- Find inspiration. Look for walk-in shower ideas in shelter magazines and at bath showrooms and home centers. Meet with a bathroom designer or construction professional to discuss your project, firm up goals, and solicit bids if needed.
- Be space-savvy. When planning a walk-in shower, make sure there will be a minimum of 32 inches between the shower and the room’s other fixtures. Walk-in showers should supply at least 36x36 inches of space per person, so double that amount if two people will be using the shower at one time. Remember: Hinged shower doors must open outward and require 30 inches of clearance.
- Review your options. Standard prefab shower kits range in size from 31x31 inches up to 36x48 inches and are available as one-piece stalls, as a shower pan and three walls, and as customizable units. But if you want a custom look, you’ll want to build a walk-in shower from scratch. This allows you to devise a stylish shower enclosure or opt for a wet-room-style shower, which is a barrier-free showering space that opens to the rest of the bathroom.
- Think about entry and accessibility. Opt for a curbless shower or a low-threshold entry so you can safely move in and out of the shower. Consider whether you want to leave the shower’s entry undressed or add a curtain or hinged or track-style doors. Opting for an open doorway? Make sure the shower walls, base, and showerhead layout are designed to contain spraying water.
- Contemplate functional forms. Custom-built walk-in showers can take on any shape that your space and budget allow. If your bathroom is small and/or dark, opt for a seamless glass enclosure that allows light and eyes to move freely through the space. Other good options include floor-to-ceiling glass-block walls or knee walls topped with frosted glass; both designs promote privacy without blocking light.
- Deck out shower interiors. Do you want a rainfall showerhead, a standard showerhead, steam-shower fittings, and a handheld spray? How about a built-in bench or integrated ledge? A shaving mirror? Remember to include toiletry niches, lighting, and ventilation in your shower plans. Opt for shower controls and showerheads that match other metal finishes in your bathroom.
- Control the controls. Install wall-mount shower controls 48-52 inches above the floor; place the controls so they are accessible from inside and outside the shower. Mount showerheads 69-72 inches above the shower floor. Keep in mind that sprays from traditional showerheads extend as much as 4 feet.
- Select stylish surfaces. Shower walls and floors take a fashionable spin when clad in solid-surfacing, marble or quartz slabs, or river-rock, stone, glass, or glazed ceramic tiles. Devise a jazzy tile design that raises shower walls to fine-art status. Or, stretch your budget by using inexpensive field tiles to create a backdrop for inlaid colorful bands and borders crafted from pricier tiles.
- Think long-term. Building a walk-in shower is an expensive proposition, so it should accommodate your showering needs for years to come. Including universal-design features, such as a wide entry, a level threshold, slip-resistant flooring, grab bars, a bench, and a handheld shower spray, ensures your stylish new shower ages as gracefully as you do.
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