5 things you need to consider when designing a shower

Nothing beats stepping into a hot shower at the end of a long day. Or, for those morning showerers out there, before heading out to tackle the day. Understandably, the shower is an important part of the modern home.

While there are a number of off-the-shelf showers available, custom designs are where you can create something that fits both your own personal tastes and the space you have available in your bathroom. 

Here are five things to consider when designing your own custom shower.

Pick the right showerhead

Rain showerheads, massage heads, standard heads and more – there’s seemingly no end to the options available. For your own custom shower, we think it’s best to always include a standard head, and simply add on others if you’d like to a little more luxury. 

Why? Well, a rain shower head is all well and good, but it’s going to prove an annoyance if you don’t want to get your hair wet!

Note that some vendors also sell shower heads that perform multiple functions.

Where does the showerhead go?

Everyone’s used those showers that somehow manage to get water all over the floor, or feature shower heads that are impossible to turn on without actually being subjected to a blast of cold water. During the planning stages, make sure you position your showerhead (or heads) so you can turn them on without getting wet. 

Accessibility

Always think ahead when embarking on a renovation or new build project – this especially applies to accessibility. Hand rails, easily accessible shelves and more are useful considerations. We also think it’s a good idea to go for a curbless design, so you can step in and out of the shower easily, without risk of tripping over.

Install a bench

You may have seen shower benches when browsing through some of our beautiful bathroom images. A shower bench can be a great way to relax, store your shampoos, soaps and other products – and it’s also useful if you need to shave your legs. If you have the space, we think they’re worth considering. This leads on to our next point ...

Shop around for the best tiles

You’re going to be standing on them and staring straight at them, so make sure you choose tiles that are both high quality and visually appealing. 

Good choices include natural stone, porcelain and marble. Note that your bathroom will look much more spacious if you use the same tiles throughout the entire space.

Pay attention to lighting

A downlight or two in the ceiling is certainly the easiest lighting solution for your shower, but is it the most attractive? Probably not. 

With LED strip lights hidden in the nooks and eves of your shower, you can create some really dramatic lighting. If you opt for LEDs, you can often change the colour too, adjusting the hue to match your tiles and fittings.

Consult with an expert beforehand

Yes, it sounds obvious, but this tip will save you the most hassle down the line. One of the reasons it pays to have a chat with a plumber is to find out whether or not your fittings are compatible with your pipes and home’s water heating abilities. Opting for multiple shower heads may look good on paper, but there could be hidden costs.

Similarly, speaking with a designer will help you to understand all of the options available from a design perspective. For example, they may suggest floating vanities to open up a small bathroom, or expanding a window to let more light into the shower.

Get inspired

If you think you’re ready to move on to the next stage of your shower planning, take a look some of the shower offerings from the companies in our gallery below. 

We’ve also got this useful luxury shower guide which includes further tips and advice.

Story by: David Renwick

Photography by: Various