Strange bathroom designs that people encountered in real life

Bathrooms should be treated with the highest respect. They're meant to be places where we can relax, freshen up, and handle personal needs. Nobody wants to use a restroom with a confusing layout that gets in the way of these simple things. Sadly, some bathrooms are so badly designed they can cause panic for germaphobes, invade your privacy, and make you not want to use them at all. If you come across any of these poorly planned restrooms, we’re sorry. We all deserve better than that.

No Sitting In The Waiting Area

do not sit on the chairs in the waiting area even though its a waiting area
TrevorJordan/Reddit
TrevorJordan/Reddit

Wouldn't it be terrible to have to wait with nowhere to sit? Just ask the people at Disneyland who stand in line for hours—it’s rough. Not having a place to sit while waiting in a restroom area would be just as frustrating.

Especially when there’s seating meant for waiting, but the chairs are just for decoration. People would rather rest their feet than look at wooden chairs they can’t use. Even the painting on the wall shows a sitting area!

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A Little Too Cozy

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2019-07-15-15_02_43-25-Bathroom-Design-Fails-You-Have-To-See-To-Believe
the_flynn/Reddit
the_flynn/Reddit
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If you've ever wished for a place to rest your arms and think while using the toilet, there’s a bathroom out there just for you. A Reddit user shared this photo of a bathroom from a house his realtor showed him.

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The house listing called it "cozy" and "quaint," which usually means the space is a bit too small to be comfortable.

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Good Things Come In Pairs

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2019-07-15 15_10_00-25 Bathroom Design Fails You Have To See To Believe
Greatjobdani/Reddit
Greatjobdani/Reddit
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They say it takes two to tango, and in this bathroom, it takes two for a lot more. You might guess it's made for friends who always like to use the restroom together.

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Just think how handy it is to do your business with your best friend right there, ready to hand you the toilet paper when you’re done—that’s pretty convenient.

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The Sign Says "Private" Restroom...

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slit in the door that will make you see someone
DenzzS-_-/Reddit
DenzzS-_-/Reddit
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This restroom has to be a joke, right? Where's the privacy? While it’s unlikely someone would purposely peek through that small window while you’re using the bathroom, there’s still a real chance someone might accidentally see inside.

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We definitely wouldn’t feel comfortable here. The sign says it’s private, but it doesn’t feel that way. Hopefully, the blind was just missing when this photo was taken and it’s all a prank. If not, then this place is the real joke.

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For The Multi-Tasker

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2019-07-15-15_07_56-25-Bathroom-Design-Fails-You-Have-To-See-To-Believe
careynotcarrie/Reddit
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They say you shouldn't [expletive] where you eat but in this case, that’s exactly what you’re supposed to do. This is apparently a bathroom in a rental home in Paris, France, where the toilet shares a sink with the kitchen. If you wanted to make your breakfast while doing your morning "routine" then this is the perfect place to do it!

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Let’s just hope you know to put the toilet lid down every time your flush to at least try to minimize the germs you’re spreading onto your food.

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Mirrors On The Ceiling For What?

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bathroom with mirrored ceiling allowing you to see whoever is in the stall
zorton213/Reddit
zorton213/Reddit
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Mirrors belong in only two spots in a restroom: near the exit and above the sink. Anywhere else, and they just don't make sense. A ceiling mirror, for example, has no place here.

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Now, anyone in the stall has a clear view of what's going on above. How reassuring, right? Let's hope no one has the nerve to glance up while you're in the middle of your business, because if they do, your privacy is gone in an instant.

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Number One Only Please

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toilet lid that doesn't go down in this bedroom
alex91s/Reddit
alex91s/Reddit
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There's no doubt someone made a big mistake when designing this bathroom. It's clear that the team didn’t fully think this through. But the real question is, how did this even make it this far?

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You’d assume the rod was installed after the toilet was in place, right? If that’s the case, someone just forgot to lower the lid—and that’s a problem. Why wasn’t this fixed as soon as they noticed?

