Toilet decoration is Instagram's new obsession, but experts are flushing it down

India Today

24-04-2025

Picture this: a cosy haven with stunning wall art, luxe tables stacked with your favourite snacks, scented candles glowing softly, and fragrance diffusers filling the air with calm. Add in plush rugs underfoot, a soothing foot massager, twinkling fairylights, metallic decorative pieces catching the light, and a journal with elegant pens just waiting for your next brilliant thought.Sounds like the bedroom of your dreams, doesn't it? Well, surprise... we are actually describing a toilet (at least the ones we have been seeing on Instagram lately).A few influencers are indulging in toiletscaping – a decor trend where no stone is left unturned to transform the toilet into a mini museum, complete with decorative pieces and cosy touches like plush rugs and furry seat covers. (Of course, toilet brushes with fancy holders, bath bombs and toilet gel stamps are also involved.)The idea? To sit back and chill – maybe snack on your favourite treat, watch some Netflix, or sip herbal tea – all from the comfort of your toilet seat. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Julie Choi (@letsby.avenue) View this post on Instagram A post shared by @sarahvelushamazonEating in a washroom? Gross! Right? People IRL are obviously going to abstain, but doctors also warn of over-decorating your washrooms. The reason? Germs, of course!Decorative items, especially soft furnishings like fluffy toilet seat covers, can become breeding grounds for bacteria and mould. Bathrooms are naturally humid environments, and these materials trap moisture, making it difficult to keep them clean and sanitary.Additionally, when you flush, toilets launch a 'plume' of microscopic bioaerosols capable of carrying bacteria and viruses several feet into the air. These aerosols can settle on nearby decorative items – vases, candles, art prints – turning them into silent reservoirs for pathogens.Once aerosolised droplets land, they create fomites (an object or material likely to carry infection). Porous or textured decorations (like fabric wall hangings, wooden shelves, unglazed ceramics) are especially hard to disinfect thoroughly, increasing the risk of contact transmission when you touch them.'Every surface and article including toothbrushes in the bathroom and toilet gets contaminated by faecal bacteria every time the water closet is flushed after use. Thus every surface and article in the bathroom acts as a fomite,' says Dr Siri M Kamath, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Gleneagles BGS Hospital, Bengaluru.Those inclining towards excessively decorating their bathrooms may think of keeping it 'squeaky clean'. But is that achievable? Dr Kamath has an answer: 'Household disinfectants generally consist of alcohol, bleach, quaternary ammonium compounds in varying concentrations. All of these at the most achieve low to intermediate levels of disinfection. Achieving a squeaky clean bathroom requires commitment to meticulous, frequent and thorough cleaning. That is a big ask in today's busy life.'Dr AP Singh, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Yashoda Super Speciality Hospitals, New Delhi, also suggests keeping bathroom dcor extremely minimal owing to infection risk.'Only keep things that can be cleaned easily. In terms of eating and drinking in the bathroom, it should strictly be avoided,' he says.Health experts also recommend closing the lid before flushing to prevent toilet plumes from contaminating the surrounding area and objects around.When you flush a toilet, a cloud of microscopic particles is dispersed into the air. This cloud, known as a toilet plume, can contain bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants from the toilet bowl. It forms as the water creates a powerful vortex during flushing, propelling tiny droplets that may contain faecal matter upwards and outwards.It is also one of the reasons why one should avoid taking their phones to the loo.'Eating in the bathroom – where our hands and bodies touch surfaces teeming with bacteria, fungi, and viruses – directly exposes us to a wide range of gastrointestinal infections at the very least,' adds Dr Kamath.Next time you see a glass in your bathroom at a luxury hotel, you may want to avoid using that!Many viral toiletscaping videos also show usage of plush toilet seat covers too – again, controversial! Though commonly used in several Western countries, especially because of colder temperatures, these comfort-promoting quilted or fleece covers do not come without a set of hygiene issues.Spending too much time on the toilet seat is also not great for your health. It can give you health issues like painful haemorrhoids.Prolonged sitting on the toilet can lead to excessive pressure on the rectal veins, contributing to haemorrhoids. The body's natural position for bowel movements is to be quick and efficient, but distractions from mobile devices often delay the process.Decorating a toilet to enhance its aesthetic appeal is a great idea, but a minimalist approach often works best. Consider incorporating easy-to-clean elements like vases, glazed ceramics, and indoor plants. You can add character through distinctive designs, marble finishes, wallpaper, or stylish mirrors. However, avoid cluttering the space with unnecessary items that make it feel more like a living room than a bathroom.
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