In public swimming pools dress code may be somewhat stricter than on public beaches, and in indoor pools stricter than outdoor pools. For example, in countries where women can be topless on the beach, this is often not allowed in a swimming pool, especially one indoors (see swimsuit). A reversal of this strictness is also common, e.g. undress code in pools is stricter than beaches. Wearing shoes, and a shirt, on a beach is acceptable, but often not in a pool. Indoor pools have stricter undress codes than outdoor pools: in outdoor pools, men are often allowed to wear t-shirts for modesty or for protection from sunburn, but in indoor pools, men are not ordinarily allowed to wear t-shirts. Swimming with clothes on (for example, as practice for the prevention of drowning, as one might fall off a boat clothed) often results in objections from lifeguards at pools, especially at indoor pools. At beaches, many people swim with their clothes on and wear beachwear, whereas at pools (especially indoor pools) more minimal forms of bathing attire, such as lycra briefs for men or lycra one-piece tanksuits for women, are often worn. For diving from towers perhaps 10m high, sometimes bathing suits are doubled up (i.e., men will often wear one brief inside another) so that the swimsuit does not rip on impact with the water. While splashing around on beaches, especially on urban beaches, looser fitting bathing attire that is more modest is often worn.

Some public swimming pools have regular hours for nude swimming, and some pools even require nudity. In the US, until recently, many YMCA pools required users to be naked or to have a bathing suit made of materials that will not contaminate the pool; the words often used were "nylon bathing suit or no bathing suit". More recently, dress codes in many pools have been relaxed to allow for additional modesty. Many pool operators allow people to swim fully clothed if they can prove that they have a second set of clothes that are only for use in the pool, and if they are willing to go through the showers in this second set of clothes prior to entering the pool. In France, the general rule is that board shorts are not permitted, for similar hygiene reasons.

Bed

A bed is a piece of furniture or location primarily used or intended for sleeping upon, but also commonly used for sexual activities, relaxing, sitting, watching television, and reading.

Beds come in a wide array of shapes and sizes. Early beds were little more than piles of straw or some other natural materials. An important change was raising them off the ground, to avoid drafts, dirt, and pests.

To make beds more comfortable the top layer is frequently a mattress. Originally these were bags of straw for most people and filled with feathers for the wealthy. Eventually new fillings such as cotton and artificial fillers became common. In modern times most mattresses use springs, solid foam, water, or air.

At the top of the mattress, to provide greater support for the head, most people use a pillow. Also used is some form of covering blanket to provide warmth to the sleeper, often bed sheets, a quilt, or a duvet.

The bed frame may simply be made of wood or metal, but many also use springs. Most expensive and bulky, but also strong and comfortable is a box spring or divan, a large mattress-sized box containing wood and springs. A dust ruffle, bed skirt, or valance sheet may be used to make the bed frame match the rest of the bedding.

Bed sizes

Most countries have a standard set of four sizes of mattress. While the Double size appears to be standard among English speaking countries, based on the imperial measurement of 4 ft 6 in by 6 ft 3 in, the sizes for other bed types tend to vary. The European sizes differ; they are based on the metric system.

A king-sized bed differs from the other sizes in implementation, as it is not common t have a king-sized box spring; rather, two smaller box-springs are used under a king-sized mattress. On a U.S. Standard or "Eastern" King, the boxsprings are identical in size to a Twin Extra-Long.

Standard sizes

Modern manufacturing conventions have resulted in a limited number of standard sizes of commercial bedding for mattresses and box springs. They vary somewhat by country of origin.

