How to choose a walk-in shower
Over the past years, walk-in showers and wet rooms have become a popular option when people decide to renovate their bathroom. When it comes to practicality and space, walk-in showers provide much better shower solutions for any age group and are particularly adapted for people with restricted mobility.
Other advantages of walk-in showers are that they are easy to access, take less space, and are easy to maintain compared to traditional shower bathroom options.
So, if you are planning to design a new bathroom or renovate your existing one and need help on deciding whether to choose a walk-in shower enclosure, classic shower or a bath shower, I’ll give you some advice below to make it easy to choose your ideal shower solution.
What is a walk-in shower?
What the name says, just walk into the showering space without opening a door. A walk-in shower has got one or two glass panel enclosures to contain the water within the shower area and a shower tray or tiled area which is very close to the floor, usually a couple of centimeters. This shouldn’t be confused with a wet room where there is no shower tray at all and the water runs on the same level as the floor. This is in contrast to a traditional shower, where you need to open a glass door or a shower curtain to access the shower making you effectively fully enclosed in the shower area. Furthermore, there is a much higher shower tray to step into.
There are many different types and sizes of walk-in showers which consist of narrow framed or frameless glass panels which ensure easy access to get in and out without opening a door. A walk-in shower comes with a low level shower tray which creates a minimal look and can be a great option if you’ve got a small bathroom.
There are various styles of walk-in showers depending on the size of your bathroom. You can have your walk-in shower between two walls which will have a single glass panel enclosure (recessed). The second option is a corner installation which comes with two glass panels, whilst the third option will give you a sleek designer look with one single glass panel floating from the ceiling or wall to the floor where the shower can be accessed on both sides (floating). The shower trays come with the walk-in shower type you’ve chosen to match the shower area space.
What is a wet room?
A wet room is effectively a walk-in shower without the shower tray which means that there is no part of the floor which is raised. The whole bathroom floor is one piece and the walk-in shower is separated by one or two glass panels. The floor in the shower area is slightly inclined so that the water flows in the direction of the drain. Therefore, the entire wet room needs to be completely sealed and waterproofed in order to prevent any leaking.
As mentioned earlier, unlike traditional showers, the main advantage of a wet room is that there are no glass door panels to open, making them easy to access, whilst also having no door handles to clean. Instead, one or two glass panels separate the wet room from the rest of the bathroom. Glass panels are usually frameless and go all the way to the floor. They can be either fixed to the wall, or you could have a walk-through design, where the panel is held in place to the wall by one or two poles.
Walk-in showers and wet rooms are ideal for small bathrooms
Walk-in showers or wet rooms are perfect for small bathrooms as they help to create the illusion of more space. Unlike baths or traditional shower enclosures which take up more space with shower doors to open and high trays needed to access the shower area, walk-in showers are an easy and stylish shower design option for smaller bathrooms.
There is hardly any or no visual interruption in the bathroom, thus the space will look ultimately larger and brighter. Walk-in showers are no clutter solution for small bathrooms, instead, they further enhance the space making it practical, spacious, and convenient to access the shower area. Another advantage is that there are no door handles and hinges to clean and maintain, giving you more time to enjoy your shower!
Choosing tiles for walk-in showers and wet rooms
Walk-in showers or wet rooms can create a unique look and style in small bathrooms. You can create a real impact by choosing the right tiles. You can keep the same wall and floor tiles inside the shower area to create an illusion of space. On the other hand, you can also create a modern stylish look using the shower area as a feature wall.
Another smart and stylish design idea is having a built-in toiletry wall storage area using the same tiles from the walk-in shower to maximise space even further in the shower area. A light can be installed in that area giving a beautiful finishing touch to your walk-in shower. Why not add some industrial brushed brass or copper taps for example.
Underfloor heating in walk-in showers and wet rooms
Whatever your bathroom needs are, whether you choose a walk-in shower, a wet room or decide on a traditional shower design option such as a bath or shower bath, I’m available to guide and advise you on your next bathroom project. Just get in touch via the contact me form & looking forward to hearing from you!