A spacious, spa-like shower is at the top of many people’s bathroom wish lists. But getting the design of your shower right isn’t always easy. For help designing your ideal space, here are some tips to create an efficient layout and bring in stylish details.

Start With Location And Size

Where would you like your shower to stand? A corner is the most common spot, but the center of a room or a separate enclosed area like a water closet might be best for your layout or lifestyle.

Keep in mind that moving or adding plumbing costs money, sometimes a lot of money. So if that’s not in your budget, try to keep your updated shower in the same location as your previous one.

If you’re wondering how much space you’ll need, consider that the most popular shower widths are 32, 36 and 60 inches. Shower dimensions can be as small as 32 by 32 inches, but most people prefer a shower that’s at least 36 by 48 inches. Shower ceiling heights typically fall between 84 and 120 inches, depending on the space and the design.

You’ll also want to consider the dimensions of other elements in your bathroom before deciding on your shower size. For example, the size of your planned vanity might require a reduced shower space, so you might want to consider going for a smaller vanity to get a larger shower.

Another thing to consider is increasing the size of your bathroom to get the shower size you want. Talk with a design pro about opportunities to steal space from an adjacent closet or bedroom or even whether relocating the bathroom to another room in the house is the best move.

If you have the room, consider placing a freestanding tub within your shower. This wet-room concept creates a beautiful spa-like environment and an attractive visual statement.

Layout, size and plumbing conditions make a wet room difficult to create in some bathrooms, so working with a professional maybe crucial to getting it right.

There can be some drawbacks to a wet-room arrangement. A freestanding bathtub will probably get splashed whenever you use the shower, so you may need to do a quick wipe-down of the tub. Plus, freestanding tubs often cost more than alcove tubs because they’re more complex and have additional design features.

Curbed Or Curbless

Shower curbs serve as the threshold between the floor of the shower and the bathroom floor. They keep water in the shower, and they sometimes serve as a base for mounting shower doors and panels.

Curbless showers, on the other hand, feature a continuous transition between the bathroom floor and the shower floor, making them safer to use — no potentially hazardous step over a curb. This also makes them wheelchair-accessible.

Curbless showers offer a minimalist, elegant aesthetic and can help create a bright and airy feel, which is especially appealing in a small room.

To achieve proper drainage in a curbless shower, you’ll need to lower the shower floor below the bathroom floor to create a slope to the drain. That means that switching to curbless can sometimes be tricky in an existing bathroom if you’re not raising the level of the flooring in the entire space. Again, talking to a professional about what’s possible — and practical — in your space maybe something you want to look into.

The recommended minimum slope for a curbless shower is about 4%, or a half-inch drop per every 12 inches from the shower walls to the drain.

  

Consider A Shower-Tub Combo

A space-saving shower-tub combo allows for the option of a quick shower or a relaxing soak. It’s also a good choice for resale value if you don’t have a tub elsewhere in your home, as a future buyer might want one.

You can upgrade the visual aesthetic of a shower-tub combo by incorporating higher-end fixtures and materials, such as adding tile to the walls or a stylish material to the apron front. 

Showcase Shower Doors

A glass enclosure will make your bathroom feel light and airy and will allow accent tile in the shower to become a focal point. Hinged shower swing doors are the most popular option. They can open outward to a 90-degree angle, providing a safe, wide and open entry, or they can swing inward, or both.

You’ll want to consider how the door swing affects available floor space and other elements, such as the toilet, towel bars etcetera. Shower doors are typically made at a minimum of 22 inches wide and a maximum of 36 inches wide.

Also think about the metal finish of your shower door hinges and hardware. This finish can match other finishes in the room, such as faucets and light fixtures, or contrast with them for a mixed-metals look.

If you know a swing door won’t work, go for a sliding door. But keep in mind that sliding doors are known to be difficult to clean because the track and components can accumulate buildup.

You can also opt for no door at all. A fixed panel of glass creates a modern look that’s easy to clean. These panels can be framed in metal or frameless.

Most shower glass is fabricated at ⅜ inch or 10mm thick so it’s durable, safe and long-lasting. Standard openings range from 22 to 26 inches depending on the shower size. 

Set Up Seating

A shower bench is a functional addition. Not only is it a place to sit and shave legs, but it can also help people with balance, strength or endurance difficulties. It also provides a surface to place products on. Or it can just be a spot to take a moment and let the hot water wash over you.