Types of bed

There are many varieties of bed:

• An adjustable bed is a bed that can be adjusted to a number of different positions
• An air bed uses an air-inflated mattress, sometimes connected to an electric air pump and having firmness controls.
• A bassinet is a bed specifically for newborn infants.
• A box-bed is a bed having the form of a large box with wooden roof, sides, and ends, opening in front with two sliding panels or shutters; often used in cottages in Scotland: sometimes also applied to a bed arranged so as to fold up into a box.
• A bunk is a bed used in a confined space.
• A bunk bed is two or more beds one atop the other.
• A chest bed or cabin bed is a platform bed with drawers and storage compartments built in underneath.
• A cot is a small bed (called a crib in American English) specifically for babies and infants. A cot can also refer to a simple, temporary, portable bed used by armies and large organizations in times of crisis.
• A daybed is a couch that is used as a seat by day and as a bed by night.
• A futon is a traditional style of Japanese bed that is also available in a larger Western style.
• A hammock is a piece of suspended fabric.
• A Manjaa is traditional Punjabi bed made of tied ropes bordered by a wooden frame.
• A Murphy bed is a bed that can hinge into a wall or cabinet to save space.
• A pallet is a thin, lightweight mattress.
• A platform bed is a mattress resting on a solid, flat raised surface, either free-standing or part of the structure of the room.
• A sofabed is a bed that is stored inside a sofa.
• A state bed developed in Early Modern Europe from a hieratic canopy of state.
• A trundle bed or truckle bed is a bed usually stored beneath a twin bed.
• A waterbed is a bed/mattress combination where the mattress is filled with water.

Bathroom

A bathroom is a room that may have different functions depending on the cultural context it is used in.

• ·        In its literal sense it means "a room with a bath", but as bathtubs have partly made way for showers and steam showers, the more general sense of "a room where one bathes" makes more sense. There can be just a shower or just a bathtub or both, sometimes combined and sometimes separate (in which case the bathtub may have a second shower). Usually, it also contains a handbasin or sink and often also a toilet.

·       In the United States, "bathroom" commonly means "a room containing a toilet" (in other countries this is usually called "toilet" or alternatively "water closet" (or "WC"), or "lavatory"). For this interpretation of the word see bathroom (American). In America they are categorized as full bathroom, containing a bathtub, a shower, a toilet, and a sink; half (1/2) bath containing a toilet and a handbasin (lavatory); and 3/4 bath containing a toilet, a handbasin (lavatory) and a shower.

En-suite (French for in room) refers to a bathroom attached to a bedroom, or shared among several bedrooms. If it is attached to a master bedroom it is known as a master bathroom.

Design considerations

The design of a bathroom must account for the use of both hot and cold water, in significant quantities, for cleaning the human body. The water is also used for solid and liquid human waste to a sewer or septic tank. Water may be splashed on the walls and floor, and hot humid air may cause condensation on cold surfaces. From a decorating point of view the bathroom presents a challenge. Ceiling, wall and floor materials and coverings should be impervious to water and readily and easily cleaned. The use of ceramic or glass, as well as smooth plastic materials, is common in bathrooms for their ease of cleaning. However, such surfaces are often cold to the touch and so water-resistant bath mats or even bathroom carpets may be used on the floor to make the room more comfortable. Alternatively, the floor may be heated, possibly by strategically placing heater conduits close to the surface.

Electrical appliances, such as lights, heaters and heated towel rails generally need to be installed as fixtures, with permanent connections rather than plugs and sockets. This minimises the risk of electric shock. Ground-fault circuit interruptor electrical sockets can reduce the risk of electric shock, and are required for bathroom socket installation by electrical and building codes in the United States and Canada. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, only special sockets suitable for electric shavers are permitted in bathrooms, and are labelled as such.

Bathrooms can also be a source of decorative inspiration. One can easily decorate the bathroom by choosing shower curtains or cubicles to match a theme.

Mini-bar

A mini-bar is a small, private snack and beverage bar often found in upscale Western-style hotel rooms.

Typically, a mini-bar comes in the form of a counter and small refrigerator stocked with a precise inventory. The room's guests can take a beverage or snack at any time during their stay. When the housekeeping staff makes up the room, they note what items are missing from the mini-bar and add the cost to the guest's bill.

The bar is commonly stocked with small bottles of alcoholic beverages, juice, and soft drinks as well as candy (sweets), cookies (sweet biscuits), crackers (savoury biscuits) and other small snacks. Prices are generally very high relative to similar items purchased in a store, since the guest is paying for the convenience of the items and upkeep of the bar. Many hotels have progressed further to offer non-food items, such as socks, toiletries, and condoms. Some even use infrared or other high-tech methods of automatically recording purchases.

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