Good design is practical, functional, puts the user first, and is intuitive in how it works. So it’s only natural that we have high interior design expectations for the most important room in public areas and businesses. Let’s not beat around the bush, we’re talking about the restroom!
Call it what you will—the bathroom, the John, the powder room, the Iron Throne, or even the Chamber of Secrets—you really can’t downplay just how vital this space is, whether you’re at a restaurant, cafe, hotel, shopping center, or elsewhere. Everybody pees. Everybody poops. Everybody knows how awkward (and sometimes even icky) using public restrooms can be. So privacy and hygiene are areas of huge importance.
Fortunately, the world’s full of genius designers who love making life better, simpler, and more enjoyable for us all. Below, you’ll find some of the very best design solutions to the problems that restrooms have, all collected by Bored Panda. Remember to upvote the design decisions that you think are just spot-on and should be the standard everywhere.
Bored Panda reached out to the American Restroom Association to learn more about the need for good design solutions to public bathrooms, how there’s a split between the interests of the government and that of businesses, and how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected restroom designs. Tim Pyle, the Executive Director at the ARA, said that the core reason why hygiene, privacy, and other issues aren’t addressed are financial. You’ll find the full interview below.
#1 The Bathroom At My Doctor’s Office Has A Discreet Way For Victims Of Abuse, Violence, Or Human Trafficking To Get Help
Image source: theryanfight
#2 This Brewery Has A Sign In The Bathroom That Offers A Backup Plan In Case Your Date Isn’t Going So Well
Image source: daffydubs
#3 This Disabled Bathroom Has A Sign To Say It’s Ok For Anyone Of Any Disability To Use It
Image source: p5-f20w18k
#4 Whoever Invented This For When I’m Taking A Crap In A Public Restroom To Hold My Child In Place Is A Genius
Image source: ThatStinksWeAllLikePicklesAndBananas
#5 My Office Flipped All The Women’s Restroom Vending Machines To Be Free
Image source: ScoopOKarma
#6 These Kids Toilets In A London Museum Whose Sinks Slope To Cater For Progressively Shorter Children
Image source: cuttyranking
#7 My School’s Bathrooms Have Pedals Instead Of Handles
Image source: allygator314
#8 This Zoo Has A Complimentary Sunscreen Dispenser In The Bathroom
Image source: hotdee7
#9 Every Restroom Needs One
Image source: TimeVendor
#10 This Toilet Lock That Doubles As A Tray So You Can’t Leave Without Taking Your Stuff
Image source: notanaijin
#11 All Of The Toilet Lights In My Town Have Been Changed To Fluorescent Blue, In An Attempt To Prevent Heroin Users From Being Able To Find A Vein To Use
Image source: sorryimanorwichfan
#12 Public Toilet At Shopping Centre Has A Extra-Small Toilet Seat For Little Humans
Image source: im-Scary-Terry-bitch
#13 The Toilet At My Work Has A Wall Of Strong Scented Wood To Replace An Air Refresher. It Works Surprisingly Well
Image source: Marivahlio
#14 This Airport Bathroom Has Lights To Show You Which Stalls Are Free
Image source: bellz2
#15 Japanese Toilets Often Have A Button That Plays White Noise/Water Sounds So You Can Poop Without Other People Hearing Your Business
Image source: mikieliza
#16 I Have A Gender Neutral Bathroom At My High School
Image source: McquacK__
#17 Pet Bathroom At The Burbank Airport
Image source: disneyway
#18 Emergency Alarm Chords Running Along The Floor Of The Disabled Toilet In Berlin Airport In Case Someone Falls Over And Requires Assistance
Image source: EGPL21
#19 Auto Glass Repair Shop Men’s Bathroom Has A Full Blown Standalone Changing Table
Image source: ihatedisney
#20 Diaper Dispenser For Men With Babies In A Walmart’s Men’s Restroom
Image source: gospizzy
#21 The Female On This Restroom Sign Isn’t Wearing A Dress
Image source: bucherman7
#22 In Tallinn Airport, One Of The Men’s Bathrooms Has Step By Step Instructions On Tying A Tie
Image source: Suslik1415
#23 This Movie Theater Has Screens In The Bathrooms So You Don’t Miss Any Of The Action
Image source: FPS-
#24 This Bar Has Sinks Located Just Outside Of The Bathrooms So Everyone Can See If You Didn’t Wash Your Hands
Image source: Urgadur
#25 My School Put Free Pad And Tampon Vending Machines In The Girls’ Bathrooms
Image source: KabobsterLobster
#26 The Toilets In These Bathrooms Flushes With Rainwater
Image source: Dark-Child99
#27 This Japanese Toilet Refills Through A Sink In The Top So You Can Rinse Your Hands And Re-Use The Water
Image source: Flupsy
#28 This Mcdonalds Have This Sticker On Their Bathroom Mirrors
Image source: UguetQ
#29 These Bathroom Stall Doors Have An Overlap To Avoid That Awkward Crack
Image source: Won_and_dun
#30 This Sushi Restaurant Has Two Soaps In The Bathroom. One For Before You Eat And One For After
Image source: Allformygain
#31 The Bathroom Door At My College Has A Foot Door Opener
Image source: rodrigo2220
#32 The Bathroom I Was In Had A Switch To Let An Employee Know It Needed Attention
Image source: PMW11
#33 The Bathroom At This Restaurant Has A Foot Pedal For The Tap
Image source: halcyon627
#34 This Bathroom Has A Touchless Door Control
Image source: Doctor_McKay
#35 Sign In Chick-Fil-A Bathroom
Image source: BigJCD1
#36 My School’s Bathroom Has A New “Wash Your Hands” Sign
Image source: ImAPlebe
#37 These Gender Neutral Bathroom Signs
Image source: co1063
#38 This Café Has Lights Above The Toilet Signs So You Can See If They Are Occupied Without Getting Up
Image source: Patat0man
#39 This Door In My Hotel Bathroom Can Close Off Either Of 2 Doorways
Image source: Jave85
#40 The Backside Of This Men’s Restroom Door Reminds You To Check Yourself Before Exiting
Image source: bastite
#41 University Gym Girls’ Bathroom Has Not Only Free Condoms, But Free Lube
Image source: DES8111
#42 This Restaurant Has Mother’s Day Cards In The Bathroom In Case You Forgot To Get Your Mom One
Image source: chillaxitout
#43 My Hotel Room Had A Heated Panel Behind The Bathroom Mirror To Stop It From Steaming Up After A Shower
Image source: -smish-
#44 This Restaurant’s Restrooms Change Lights When Occupied
Image source: CliffbytheSea
#45 The Elevator In The Hotel I’m Staying At Has An Emergency Toilet
Image source: BadHaycock
#46 Urinals That Protect Your Shoes From The Splashback
Image source: Ukleon
#47 The San Francisco Airport Has A Bathroom For Your Dogs
Image source: NIKONandCANONuser
#48 The Janitor’s Area In This Bathroom Is Behind A Hidden Wall
Image source: EvTheSmev
#49 This Boat Has A Hidden Bathroom Behind The Glovebox
Image source: SUCCsess-story
#50 This Bathroom Has Three Different Types Of Toilet Paper To Try Out
Image source: drmcnaughty
Follow Us
