The One Luxury Upgrade Pros Would Never Put Into Their Own Bathrooms

When you're remodeling or redesigning your bathroom, you're probably asking yourself a few questions: is a bathroom remodel worth the financial investment? What color should the new tile be? And perhaps most excitingly, what luxury upgrades will your next bathroom have? While you're dreaming of your brand new bathroom, there's one thing the pros recommend you avoid putting in your space: a TV.

While it might sound fun to unwind in the tub while watching your favorite shows, having a TV in your bathroom comes with risks, both to the TV and to you. Mixing electronics with a high-humidity environment and high risk of them coming into contact with water is a dangerous game that could result in electric shock. Plus, putting your TV in the bathroom may void its warranty, so if it gets damaged, you're out of luck. Sony's TV warranty specifically mentions that it doesn't cover "contact with liquid, heat, humidity or perspiration," which is exactly what your TV will be subjected to if you place it in a bathroom. Even if it doesn't stop working from the humidity right away, it may still experience damage over time.

Pros are against bathroom TVs from a design perspective, too. Technology tends to look dated quickly, so that flatscreen you install this year may make the list of bathroom decor items that will look severely outdated by next year. The last thing you want when updating your bathroom is to make yourself need another update!

Despite design experts advising against it, if a TV in the bathroom is still one of your must-haves, there are precautions you can take to minimize some of the potential risks. First, make sure the TV you're installing is actually intended for bathroom usage. Some TVs are specifically built with moisture-resistant components; these may sometimes be advertised as outdoor TVs, but their water resistance is just as crucial for being indoors in a bathroom. All of its electrical connections must be waterproof, too, to prevent you from getting shocked. And be warned that even if the TV is waterproof, it's still an electronic device that can be damaged by water.

When deciding where to mount your TV, make sure it's as far as possible from any water sources, for your safety and for the long-term functionality of the TV. This isn't the time to DIY and mount it yourself, either — have a professionally qualified electrician do it to reduce your risk of electric shock. Using a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) can give you an extra layer of safety, but you should still never touch the TV or any of its electrical components with wet hands.