A beautiful shower can completely transform a bathroom. But if you’ve ever struggled with awkward shower doors, nowhere to put your shampoo or endless grout cleaning, you know that appearance isn’t everything.
The secret to a great shower is thoughtful design. A few decisions made before installation can make your shower more comfortable, functional and easier to maintain for years to come.
Here are some things to consider when designing your next shower.
This is one of the simplest ways to improve your shower experience.
Positioning the controls near the shower entrance allows you to turn on the water and adjust the temperature without standing directly underneath the showerhead.
You’ll appreciate this little detail every time you shower.
A thermostatic valve helps maintain a more consistent water temperature, even when water pressure changes elsewhere in the home.
Some shower systems also offer separate volume controls, allowing you to adjust the water flow without changing your preferred temperature.
Depending on the system, this can make your daily shower routine much more convenient.
A handheld showerhead is one of those features that quickly becomes indispensable.
It’s useful for:
An adjustable slide bar also allows the showerhead height to be changed depending on who’s using it.
A shower niche is a recessed shelf built into the shower wall, providing a convenient place for shampoo, conditioner, soap and other products.
But don’t simply put it wherever it happens to fit.
Consider the height, width and depth of the products you actually use. A tiny niche might look neat, but it won’t be very useful if you can’t fit your everyday bottles inside.
For larger households, consider a wider niche or multiple compartments.
Also remember that proper waterproofing behind and around the niche is essential. Tiling alone does not make a niche waterproof.
Large-format shower wall tiles can reduce the number of grout joints, which means fewer areas where soap residue and grime can collect.
For shower floors, smaller mosaic tiles are often a practical choice because they accommodate the slope needed for drainage.
Pay attention to slip suitability when selecting flooring for wet areas.
Frameless and simpler glass enclosure designs can create a clean, open appearance while reducing some of the tracks, corners and hardware that require cleaning.
However, don’t forget about practical considerations.
Check:
Shower glass should be measured for the actual finished space, not simply ordered based on preliminary dimensions.
A curbless shower creates a more open, seamless look and eliminates the need to step over a traditional shower threshold.
It can also make entering and exiting the shower easier.
However, these showers require careful planning for floor height, drainage, waterproofing and water containment. They are not simply a matter of removing the curb.
Moisture management is an important part of shower design.
A properly sized exhaust fan with suitable outdoor ducting helps remove moisture and reduce condensation.
The Bottom Line
Your shower should work as well as it looks. By thinking about controls, storage, tile, glass and waterproofing before installation, you can avoid many of the frustrations that come with poorly planned showers.
At Vanity Mart, we offer a selection of shower systems, shower bases, glass enclosures, waterproof wall panels, tile and accessories to help bring your shower design together.
Visit our Waterloo showroom to explore your options.
