and energy, as reported.

While the goal is to simplify room layouts and lower long-term costs, guests are voicing concerns about the loss of privacy.

Travelers have taken to social media to express their frustrations over the lack of privacy in hotel bathrooms.

On platforms like Reddit, users are sharing experiences about stays that involve bathrooms without doors, partially enclosed areas, sliding doors that don’t quite close, and frosted glass partitions that leave little to the imagination.

Many commenters are noting that such layouts make shared trips discomforting, particularly when traveling with partners, family, or friends, as they worry about the visibility and audibility of activities happening in the bathroom.

One user summed it up well: “I don’t want to see someone use the bathroom and I want privacy.”

Some travelers realized that the bathroom configurations aren’t always clearly mentioned online, leaving them surprised upon arrival.

This shift in design has prompted some guests to take proactive measures, calling hotels ahead of booking to confirm that rooms actually have doors.

Sadie Rowell, a digital marketer, began monitoring hotel bathroom layouts after encountering rooms without traditional doors. She has created an unofficial list categorizing hotels based on their bathroom designs, distinguishing those with traditional doors from those with partial enclosures or no doors at all.

Although many travelers are unhappy with this trend, such designs might work well if you’re with a significant other or close friends, but that’s not the case for everyone.