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Wealthy property owners are increasingly installing an appliance that’s commonly associated with public toilets – an at-home hand dryer.
The interiors trend, say experts, is taking off in houses that often have several big bathrooms and en-suites, with homeowners attracted to the idea of less laundry and reduced germs.
However, designers also suggest that the cost of buying and installing such an appliance – around £1,000 all-in – compared with the cost of a humble hand towel means it’s likely to be only those with deep pockets who are buying into the newest bathroom trends.
While traditional-style, wall-mounted hand dryers can be fitted at home – and are becoming increasingly easy on the eye, those who want the sleekest aesthetic are opting to simply add an additional tap to sink areas, which can dry hands in just 15 seconds.
Market leaders in commercial hand dryers, including Dyson and The Splash Lab, sell dryers so stylish that they wouldn’t look out of place in a family bathroom.
Air apparent: Could a home hand dryer become a must-have for those wanting a cutting edge bathroom – and less washing?
The rose gold Diamond hand dryer is prettier than your average public toilet appliance
Stockport-founded company The Splash Lab sells a sink-mounted sensor-activated hand dryer, for example, from around £390, with finishes ranging from black to copper and chrome.
As technology has developed such dryers no longer make the heavy whooshing sound that comes with those in public conveniences – but still deliver an air speed of over 100m per second.
Often with built-in sensors, they’re also touch-free for increased hygiene and can reduce loads of washing in big households significantly.
And, if you’re lucky enough to have cloakrooms and en-suites, they’re also space saving, reducing the need for a hand towel and bar or hook.
Dyson says they’ve seen a ‘growing interest’ in their Airblade Wash+Dry tap being installed in domestic properties.
The integrated tap, which retails from around £1,000, comes in brushed satin and claims to capture 99.95 per cent of bacteria, making bathroom air quality cleaner.
Troy Jackson, Global Senior B2B Director at Dyson, told the Daily Mail: ‘At Dyson, we’ve been seeing a growing interest from homeowners looking to create more hygienic, low-maintenance wash spaces, particularly in third or fourth bathrooms such as those located near outdoor spaces or in pool houses.
Hand dryer taps, including these from The Splash Lab, retail at less than £500 and sit next to convetional taps on a sink unit
‘Integrated technologies like the Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry tap can be a more hygienic option, helping to reduce laundry requirements while also eliminating the need for paper towels.
‘For many households, it offers a more sustainable alternative, combining efficient hand drying with improved washroom hygiene in a single solution.’
More playful takes on hand dryers that are more akin to the kind of softer colour schemes that you might have in your decor at home are appearing on the market too.
The compact, rose-gold Diamond hand dryer retails from around £240 online and is much prettier than your average public toilet appliance.
The Splash Lab TSL.R031.BR has a sensor for touch free high-speed drying at home and costs around £390
Gareth Davies, Design Director at Classic Interiors, tells the Daily Mail hand dryers at home could soon become par for the course – but offers a word of caution too.
He explains: ‘I can see why these are starting to become more popular in residential bathrooms. The commercial versions most people know can look quite utilitarian and heavy-duty, but some of the newer sink-mounted designs are much more refined and can sit quite comfortably in a high-end bathroom.’
There’s a practical side too, he suggests: ‘From a design point of view, I like the fact that you can wash and dry your hands in the same place. You are not dripping water across the floor towards a towel or separate dryer, and you can potentially remove one more item from the room if you’re after that clean, minimalist look.’
The drawbacks? It’s an expense that anyone taking on a bathroom renovation might not want to soak up – when the humble hand towel costs less than a tenner.
‘The cost does need to be considered. The Splash Lab hand dryer unit alone is currently listed from £390 excluding VAT, before you factor in the rest of the custom basin setup and installation, so this is a significant jump from simply specifying a conventional basin tap and hand towel rack.
Davies adds: ‘There is something quite American about bringing a piece of commercial washroom technology into the home and turning it into a luxury feature. British bathrooms are generally smaller and we tend to be a little more restrained with bathroom gadgets, so I suspect it will remain much more convincing in large, new-build bathrooms than in the average property.’
‘I don’t think it is inherently a tacky trend, but it could very easily become gimmicky if people start installing them simply because they are new and trending on social media.
‘My feeling is that we will see more of them, particularly at the luxury end of the market, as the technology becomes smaller, quieter and better integrated. I don’t expect the hand towel to disappear from everyday British bathrooms any time soon.’