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Wow, Nice Hole

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creating a hole in the door for the toilet
ssj_/Reddit
ssj_/Reddit
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As we progress further down this list, it's becoming increasingly clear that bathroom remodeling isn’t a top priority for some. It seems like someone tried to make a quick fix after bad planning here.

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Cutting a hole in the bathroom door only creates more issues down the line. Plus, even with the door closed, people can still peek inside! Just another example of poor construction.

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Stand On Seat In Order To Use

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Stall too Small for use, one must stand to use
jaeklypuff/Reddit
jaeklypuff/Reddit
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How bad can a restroom really be? This photo gives you the answer. This man can't even stand up properly to use the restroom — the only way to manage is to balance on the rim!

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What happens if you need to go number two? You’d either have to squat or hold it in until you find a better bathroom. The management at this place really needs to reassess their priorities because this is unacceptable.

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Get To Know Your Neighbor

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toilets in the wide open in this restroom. we hope you like it
justgarcia31/Reddit
justgarcia31/Reddit
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What's more surprising to you? The fact that these are regular toilets outside of stalls that aren't urinals, or the lack of dividers between these row of toilets? We'd go with the latter simply because the privacy level is at a zero.

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Could this be a hostel bathroom in a foreign country? If it is, that's the only way we'll think about letting this one slide. Imagine this room on a packed summer day, and people need to go number two.

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Go With A Friend Or Stranger!

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side by side you can go with a friend or stranger if you so choose
Flyron-Fist/Reddit
Flyron-Fist/Reddit
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Have you ever shared a closed space with a stranger to use the restroom? Hopefully, you never had to, but if you walk into this establishment that might change. It's not like one of these is a urinal and the other is a regular toilet, they're both the same!

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What is the purpose of all this? Are they purposely trying to shred any remains of privacy the general public has? That might be a little harsh, but it makes you ponder.

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No Roll, That's A Problem

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No spin with this toilet paper, just rip and hope for the best
afregistry/Reddit
afregistry/Reddit
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If this isn't a prison bathroom, then whoever installed this should be ashamed of themselves. What's the point of having round toilet paper, and you can't even spin it!? Well, that's what's going on here.

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Your best bet is only to rip off pieces until you get the length you desire. Even then, that's doing too much, and something that allows this paper to roll needs to get installed. There seems to be a lot of these at public parks.

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This Looks Like Fun

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toilet urinals right in front of the bathroom stall
Edin_Bar/Reddit
Edin_Bar/Reddit
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It's one thing to place two urinals without a divider right next to each other. It's a whole new story when you have a urinal right in front of a door to the stall. That changes the entire complexion of your bathroom visit.

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Think about it like this: What if you were in the stall and you finished going. As you open the door, you see some man using the urinal. Now you have to wait until he's done to escape.

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Slide Down The Ramp And Enter Toilet Land!

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sliding ramp attached to a sink that connects to a toilet
batataqw89/Reddit
batataqw89/Reddit
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As lovely as this counter-toilet combination looks, it's unnecessary. A lot of blunders can happy with this set-up. You can lose a toothbrush with one accidental tap, but you'll also gain a toilet brush! That's not a win-win, but it's something.

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Also, we feel that these two things are incredibly close. When you flush a toilet, germs can shoot several feet into the air, so one flush and all your belongings on the sink have the potential to get covered with bacteria.

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Who Lines Their Bathroom With Carpet?

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carpet in the bathroom has a weird feel to it and now we can't unsee this
spicycheese666/Reddit
spicycheese666/Reddit
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Well, seeing this is a first. Having carpeting in your bathroom isn't something you see every day, and for a good reason. For one, carpet takes longer to dry compared to traditional flooring options for restrooms.

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Also, what if a flood happens? Now, you have to change the entire carpet, especially if there was padding underneath it. We advise that you keep things how they're supposed to be and not try this at home.

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Who On Earth Has Hands That Reach That Far?

