When you set out to buy a new bidet toilet seat, you have two choices: a round seat or an elongated toilet seat.

 

Don’t panic: two choices is enough.

 

If you’re a smart buyer (or a bidet toilet seat smart ass), though, you’ll quickly see that round toilet seats are soooooo 2000, and elongated toilet seats are where it’s at.

 

In addition to being more comfortable, more attractive, and better-suited to modern homes, elongated toilet seats are also the most in-demand style on the market, which means they’re easy to find and retrofit options (as well as accessories) are numerous.

 

Here’s what you need to know about the future of this comfy design.

What Happened to the Round Toilet Seat?

The round toilet seat.

 

At one point, it was about American as hot dogs, and just as beloved. Commonly seen in older homes, the round seat was a standby for anyone who wanted to conserve space in a bathroom (these seat styles take up less room from the wall to the front of the toilet), or who had kids they were trying to potty train.

 

At one point, there was even an old wives’ tale that said round toilets flush more efficiently, although people eventually realized it was just “bro science” without any actual research behind it. In some cases, the circular seat was a design choice. Some people liked the look and feel of a round seat better than they did an elongated seat, and that was that.

 

All this changed, though, when the elongated toilet seat started to saturate the market.

 

Beloved for its sleek, sexy lines and unparalleled comfort, the elongated toilet seat has become the hands-down preference in most modern homes and bathroom retrofits.

5 Things to Love About an Elongated Toilet Seat

The elongated toilet seat has become the obvious choice for homeowners across the country. Here’s why:

1. Comfort

First of all, the elongated toilet seat is much more comfortable than its round counterpart. This owes to both the shape of the bowl and the length of the seat.

 

While round toilet bowls only measure about 28” from the wall, elongated bowls stretch that to 31”. This provides adults with more space where it matters most and a much more ergonomic bathroom experience.

 

If you live in a family of giant people, an elongated toilet seat combined with a taller-than-average toilet could provide a much more comfortable option than a standard 14” tall toilet with a round bowl.

2. Availability

 

Another benefit of the elongated toilet is that, in the past few years, consumer preferences have shifted dramatically to the elongated toilet seat.

 

In fact, the difference has been so pronounced that some toilet seat manufacturers are planning to move, eventually, to elongated-only options.

 

To put this another way, the future of the elongated toilet seat is bright. The round seat, on the other hand, is on its way out.

3. Appearance

 

The elongated toilet seat is sleeker and nicer-looking than its round counterpart. When installed in a bathroom, it provides a modern and elegant appearance, which many people want in their homes.

 

Even new versions of round seats often look dated and defunct, which doesn’t do much to make your bathroom feel like a place Jay-Z would be excited about.

4. Attachments

Today, it’s possible to find a whole host of bidet toilet seat attachments in elongated styles (the Brondell Swash line has a few great options). This allows you to retrofit your existing bathroom with the bidet you’ve always wanted, without installing an entirely new toilet.

5. Greater Bowl Area

 

As a general rule, elongated toilet seats (and the toilets that go with them) offer more bowl area than their round counterparts.

 

This makes bidet use, cleaning, and personal hygiene duties more comfortable than they would be on a constricted, round seat.

 

The Elongated Toilet Seat: the way of the Future

There’s no doubt about it: the elongated toilet seat is the way of the future.

 

Comfortable, attractive, hygienic, and widely available, these ergonomic seats are sweeping the nation and wiping (no pun intended) out their retro round counterparts.

 

If you’re looking for a way to retrofit your existing elongated toilet with a unique new attachment, check out our selection of bidet toilet seats and other accessories for elongated toilet bowls.