Why You Should Add a Bidet to Your Bathroom Remodel List

Bidets. You’ve heard of them. You’ve seen them. You may have used one in the past. But what do you really know about them? Likely not a whole lot. One thing to know about bidets is that they are often installed by people that want a high tech solution to improve the look of their bathroom, as well as lessen their carbon footprint. Bidets are also an economical choice due to cutting down on toilet paper use and not adding a lot to your water bill.

So how much water does a bidet use? A bidet uses an eighth of a gallon of water per wash. So it will raise your water bill a bit, but not much (compare that with a single toilet flush, which uses 4 gallons). You may also want to factor in the labor and grief you’ll save from fewer clogged pipes. And while that’s not wrapped into your water bill, it does put a bidet’s water use into perspective.

MaryElizabeth Saga, who had a bidet installed in a new house she had built in Columbia, S.C., says she was attracted by the idea of using the bidet to save consumption of water in the shower or bath. "I think the French don't think it's necessary to scrub one's whole body as often and obsessively as Americans do," she says. "Bidets are easy to use, they're very handy and whether you're conserving toilet paper or water, it just made sense to me."

And it has been making sense to more people everyday, especially considering that you don’t need to swap out your current toilet for a new unit. Many bidet models marketed in the U.S. are designed for installation on an ordinary toilet to create a combination, one-fixture-does-all unit. "The good thing about combination units is you don't need more room for a separate fixture," says Sabrina Foulke, architectural designer at Point One Architects + Planners in Old Lyme, Conn. That's an important consideration for people remodeling a bath with limited space, Foulke says.

Even so, some would rather not deal with the logistics and mess of removing their old toilet and installing a new one. In that case, consider whether or not it's time to call in a professional to take care of you.

Toilets are no longer "one size fits all." Today there are so many options for design, water efficiency, self-cleaning features, and functionality. You can even add a bidet seat to enjoy European luxury without making room for an additional fixture. Adding a bidet to your bathroom makes sense, is easier than ever, and adds to the overall decor.