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Tiles that clean themselves, faucets with no levers, residential urinals and automatic humidity sensing fans – these are some of the design innovations that have started showing up in the bathrooms of upper-end homes during the last few years.

Active Clean Air and Antibacterial Ceramic Tiles were introduced by a subsidiary of the Italian GranitiFiandre Group. The company says the tiles use titanium dioxide to "clean the air of polluting organic substances when either sunlight or artificial UVA rays shine on the tiles. This process transforms harmful organic and inorganic substances into compounds that are harmless to humans." They are available in about 40 different colours and various sizes.

A set of faucets and showers from American Standard has no levers or faucets, just four electronic control icons on the top surface of the tub filler or the bottom of the shower column. They are operated by regular C type batteries.

Kohler offers waterless residential urinals and toilets with built-in bidet functions including a control for water temperature and flow, a deodorizer function, a heated seat and warm air drying at three speeds.

If you can never remember to turn on the bathroom fan during or after a shower, Broan-Nutone offers Humidity Sensing Fans, which automatically turn on when a rapid rise in humidity is detected in the room.

Waterfall faucets and shower towers that include everything from steam options to waterproof built-in speakers are other popular bathroom features. From an esthetic point of view, Japanese influences are being seen in the clean lines and open spaces in new bathrooms. Hotel-like "floating" vanities and wall-mounted toilets make small rooms look larger.

The biggest bathroom trends are in the "green" categories – conserving water and energy. In addition to dual-flush and low-flow toilets, water is being conserved in the bathroom with low-flow faucets and showerheads. Changing all three in a bathroom costs as little as $600, but provides long-term financial benefits.