I wonder about people who need reading glasses. I know I don't carry them with me into a bathroom when I am a visitor at someone's home. I think it could work if there is a large on/off button for the lights and everything else is smaller.

I have several concerns about using keypads. One is that people might get the deer in the headlights feeling when that's the only thing on the wall. I'm a very technical person and I often hesitate to start pushing buttons on other people's keypads. The other concern is how easy they are to read for people who use reading glasses. The keys are all backlit so the letters glow, would that help someone who needs reading glasses read them without glasses?

At first I was committed to putting a "dummy switch" next to any keypad which would control the lights but then I pulled away from that concept to keep things clean but I can always add them later if I find people are having trouble with the lighting control.

If you are older you will not be able to read what the switches say unless they are huge. How about adding an automatic motion switch? Guest don't have to touch anything.

In some bathrooms I have the option of controlling the fan/heater with a keypad instead of a regular switch. Of course the buttons will be labelled but I still wonder if that makes things too complicated for guests who aren't familiar with using a keypad.

I don't just dislike this idea; I hate it. It doesn't look clean and sophisticated to me; rather, it looks like a way to make something simple (turning on a light switch) into something difficult. It's still "wall acne" ... it's just in a different shape.

If your concern is attractive switches, you can find decorative switch covers ... though, honestly, a four-switch cover will be harder to find. I'd look into making them yourself; decopage, for example. Make them into art pieces.

If you are older you will not be able to read what the switches say unless they are huge.

Good point, and as another poster says -- no one's going to carry reading glasses into the bathroom. This won't matter to you, the homeowner, because you'll quickly memorize the switches and won't even look at the wall as you touch the switches ... but your guests will need to read the labels.

How about adding an automatic motion switch? Guest don't have to touch anything.

Yes, I have a motion-sensored light in my walk-in pantry, and it's wonderful. Love it. I intend to have motion-sensored lights in my windowless half-bath and my pantry in my new house. Completely hands-off, automatic, turns itself off after 10 minutes or so -- yes, please!

Without knowing the layout of your bath, I think I'd vote for making the overhead light automatic so it'd "always be on" for you and guests ... and put the vanity switch and fan on switches convenient to the door ... and place an "override switch" for the overhead lighting towards the back of the bathroom because you'd rarely use it.

I think it could work if there is a large on/off button for the lights and everything else is smaller.

I don't really see the point in an "all lights off" switch. I don't mind flicking a couple switches. If you're worried about "wall acne", this just adds to it ... without really adding any value.

No no no.

My doctors office bathroom has these and I can't stand them. I just end up mashing all the buttons until I find the one that works.

When you really have to pee, you don't have time to study...jmho