Designer advice: 4 things to think about when designing a shower space

Want to refresh your shower space but don’t know where to start? With so many styles and options to choose from, it can be hard to know what will work best in your room. Here, Neil Curtis, Senior Designer from Ripples Bath, talks through the top things to consider when designing a shower space.

1 | Get savvy with storage

If room is tight within a shower area, concealed fittings are the perfect choice. By hiding the pipes within the wall cavity, the fittings sit flush to the wall, reducing the possibility of bumping into them when showering and creating a sleek finished look. You can create additional in-shower storage by utilising the void in a stud or false wall to build alcoves for storing shower products, in turn maximising space on the floor. These alcoves can easily become a real design feature, by adding lighting and/or contrasting tiles to inject personality into the space. Whilst recesses will cost more to install than a shower basket or caddy, it’s worth the additional installation cost for the hotel-inspired finish it creates. If space allows, you may also want to consider an in-built shower bench which is certainly seeing a resurgence as more and more of us look to create multi-generational homes. Not only does a shower bench offer another easy-to-reach place to store shower products, it also offers a place to perch which is useful for younger children, older people and those looking to future-proof their home.

2 | Choose the right glass 

Shower glass comes in many shapes and sizes but there’s always an option to suit your space. Firstly, think about whether you want a shower enclosure or a more open space with a shower screen. If you’re opting for an enclosure, consider which shape will work best, such as pentagonal to utilise the corner of a room or three-sided if you have a bit more space available. If you go for shower glass, think about which style you like, whether that be Crittall-style, fluted or the emerging trend, etched. Don’t forget the small details too; if your taps and shower are going to be coloured or special-finish then choose hinges and handles to match for a look that ties together seamlessly. Also, you can complete your shower glass with an easy clean coating which is low maintenance and limescale resistant, increasing the longevity of the glass and making cleaning much easier.

3 | Be brave with brassware

It’s important to invest in quality brassware for your bathroom because it’s subjected to a lot of wear and tear. Your shower may be used multiple times a day depending on your household so you will quickly tell if it’s not up to scratch. The last thing you want to do is have all your fixtures and fittings concealed during installation, only to have a problem with the brassware itself later down the line. There are so many beautiful special finishes to choose from now nowadays, from rose gold to ‘living finish’, there really is something to suit every style.

4 | Go eco

Sustainability within bathrooms has never been more important than it is right now and with the cost of living also rising exponentially, it’s important to consider the ways in which you can minimise excess energy and water consumption within the bathroom. One way to reduce water usage is to choose a shower head fitted with a flow restrictor. Luckily, this option doesn’t mean you end up with a substandard shower as each flow restrictor shower has been carefully designed to reduce water consumption but still offer a pleasurable showering experience. Alternatively, you can opt for a technology-led shower which enriches shower water with air droplets, making for an invigorating shower experience.

For more bathroom advice from our team of specialist bathroom designers, download or request a copy of our free Style Guide.

Want to find out where to start when it comes to re-designing a bathroom? Read our expert advice with helpful information on every part of the project.