Every year manufacturers present “the future” at trade fairs. Showers programmable from your phone. Mirrors that show your schedule. Toilets that analyse your urine. Some of this is already on the market. Much of it is trade fair marketing that never reaches real bathrooms.

After visiting Cevisama 2026 and speaking with distributors from Roca, Grohe and Geberit, here’s our honest analysis: what makes sense to install now, what’s worth waiting for, and what’s pure hype.

What already exists and works

Thermostatic taps with digital control

Status: available, mature, recommended for mid-to-high-range renovations.

The basic concept is simple: the tap remembers your preferred temperature, reaches it in seconds and holds it even if someone opens another tap elsewhere in the home. Voice control exists (Alexa, Google Assistant compatible) but in practice nobody uses it in the bathroom — the real value is in the thermostat and water saving during the heating wait.

Real prices in Spain:

  • Grohe Grohtherm SmartControl: €550–700 in materials
  • Hansgrohe ShowerSelect Thermostatic: €400–600
  • Hansa Everta thermostatic basic: €250–350
  • Additional installation (plumber + electrician for digital connection): €150–250

Worth it? Yes, if your renovation has a mid-to-high budget and you plan to live in the property for at least 10 years. The water saving is real. For a €3,000 budget renovation, the thermostatic tap upsets the budget balance.

Japanese toilets with bidet seat

Status: available, fast-growing in Spain since 2022, now mainstream in the premium segment.

The Japanese toilet integrates a seat with warm water for personal hygiene, heated seat, air drying and, in the more complete models, deodoriser and automatic lid opening.

Real prices in Spain (2026):

  • Entry models (shower seat, no drying): €200–400
  • Mid-range (all integrated, heated seat, drying): €500–900
  • High-end Toto Washlet G400/G500: €1,200–2,500
  • Complete smart toilet (integrated cistern + washlet): €800–3,000 depending on model

Installation: requires a water supply and a power socket near the toilet. If the bathroom doesn’t have a socket in that area, an electrician needs to add one (€100–200 extra). In new renovations, it’s the right moment to plan for it.

Worth it? If renovating with budget available, yes. Especially in households with elderly members or reduced mobility. An entry model at €250–350 gives enough result to try it.

Underfloor heating: not new but increasingly accessible

Status: mature technology, proven installation, falling prices.

Electric underfloor heating (not water-based) is the option for bathrooms where there’s no nearby water heating circuit. An electric mat under the tiled floor, controlled by a thermostat.

Approximate prices:

  • Electric mat for a 4–5 m² bathroom: €120–250 in materials
  • Programmable thermostat: €50–120
  • Installation (electrician): €150–250
  • Total installed: €320–620

Worth it? In Valencia, where a cold bathroom floor only bothers you 3–4 months a year, amortisation is slow. In a complete renovation where the floor is being ripped up anyway, adding the mat has marginal cost and the comfort is real.

What exists but doesn’t yet make sense in Spain

Showers with integrated chromotherapy

Colour-programmable lighting in shower trays or heads exists in the catalogues of Roca, Hansgrohe and others.

The problem: LED maintenance in wet zones remains complex. Sealing failures in the joints of integrated lighting systems are the most commonly reported issue in 3–5 year old installations. The practical utility for daily use is debatable.

Our position: if you want coloured light in the bathroom, IP67 LED strips placed outside the tray or on the ceiling are more reliable, cheaper and easier to replace. Integrated chromotherapy is, today, more marketing than practicality.

Smart mirrors with integrated screens

These mirrors have been in catalogues for years. The reality: LCD glass has condensation problems over time, the interface gets outdated quickly (who updates a mirror’s firmware?) and the price is €500–2,000 for something your phone already does. We don’t recommend them in current renovations.

Electrochromic windows (adjustable privacy)

Electrochromic glass switches from transparent to opaque with a switch. It exists, it works, and for ground-floor bathrooms or those with direct neighbour views it would be the ideal solution.

The problem: price. A standard bathroom window with electrochromic glass costs €1,500–3,500 vs €300–600 for a conventional window. The difference only makes sense in high-budget renovations in very specific locations.

What’s definitely hype (for now)

Health-analysing toilets

Several manufacturers have presented prototypes of toilets that analyse waste and send health data. As of 2026: no model in normalised sale in Spain. At least 5–10 years from a consumer market.

Complete voice control of the bathroom

Smart taps with Alexa exist. The reality: voice control works poorly with water noise, bathroom conversation privacy is an issue for many users, and practical utility is limited. What does make sense: app control to set preferred temperature, programme underfloor heating or switch on lights before entering.

What we install in our 2026 renovations

Budget renovations (up to €4,500): reliable plumbing, mid-range thermostatic tap (Grohe or Hansgrohe), timed extractor, quality LED lighting. No extra technology.

Mid-range renovations (€4,500–8,000): all above plus electric underfloor heating if requested, digital thermostatic tap, option to prepare for bidet seat (water + socket).

High-end renovations (over €8,000): Japanese toilet, digital thermostatic tap, underfloor heating, smart dimmable lighting, electrochromic glass provision if the location justifies it.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Japanese toilet work with the Spanish electrical system? Yes, no problem. European market models are adapted to 230V/50Hz. You need a socket near the toilet (with earth, dedicated circuit) and an additional water stopcock.

Can underfloor heating be added without renovating the floor? No. The electric mat goes under the tiling. You need to lift the existing floor.

Is smart taps worth it for a rental property? No. Maintenance, software update needs and tenant damage risk don’t justify it. Conventional thermostatic tap (without digital) is the best quality-durability-price ratio for rentals.

Check our 2026 bathroom trends for what’s happening now in design, and Cevisama 2026 for material and finish trends. To assess which technology makes sense for your specific renovation, consult us via the calculator.