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toilet paper that is really far for you to reach
bogus594/Reddit
bogus594/Reddit
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Unless you're some type of mutant, it would appear that you need to grab a sheet of toilet paper before heading in to handle your business. If not, you'll have to scurry out and swipe some when no one is looking.

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If you don't like doing that, then you could pull an Elaine Benes and ask the person in the stall next to you to spare a square. Yeah, they need to change the location of this toilet paper dispenser.

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That's An Interesting Spot For That

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2019-07-15 14_17_33-25 Bathroom Design Fails You Have To See To Believe
atcsean/Reddit
atcsean/Reddit
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Design flaw would be an understatement for this. For starters, won't the toilet paper get drenched if you're taking a shower? Secondly, who in the world is going to reach that far?

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Whoever moved into this location must have overlooked this essential bathroom error. Not only does it make no sense, but its a huge inconvenience. No one should be inconvenienced while trying to use the bathroom. It just isn't right and it's no fun.

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Have Fun

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2019-07-15 14_28_01-25 Bathroom Design Fails You Have To See To Believe
Llim/Reddit
Llim/Reddit
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If these were the last two available spaces left in a crowded bathroom and two people needed to go extremely badly at the same time, someone might cause a mess in their pants. Who wants to bump body parts as they use the restroom?

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This isn't cool at all on any level. The designer should feel ashamed of themselves. Saving space isn't worth sacrificing the privacy of going to the restroom. Do better next time, please.

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All Eyes On Whoever Is In Here

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2019-07-15 14_34_31-25 Bathroom Design Fails You Have To See To Believe
Supposively/Reddit
Supposively/Reddit
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Look what we have here ladies and gentlemen. Sure, they have a door separating you from the people on the outside, but that doesn't mean they can't see you. Imagine you're minding your own business, then someone takes a gander as they walk by.

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Using this restroom wouldn't be any type of fun if you ask us. You'll always be worried whether or not if someone is going to see you handling your personal business in there.

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It's A Face-off!

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2019-07-15 14_47_54-25 Bathroom Design Fails You Have To See To Believe
Montrosian/Reddit
Montrosian/Reddit
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Okay, what exactly were they thinking here? There's no way they thought this was a bright idea during construction. It doesn't make any sense at all. What if two people really need to use the bathroom at the same time?

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With this bizarre setup, any unlucky people who need the restroom at the same time are in for the staring contest of the decade. And that's a contest no one wants to participate in.

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Not A Good Place For That...

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2019-07-15 14_55_30-25 Bathroom Design Fails You Have To See To Believe
Dr_worm88/Reddit
Dr_worm88/Reddit
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Is that really the ideal place to have an electrical outlet, under some soap? If you look closely, you can already see some soap seeping into the outlet. How dangerous can this be? That's probably what they asked when they were installing the soap dispensary.

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This shouldn't have ever happened. Either the construction crew was in a rush or this was a last-minute addition, but either way, this isn't how it should've gotten done.

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This Horrific Bathroom...

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2019-07-15 15_01_23-25 Bathroom Design Fails You Have To See To Believe
atcsean/Reddit
atcsean/Reddit
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Take a great look at this bathroom. Does it strike you as an inviting one? Or does it send slight chills up your spine? Why does the door look like a beast tried to claw its way out?

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Is this a bathroom they trained in for the movie Saw? Things don't look too great in here at all and it's pretty scary if you ask us. We don't blame you if you feel unsafe using a bathroom like this...

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Not The Privacy You Asked For

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image (7)
sqgrundlepunch/Reddit
sqgrundlepunch/Reddit
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The men’s restroom usually has its toilets in an enclosed stall, while most guys deal with having to stand next to each other at the urinals. But whoever designed this bathroom must have thought the opposite when they decided to place a toilet out in the open.

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We feel sorry for the poor soul who has to use the toilet when they see this arrangement. But hey, at least you get your privacy if you only need to do number one.

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It's Gonna Be A Tight Squeeze

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2019-07-15-14_58_49-25-Bathroom-Design-Fails-You-Have-To-See-To-Believe
amt1153/Reddit
amt1153/Reddit
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Some bathrooms are hard-pressed to offer all three amenities—a toilet, a sink, and a tub—in one space. But despite its limitations, this bathroom managed to fit all three in there.

