We went off for a long weekend and stayed at a wonderful condo with a view of the Gulf of Mexico. However, as fine as the condo is, the shower layout left lots to be desired. The controls were put in the wrong location, the shower head was set too low to get a taller person, the clunky glass door was all wobbly and unattractive, there wasn’t a location for soap and shampoo, and more. Thus taking a shower wasn’t enjoyable in any way.
What bothered me most about this was, with just a little forethought and no extra price, the shower may have been quite great. There was considerable space and a lot of natural lighting in the bathroom. My guess is that the shower wasn’t nicer simply because the builder and designer did not consider the shower in any way.
Here are 8 tips on how best to prevent this when you choose to remodel your bathroom.
Jamie Herzlinger
1. Right sizing. I hate showers that are too small and therefore are claustrophobic. When we were children, it is like those showers in summer camp. For if I was 10 but not now, Fine. So to get the best size I will ask customers to stand with their arms outstretched and then turn into a circle. This circle will be the minimum size shower the client will want. If you have the area, a good rule of thumb to follow is that the shower ought to be a minimum of 60″ by 36″. Of course the shower can get larger as we include things such as a bench or other feature.
ASID, Christopher A Rose AIA
2. A simple reach to the controls. Another pet peeve is when the shower controls are placed such that I have to walk in the shower to turn the water off or on. That initial burst of ice cold water getting me wet is something we could all do without. Setting the controls at a place that is can be obtained from outside the shower area is simple and well worth the few feet of extra piping.
Andre Rothblatt Architecture
3. Bench. Whether this is a place to sit down and relax (especially if it’s at a steam shower) or a prop that enables you to easily shave your legs, benches are essential elements of a well designed tub. This bench, set where the is the least ceiling height, which makes the shower even more usable and fun.
ZeroEnergy Design
And, lest we forget, shower seats could be fun.
John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA
Shower benches can also be made to fold to be from the way too.
Bill Fry Construction – Wm. H. Fry Const. Co..
4. A location for soap and shampoo. A small, recess from the shower wall with a shelf or two works magic when there are numerous bottles of shampoo, conditioner, conditioner and more. Size the niche to accommodate the tallest bottle you’ll use and be sure that you slope the shelf towards the shower to allow it to shed water easily.
MN Builders
5. A deluge of shower heads. From the conventional, wall mounted head into a rain head to body sprays to hand held showers, there’s an amazing wealth of shower heads available today. Just make sure that there’s enough hot water and water pressure to accommodate all of these. Definitely a tankless hot water heater near a shower like this can come in handy once the showering goes for awhile.
Gelotte Hommas Architecture
Or if the handhelds are in conflict.
6. Keep it glowing with natural lighting. Showers don’t have to be in the darkest corner of the bathroom. But when they are, put in the distance to brighten up.
Bud Dietrich, AIA
And use a glass door the light filters into the bathroom.
Neiman Taber Architects
Or just a skylight when there’s no window.
John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA
7. Consider an open shower. You desire another shower and bathtub but you simply have a narrow, tight area. Consider an “open shower” that puts the bathtub after the shower, as revealed here.
John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA
8. Go curbless. A curbless shower is not only for those with difficulty getting around. A curbless shower can turn the whole toilet into a showering room.
More shower layout inspiration:
Your Shower: Make Room for a Bench
Step Into a Refreshing Outdoor Shower
The No-Threshold Shower: Access With Style