The Hotel Bathroom Door Is Dead, and I’m Not Okay

At some point in the last decade, hotels decided that we no longer needed privacy in the bathroom. I don’t know who we offended to deserve this, but I’d like to formally apologize if it means we can get our doors back.

You know what I’m talking about. You walk into your sleek, modern hotel room, drop your bag, and head to check out the bathroom, only to realize it’s not a bathroom so much as a zone. A toilet and shower tucked behind a sliding “barn door” that feels like it was borrowed from a home renovation reality show. It doesn’t latch, doesn’t seal, and leaves a charming half-inch crack that offers a clear sightline to the bed and anyone in it.

There’s no soundproofing to speak of, just the faint hope that your partner left the TV on. The door itself slides like it’s one tug away from jumping the track entirely, rattling with every movement like it knows it’s not qualified for this job. It’s privacy theater at best, and at worst, an open invitation to share way more than you ever intended.

Modern Design, Ancient Shame

The open bathroom trend is often chalked up to modern design tastes, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find the usual suspects: cost-cutting and efficiency.

Sliding doors are cheaper to install than full walls and hinged doors. They save square footage. They reduce labor. And they photograph well. Hotels love a good minimalist aesthetic because it screams “luxury” even when it’s technically just a cost-saving measure wrapped in frosted glass. Fewer materials, faster installation, and easier cleaning? That’s a win for the bottom line, even if it’s a loss for your dignity.

In some cases, they’ll even say it’s about accessibility. And sure, having more space to maneuver is important, but accessibility and privacy don’t have to be mutually exclusive. You can absolutely have both. You just have to care enough to design for it.

The Impact of Modular Construction

To save money and time, many hotels use modular construction, where entire rooms are built off-site and dropped into place like LEGO blocks. These prefab designs often feature sliding doors or partial enclosures because they’re easier to install and require fewer moving parts (literally). What you lose in customization, you gain in speed and cost savings. But with that convenience comes compromise, usually at the expense of privacy.

This trend also taps into the larger hotel industry obsession with experience-driven travel. Somewhere along the line, privacy got swapped out for “bold concepts” and “immersive design.” The result? A toilet with no real door and a view of the king bed.

Hotels want to feel edgy and boutique, even when they’re part of a national chain, and that leads to decisions that prioritize branding over comfort. It’s as if they’re designing for a photoshoot, not actual humans with digestive systems and social anxiety. The vibe might be aspirational, but the reality is deeply, deeply awkward.

So yes, it’s cheaper. And yes, it looks clean and modern on Instagram. But that doesn’t change the fact that it feels like you’re using the bathroom in a high-end showroom with an audience of one.

We’ve all accepted a lot of strange things in the name of trendy design. Edison bulbs with the brightness of a candle. Throw pillows with no discernible purpose. Freestanding bathtubs positioned directly in the middle of the bedroom. But this? This feels like a step too far.

Let’s Close the Door on This Era—Literally

Honestly, I’ve seen enough of my travel partner, and they’ve seen way too much of me. Let’s just keep some things sacred. Like our bathroom rituals and the physical barrier between us and anyone else during them.

Rest in peace, hotel bathroom door. Or better yet, make a comeback. You are deeply missed.