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Some might be disturbed to see the toilet snuggled up to the tub this way but as long as each fixture works properly, is there really an issue? We think not. You can brush your teeth while doing your business then hop into the shower right after.

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As Long As You Remain Anonymous

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2019-07-15-15_00_56-25-Bathroom-Design-Fails-You-Have-To-See-To-Believe
GoatAndYourMum/Reddit
GoatAndYourMum/Reddit
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This bathroom had the right idea but missed the mark when it came to offering its patrons total privacy. The stalls only cover so much and unfortunately, this means people can see you if you were sitting down on the toilet.

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Luckily, they wouldn't really know it’s you since the door would cover your face. But they would certainly be able to know what you’re doing and might accidentally see all your bits in the process.

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When You Need That Extra Support

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2019-07-15-15_04_03-25-Bathroom-Design-Fails-You-Have-To-See-To-Believe
Luna_Lovelace/Reddit
Luna_Lovelace/Reddit
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You don’t ever need to feel like you don’t have enough support whenever you’re in this bathroom. Not that we’re speaking from personal experience, but there are times when we’ve sat down in the bathroom and felt a little lonely.

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That’s exactly why this bathroom stall provides you with a photo of people reaching up at you from the floor. Nothing will make you want to finish up and get out of there faster.

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Nobody Likes A Looky-Loo

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2019-07-15-15_05_15-25-Bathroom-Design-Fails-You-Have-To-See-To-Believe
Chester_117/Reddit
Chester_117/Reddit
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When doing your thing at a public urinal you know not to look down at the person next you doing the same thing. For some people, it's their worst nightmare. So those people would be incredibly uncomfortable if they came to this bathroom.

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It might be a little difficult to get things flowing with Jeremy Renner dressed as Hawkeye staring down at you. Just be glad that it’s not the real thing.

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Who Cares About Leg Space?

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2019-07-15-15_06_51-25-Bathroom-Design-Fails-You-Have-To-See-To-Believe
plebeian_lifestyle/Reddit
plebeian_lifestyle/Reddit
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Never mind the fact that this bathroom is almost entirely covered in hues of baby pink. Just look at how big the toilet is compared to everything else in the narrow bathroom! You can just forget about comfortably sitting forward while you're using the toilet.

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Not only that, but you'll have to climb over the toilet to use the sink or the shower. If this was the bathroom in your house you'd sure get used to sitting side-saddle on the commode.

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I'm Suddenly Not So Thirsty Anymore

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2019-07-15-15_08_56-25-Bathroom-Design-Fails-You-Have-To-See-To-Believe
Wild_Dodo/Reddit
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We don't really know where all water fountains source their water from but this one gives you a clear idea. We can’t imagine why anyone would think to put a water fountain inside the bathroom, let alone put it right next to the urinals.

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One can only hope that the pipe underneath it isn’t somehow connected to those things but it would explain why the water has that funky taste.

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Have Enough Paper Towels Yet?

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2019-07-15 14_30_59-25 Bathroom Design Fails You Have To See To Believe
cruleworld/Reddit
cruleworld/Reddit
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Wow, wherever this is, people must really like having dry hands. Or maybe one paper towel dispenser isn't enough—and clearly, two aren’t either. But why are they placed so close together?

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It’s not like there’s a competition to dry your hands faster. If there is, you might want to rethink your priorities because it’s not that important. Plus, that’s a lot of wasted paper...

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Wait, What Is THIS?!

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is it a wet toilet or not the world may never know
Jonwyattearp/Reddit
Jonwyattearp/Reddit
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After taking one look at this toilet, you'd probably want to use a different one, unless your bladder says you don't have enough time for that. A wet toilet seat is no fun, so why would you design one always to look that way?

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Whoever considered this to be a bright idea needs to get their bulb checked. Yes, it may be funny to some, but in real life, this would be shocking to see.