Shower Power: How to Get the Design Right First Time
Incorporate these ideas into your shower so that your 20-minute spray is the most indulgent part of your day
We recently went away for a long weekend and stayed at a nice high-rise apartment with a stunning view. But as nice as the apartment was, the shower design left a lot to be desired. The controls were positioned in the wrong place, the shower head was set too low for a taller person, the clunky glass door was all wobbly and unattractive, there wasn’t a place for soap and shampoo, and more. So taking a shower wasn’t enjoyable at all.
What bothered me the most was that, with a little forethought and no extra cost, the shower could have been quite nice. There was ample space and lots of natural light in the bathroom. My guess is that the shower wasn’t nicer only because the designer and builder didn’t think about the shower at all.
So here are our tips on how to avoid shower design mistakes when you decide to renovate your bathroom.
What bothered me the most was that, with a little forethought and no extra cost, the shower could have been quite nice. There was ample space and lots of natural light in the bathroom. My guess is that the shower wasn’t nicer only because the designer and builder didn’t think about the shower at all.
So here are our tips on how to avoid shower design mistakes when you decide to renovate your bathroom.
Position the controls
Another pet peeve is when the shower controls are placed such that I have to walk into the shower to turn the water on or off. That initial burst of ice cold water is something we can all do without. Setting the controls in a location that can be accessed from outside the shower area is easy and well worth the few centimetres of extra piping.
Another pet peeve is when the shower controls are placed such that I have to walk into the shower to turn the water on or off. That initial burst of ice cold water is something we can all do without. Setting the controls in a location that can be accessed from outside the shower area is easy and well worth the few centimetres of extra piping.
Consider a bench
Whether this is a place to sit and relax (especially if it’s in a steam shower) or a prop that enables you to easily shave your legs, benches are essential components of a well-designed shower. This bench, placed at the ceiling height’s lowest point, makes the shower all the more usable and enjoyable.
Whether this is a place to sit and relax (especially if it’s in a steam shower) or a prop that enables you to easily shave your legs, benches are essential components of a well-designed shower. This bench, placed at the ceiling height’s lowest point, makes the shower all the more usable and enjoyable.
And, lest we forget, shower benches can be fun.
Shower benches can also be designed to fold up and be out of the way.
Remember a place for shampoos and soap
A small recess in the shower wall with a shelf or two works magic when there are multiple bottles of shampoo, conditioner, gel and more. Size the niche to accommodate the tallest bottle you’ll use and make sure to slope the shelf towards the shower to allow it to shed water easily.
A small recess in the shower wall with a shelf or two works magic when there are multiple bottles of shampoo, conditioner, gel and more. Size the niche to accommodate the tallest bottle you’ll use and make sure to slope the shelf towards the shower to allow it to shed water easily.
Choose the showerheads
From the standard, wall-mounted head to a rain head to body sprays to handheld showers, there’s an amazing variety of showerheads available today. Just make sure there’s enough hot water and water pressure to accommodate all of these. Certainly a tankless hot water heater near a shower like this will come in handy when the showering goes on for a while.
From the standard, wall-mounted head to a rain head to body sprays to handheld showers, there’s an amazing variety of showerheads available today. Just make sure there’s enough hot water and water pressure to accommodate all of these. Certainly a tankless hot water heater near a shower like this will come in handy when the showering goes on for a while.
Or when the duelling handhelds are at battle.
And use a glass door so the light filters into the bathroom.
Or a skylight when there's no window.
Consider an open shower
You want a separate shower and bathtub but you only have a narrow tight space? Consider an “open shower” that places the tub after the shower, as shown here.
You want a separate shower and bathtub but you only have a narrow tight space? Consider an “open shower” that places the tub after the shower, as shown here.
I hate showers that are too small and are claustrophobic. It’s like those showers at summer camp when we were kids. Fine for when I was 10, but not now. So to get the optimum size, I’ll ask clients to stand with their arms outstretched and then turn in a circle. This circle will be the absolute minimum size shower the client will want. If you have the space, a good rule of thumb to follow is that the shower should be a minimum of 150 x 90cm. Of course, the shower can get bigger as we add additional features, such as a bench.