Travelers face a growing frustration as hotels and restaurants remove bathroom doors, replacing them with glass panels, curtains, or nothing at all. This design trend prioritizes open aesthetics over privacy, leaving guests exposed during personal moments.
The #BringBackDoors Campaign Gains Momentum
On November 25, 2025, researcher John Scott-Railton highlighted the issue on X, stating, ‘Hotel toilet privacy is disappearing.’ Replies poured in quickly, sharing similar experiences.
Mark Valorian described a stay at The W in London: ‘The shower opens to the main room, and the toilet area connects to the living space, leaving no private spot to dress.’
Tom Fowler added, ‘It’s neither hip nor happening to watch the fragile outline of your partner sh*tting.’
Scott-Railton linked to BringBackDoors.com, a site created by freelance digital marketer Sadie. The platform lists hotels worldwide by bathroom door status, featuring sections for those with proper doors and those without.
Sadie’s Mission for Bathroom Privacy
Sadie launched the site after frequent travels revealed the problem. ‘I travel a lot with friends and family and got tired of having to leave the room or sit in specific places when someone was in the bathroom,’ she explained.
Viral videos on TikTok and Instagram confirmed the issue’s widespread nature. Sadie rates the Holmes Hotel in London among the worst, but crowns Boutique Hotel Vivenda Miranda in Lagos, Portugal, for its doorless bathroom with a visible window to the gardens.
The site now tracks nearly 300 hotels, attracting over 60,000 visitors in its first month. Sadie adds entries daily based on user submissions.
Doorless Designs Spread to Restaurants
The trend extends beyond hotels. London’s Gloria, an Italian restaurant, features cubicles with one-way glass doors, allowing diners on the toilet to see hand-washers outside. Dishoom, an Indian eatery, uses wooden-slatted doors that risk unintended eye contact.
Why Are Doors Disappearing?
Sadie attributes the shift to cost-saving tactics. ‘Hotels have limited space but want rooms that feel larger for higher prices. Removing walls tricks guests into perceiving more space,’ she said.
Interiors expert Deirdre McGettrick, founder of ufurnish.com, offers another view. Designers chase awards and uniqueness, favoring ‘design over function’ to appear trendy. She notes high-end hotels often use expensive glass, increasing cleaning costs.
McGettrick shared her own ordeal in Ibiza: a bathroom lacking any partition.
Sadie’s Ideal Bathroom Setup
Sadie envisions a simple solution: ‘A bathroom door that touches the ceiling, floor, and both walls. No surprise windows. A non-rainfall shower head, counter space, hooks by the sink, and one hook per guest.’
She calls this the standard from 10-15 years ago.
Content Creator Kendra Gaylord Weighs In
Architecture commentator Kendra Gaylord’s video ‘What happened to bathroom doors’ nears 100,000 views. She observed shrinking hotel footprints with minimal privacy.
Gaylord recalled a New York stay at Dream Downtown Hotel, where a sliding door had a 3-inch hole instead of a knob. Viewer comments detailed conference horrors, illness exposures, and light disruptions from glass walls.
This movement underscores travelers’ demand for functional privacy amid trendy open layouts.
