A TikTok video highlighting a hotel bathroom with minimal privacy has drawn attention to a growing design trend that many travelers find impractical and uncomfortable.
Posted by TikTok user @georgie_lw on June 22, the video showcases a hotel room where the toilet is exposed with little to no separation from the rest of the space. The shower is also uncovered.
“I can’t be the only one that doesn’t understand why hotels have been designing rooms like this? Where is the privacy to go to the toilet? Why has this been normalized? Can we go back to separate bathrooms please?” the caption reads. An additional note adds: “Surely everyone thinks the same as me?”
The layout, which removes traditional walls and doors separating the toilet and shower areas, has become increasingly common in boutique and design-forward hotels.
Surely everyone thinks the same as me? #bathroometiquette #hotelroom #fyp #privacy #opinions
Experts say the trend is largely driven by a mix of cost-saving, spatial efficiency and aesthetics.
“The main reason for this type of design is that it helps save both space and costs,” Bre Hance, principal designer and owner of the Los Angeles-based design/build firm InHance, told Newsweek. “In hotels especially, where you don’t have much room to begin with, it makes sense to want to use every square inch intentionally. Having frosted glass to separate the sleeping space from the bathroom makes the space feel more open than a solid wall would, and it also allows for more sleeping and living space.”
While the traveler in the TikTok video was bothered by the hotel’s bathroom design, cleanliness was reported to be a key factor for guest satisfaction, often outweighing price and location, according to the 2025 State of the Industry report by the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
At best, Hance said bathroom designs such as the one captured in the TikTok clip “can be a highly clever and versatile design that gives the space a spa-like feel.”
But she acknowledged that privacy concerns are valid: “This kind of arrangement tends to work best for people who are traveling on their own or with a partner for whom limited privacy isn’t as much of a concern. The larger and less close-knit the group, the less appealing this kind of design can be.”
Thomas Borcherding, a professional bathroom designer and owner of Homestar Design Remodel, also told Newsweek that open layouts serve a dual purpose. “From an aesthetic perspective, open layouts allow for clean lines, more natural light, and a spacious, high-end feel,” he said. “Designers can carry consistent finishes and materials across the bedroom and bath areas for a seamless visual experience.”
However, he noted that practical drawbacks are hard to ignore. “When functionality is factored in, I believe that a partitioned bathroom stall is the ideal design choice for hotels,” Borcherding said. “Families, business associates, and/or friends are likely scrambling in the morning to check out of the hotel in time. By having the toilet in the bathroom without divisions, the hotel is making it harder for patrons to check out in time.”
He added that the trend is partly inspired by contemporary European design, which often includes open showers and streamlined layouts. “The result of this is a reduction in privacy, which can create a frustrating experience for habitants,” he said.
Bar Zakheim, a licensed general contractor and co-owner of Better Place Design & Build, emphasized the business advantages for hotels. “There are a few reasons this style is popular, especially in hotels,” Zakheim told Newsweek. “First of all, it’s easy to clean. Open bathrooms without walls, corners, and angles can be cleaned much more quickly, which adds up over the hundreds of rooms in a hotel.”
Zakheim added: “Second, it’s cheap to build. You’re investing less in walls, tile, doors, etc, which again adds up over a whole hotel. Finally, it looks really good as long as you don’t need to use the bathroom with other people present—it looks clean, modern, and minimalist in a way that can definitely be appealing.”
However, Zakheim noted: “Honestly, designs like this make much more sense in private homes.”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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