A shower bench seat should be 17 to 19 inches high and 15 inches deep and must not infringe on the interior size of the shower. That means that if your shower size is the minimum 32 by 32 inches, the bench should not take away from those dimensions.

In terms of materials, a slab finish, at least for the top of the bench is the best. This could be marble or quartz, for example. Usually, match the bench slab top to your vanity countertop for design continuity. Tiling the top of your bench, isn’t the beat because the grout lines can be uncomfortable to sit on.

Include A Niche

A niche to store shower products is always a good idea. Consider placement, orientation and size. Take inventory of your most-used products to ensure your niche is the right size.

The most common shower niche placement is at chest to eye level when standing. But that doesn’t always have to be the case. You can use wall tiles as a guide, so the niche can fit in nicely without disturbing the pattern.

Remember, it’s not really the height at which you position the shower niche that’s most important but the proportions of the niche itself. There’s no standard shape or size for a shower niche, which means you can customize it in any way you see fit. Just keep in mind that the niche will have to sit between the wall studs, or the wall studs will need to be customized to accommodate the niche, both of which will add costs to your shower.

An affordable alternative to the wall niche is a shower ledge. These provide flexibility for what you place on top because there aren’t any height restrictions, and you can specify the length to span the width or length of your shower.

Choose The Right Fixtures

What would your shower be without the plumbing parts? As you probably know, there’s a vast array of options to consider when it comes to shower heads and controls. You’ll want to look at the style, functionality and finish. 

There are two options for shower heads: ceiling-mounted or wall-mounted. Wall-mounted shower heads are typically installed at 80 inches above the finished floor. Ceiling-mounted, or rain-style, shower heads are generally more expensive and require additional plumbing. Some people love rain-style shower heads for the soothing patter of water; others feel the pressure isn’t always strong enough to wash hair products out. Some people like having both options.

What most people agree on is that a handheld sprayer is vital. These are great for rinsing shaved legs, spraying down the shower enclosure or washing pets.

Body jets are another option. These sprayers can be installed on one or multiple walls and at various heights for a crisscross water massage.

For the ultimate indulgence, go for a steam generator. This allows you to seal off your shower and fill it with steam to create your own spa-like steam room.

You’ll need a way to circulate the air in the shower after you use the steam function to dry the space out. Powerful vent fans and pivoting panels will get the job done.

The placement of your fixtures is another important consideration. An ideal location is at the entrance to the shower, opposite the shower head, so you don’t get a blast of cold water when reaching in to turn on the water. This arrangement can cost more because of the labor involved and the extra lengths of plumbing pieces needed.

Add Technology

High-tech upgrades to your shower can let you use a phone app or other control hub to set and control the water temperature, pressure, spray and options for heated floors or lighting. There are voice-activated options so you can sync your shower experience with your Alexa or other device. There are shower heads with waterproof speakers. Ionized shower heads. Essential-oil-infused shower heads, and so much more. If you’re a tech-y person, this is an area you’ll want to spend a lot of time looking into.

That being said, the technology and software changes so rapidly that many homeowners are concerned about the tech becoming obsolete in a few years and the bathrooms becoming dated and therefore not very appealing to a future buyer. Instead, spend your money on nicer materials or fixtures.

Let In The Light

The shower is often designed to be a separate area of your bathroom. In that sense, the shower is its own zone and therefore, in most cases, should have its own dedicated light.

Recessed lighting is the most popular because it can be easily sealed from moisture. Just be sure the fixture you choose is rated for damp locations, meaning it has specialized trim to prevent water from getting inside.

Access Accessories

They might seem like small details, but accessories such as towel hooks, rings and bars can make a world of difference in how your bathroom functions. Install a hook or bar right by the shower entrance — or even better, inside the shower.

Tile grout is the safest spot to anchor these fixtures, but you can also secure hooks and bars through tile. Just be sure you have a skilled professional who uses the right drill bit and pressure so your tile doesn’t crack.

The shower drain is often overlooked as a design accessory. You have two basic options: a standard drain cover or a linear one.

Standard center drain covers are the most common and cost-effective options. There’s plenty of variety in terms of finish, shape and hole pattern, so spend a little time going through what’s available in your price range. You’ll also want to consider how the manufacturer’s finish coordinates with other finishes in your shower and bathroom.

A linear drain, offers a bit more design impact and is especially effective in curbless shower setups.

Tile insert drains can hold a custom piece of cut tile that matches your shower floor, creating a blended look.