Buyer's Guide

Smart Toilets are where the traditional bathroom meets high-end technology. Otherwise known as Japanese toilets – where this type of toilet has been pioneered and commonly used for many years – they still remain a mystery to many. Here’s everything you need to know. What is a smart toilet? A smart toilet is a toilet with built-in smart technology that enables it to automate cleaning, drying, flushing, and many other features that can be customisable to individual preferences. Key features of a smart toilet A cleansing function for maximum hygiene One of the key features of the smart toilet is the water jet. With an adaptable nozzle position, water pressure and temperature, the built-in water jet is designed to give a sensation of total cleaning and freshness – all enabled by a radar sensor that detects users.  The nozzle position and water pressure available in our range of smart toilets both have five interchangeable levels, a water temperature range from 0-39°C, and a separate oscillating mode for the water jet. A bidet function for gentle cleaning The smart toilet’s water jet can also come with a delicate setting developed specifically for female users. In our range of smart toilets, this function is also fully customisable and has a built-in oscillating mode. Warm air drying Alongside cleaning functions, smart toilets have an embedded dryer. Our collection of smart toilets at 34 St John include a gentle air jet with adjustable temperature and the choice of two set intensities. For both cleaning and drying, our smart toilets also include a kids function that’s specifically designed for the younger members of your family. Save and recall your custom settings Many of the smart toilet’s features are customisable to your individual preferences. To save you from setting those preferences during every use, the toilet is able to save and recall your custom settings. Save electricity with energy saving options Smart toilets consume electricity so they can provide such a wide range of unique functions, but they also come with energy saving options to limit your consumption. Our range of models at 34 St John come with both an eco mode and a super eco mode that can be activated with the touch of a button.  Automated water renewal and tank draining To maximise hygiene and freshness, smart toilets often have built-in functions that automatically renew the water in the bowl and tank.  In our models, the toilet water is renewed every five days of non-use, and the tank can be emptied and refilled in two minutes with a single push of a button. Remove limescale Some smart toilets have a deep cleaning programme using descaling liquid for limestone removal. This function can be customised based on the hardness of your water.  Our range does contain this feature, which comes in handy considering you’ll want to be using your smart toilet for a long time. Embedded night lights for use in the dark Smart toilets often feature built-in LEDs that light up the bowl to help you use it with ease during the night. This is really quite a luxurious feature.  Our smart toilet range includes a night light function enabled by dimmering RGB LEDs with five colours to choose from and five levels of brightness.

The toilet is a true bathroom essential. It has a very important purpose to fulfil, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t also play a key role in creating and enforcing your bathroom’s style. Knowing if you need a toilet in your bathroom is an easy decision to make (the answer is almost always yes), but working out which type is best for you and your space is a bit tougher.  Here to help you find the perfect toilet is our handy buyer’s guide. Three important questions to answer when choosing a toilet What type of toilet best fits your bathroom space and layout? The first question to ask yourself is what type of toilet is best suited for your bathroom space and layout, and where you will put it. Get your tape out and measure the length, width and height of your shortlisted spaces. Think about how much space you’ll need to use, clean and maintain your new toilet with as much comfort and efficiency as you can allow. As well as thinking practically, consider what aesthetic you’re going for in your bathroom and how a toilet can complement that style best. What features do you want in a toilet? While this question is certainly relevant to smart toilets, it’s not all about futuristic features.  Think about the common, not-so Sci-Fi factors that are important to you, like flush system, seat height, projection (how far the toilet comes into the room) and water efficiency.  Are there any plumbing requirements in your home? You should know the type of plumbing connection needed to install the toilet, and the connection to the toilet’s soil pipe (what the waste will exit through) and the soil stack, by reading which applies to your choice below.  The different types of toilet Back to Wall to Wall-Hung Toilets, Close-Coupled to Smart, toilets come in a variety of distinctive styles that each come with different benefits. Here’s everything you need to know. Back to Wall Toilets Back to Wall Toilets are exactly as they sound. The toilet bowl is mounted directly against the wall, with the cistern and pipework neatly hidden within the wall or a furniture unit to create a tidy finish.  The back to wall toilet’s space-saving design makes it a widely popular choice for smaller spaces, and because of its sleek, contemporary style, a great addition to any modern bathroom, too. Because the toilet’s cistern and pipework are hidden, the bathroom area around back to wall toilets is typically easier to clean, as there are fewer nooks and crannies for dirt and grime to reach. If maintenance is required, the concealed cistern can be easily accessed through the toilet’s flush plate. And if you choose to go with a furniture unit, you’ll also gain additional countertop space that can be used for plants, candles or other decorative accessories.  Wall-Hung Toilets With the cistern and plumbing concealed, Wall-Hung Toilets are like back to wall toilets but with one big difference: the toilet bowl is suspended above the floor and mounted to the wall. The big benefit of this design is that it creates the illusion of extra floor space, making your bathroom feel larger and more open. This also make them very easy to clean, as the entire floor underneath is accessible. Like with back to wall toilets, the concealed cistern can be accessed through the toilet’s flush plate if any maintenance is required. All in all, wall-hung toilets offer a sleek, minimalist aesthetic and a practicality that’s perfect for modern bathroom styles.  Close-Coupled Toilets Close-Coupled Toilets offer a more traditional design, with the cistern directly attached to the toilet pan to create a single, compact unit. Widely-used thanks to their simple installation, easy maintenance and versatility, close-coupled toilets are a popular choice in both modern and traditional bathrooms. And they’re also known to save space thanks to their compact design.  Smart Toilets An increasingly popular choice for modern homes and bathrooms, Smart Toilets apply built-in smart technology to offer a variety of innovative benefits in eco-friendliness, hygiene and accessibility. Often known as Japanese toilets, smart toilets are designed to maximise toilet hygiene while retaining the minimalist look and style of a modern toilet. They can autonomously activate cleansing and drying functions, and even customise these functions to different users. And thanks to features like contactless seat opening and closing, and automatic flushing and self cleaning, they can limit the spread of germs and help you better avoid longer term maintenance issues. One criticism of smart toilets is that they require electricity to work, which raises environmental concerns. But on the flip side, smart toilets save water by only flushing with the volume of water that’s needed per use, thanks to built-in sensors. And they also reduce toilet paper consumption. Accessorising your toilet You’ve landed on the perfect toilet for your bathroom, now you can think about the accessories that can elevate your toilet and play very important functional roles themselves! Toilet Roll Holders are here to create a tidy and organised bathroom, and give comfortable and convenient access to toilet paper. Choose between wall-mounted and freestanding options, and a range of colours – all of our bathroom accessories are available in polished chrome, brushed brass, stainless steel and matt black Toilet Brushes are essential for keeping your toilet clean and hygienic – and they can also be an effective style point! Our wall-mounted range come in four classic finishes and are perfect for the modern bathroom Providing comfort and hygiene, Toilet Seats are a bathroom non-negotiable, with many offering extra functionalities like soft-close hinges and anti-bacterial treatments. Our full range comes with both! A mini-guide to toilet flushing systems Flushing systems are a particular area of toilet innovation, with new technologies in the pipeline to create more powerful, hygienic and, of course, sustainable systems. There are various types of toilet flushing system, and dual flush systems are now one of the most widely used in modern bathrooms. They come with two flushing options: a reduced flush that uses up to 50% less water, or a full flush. The main benefit with dual flush systems is their water efficiency, making them a great option if you want a toilet that’s more environmentally friendly and cost efficient.