There are so many choices to make when you’re planning a bathroom renovation. Will you have both a shower and a bathtub? Will the shower be over the bath or in its own area? What style of shower screen is best? Do you even want a screen or should you create a wet room? What kind of showerhead do you want? What about the drain? When it comes to bathroom shower ideas, the list goes on. But I’ve compiled a bunch of tips here that should help you make the right decision. And you can create a little slice of self-care luxury no matter how much room you have to work with.
Below, a selection of chic and stylish bathroom shower ideas for you to draw some inspiration from when planning your dream shower space.
1. Take the subway
When it comes to bathroom shower ideas, subway tile will never go out of style. Tiling your shower is a great way to add colour, pattern and interest in a confined space without overwhelming.
2. Think about function
Build in functionality. Things like double niches, ledges, bench seats or even wraparound mirrors.
3. Add pops of black hardware
An easy update for your shower is to replace tired-looking fixtures with new, striking matte black ones. They look amazing contrasting with bathroom whites. And they’ll instantly modernise your bathroom space. As a little finishing touch you can even add a coordinating black drain cover.
Already wanting a new tapware installed? Get your shower head installation done by a professional.
4. Try zellige tile
Another stunning tile option is sparkling zellige tile. Variegated in colour and texture, it always provides a lot of visual interest.
Tiling, especially with zellige, may seem like an easy DIY given the rough-hewn look. But tiling a shower is actually trickier than tiling other areas of your bathroom. That’s because shower water has to stay away from your subflooring so as not to cause moisture damage underneath. An expert tiler will first add a layer of protection in the form of a waterproofing membrane. (Have a chat with a local bathroom tiler who knows their stuff.)
5. Tap into white
For something a little different, mix up your shower fixtures. Maybe vintage gold-toned showerheads paired with modern white tap fittings and penny mosaic tile.
6. Go for a riser rail
It’s the most convenient option, adjustable for comfort.
7. Make it minimalist with mosaic
Use colour to set the mood, make a bold statement and clearly define your shower space. Ocean colours are ever popular for bathrooms, such as a sparkling mosaic of aquamarine glass tile.
8. Install a Japanese tiny tub in shower
More people are experimenting with unusual tub shapes, such as the Japanese-style tiny tub. It’s a scaled down version of a regular tub that’s perfect for just sitting upright and soaking. Then you can just add a niche – or a double niche- for shower products and a rainfall showerhead.
9. Have a coloured statement screen
What about a statement feature shower, such as a dichroic glass shower screen which appears to have shifting shades? It will definitely stand out from the crowd.
10. Be beachy Boho
Life’s a beach with a beautiful Boho bathroom that evokes blinding white sands and parched driftwood. You can also introduce a vintage vibe with patterned concrete tiles on the floor. This is especially good for adding dramatic contrast to an all white bathroom. The total effect is modern, clean and minimalist but with lots of pattern thanks to the tile.
Want to make Boho work in the rest of the house? Here are some great Bohemian living room ideas.
11. Swoon over a marble slab
There’s no denying that marble bathrooms are forever sleek and classy. Pair with a frameless screen so nothing obstructs your view of the gorgeous stone. Marble lovers also swear by the ease of cleaning, as there’s no grout or tile texture for dirt to get embedded in.
12. Create storage space with a niche or ledge
Adding a storage shelf increases the utility of your shower space. Whether it’s a small niche or a long linear ledge, a shower shelf is a brilliant use of otherwise dead space.
13. Put yourself in the frame
Steel-framed Crittall style shower screens have become popular in recent times. They offer a strong but slim profile that clearly defines the shower space without being too chunky. It’s a great way to bring in a little industrial vibe and some modern black accents, whether you frame clear or frosted glass.
14. Enliven with encaustic tiles
Make patterned encaustic tile the star of the show. Contrast floor colours with plain glossy white subway tiles above.
15. Build in a bench
Having a built-in shower seat or bench gives you the option of resting your weary legs at the end of a long day. Combine with a low niche to hold your personal care products.
Shower benches are the perfect relaxing alternative if you don’t have the space for a tub. Just make sure you have your handset on a riser rail to ensure you don’t need to move a muscle.
16. Opt for barely-there screens
Frameless shower screens are currently in vogue, as people embrace the airiness and lightness that the bare glass imparts. A frameless screen here allows the focus to remain on other elements, like gorgeous tile.
Getting these screens in is tricky business. But luckily there are professional shower screen installers who have all the right equipment and know-how.
17. Choose on-trend green tile
Soft, muted sades of green are usually perfect for bathrooms, bringing serenity and nature vibes. Natural greens can also be enhanced by wooden elements and accents.
Find a bathroom tiler who would be happy to help with this venture.
18. Go for chrome
An unobtrusive classic chrome shower handset allows elements like stone or encaustic tile to take centre stage.
Need a tub spruce up? Speak to an expert who specialises in bath resurfacing to discuss your options.
19. Shower greenery
“Green bathrooms” are now a big thing, thanks to the many health benefits that plants offer when you bring them indoors. Not to mention the pleasing visual appeal of gorgeous plant life in a bathroom!
You can add a little or a lot, even inside your shower. There are many different bathroom plants which are very well suited to the humidity and bright lights of the typical bathroom space.
20. Mixed patterns
Add visual interest by laying tile in contrasting patterns. For instance have a mix of subway tile on the walls plus hexagonal marble tile in the shower niche and floor tile. Brightly painted cupboards or vanity might add even more life and contrast. If you want a hand with painting your bathroom cabinets or walls, contact a local bathroom painting specialist.
21. Mid-century style
Give your bathroom a classic, timeless appeal with a custom-built vanity in a mid-century style. Then modernise the look with subway tile and a frameless shower screen. For something different, think about a screen that features copper fittings and handles. These could complement copper accents in mirrors, wall sconces and vanity pulls. The piéce de resistance? Add a stunning black and white geometric patterned floor tile.
22. Window-style partial screen
Crittall style framed screens demonstrate the defined-outline aesthetic popular in modern bathrooms. The black-edged, clean industrial lines work beautifully with tile. If you get one in a partial size, you can define the shower area in a shower-over-tub space.
23. A double dose of colour
Colour blocking with vibrant contrasting colours is an eye-catching way to use tile in your shower.
24. Opt for an arched frame
Something a little different than a boxy shower screen frame is an arched one. Arches have a soft femininity and contrast well with linear floor tile arrangements.
25. Mix tiles
A simple, pared-down colour palette is given oomph by using a mix of tiles in several different shades and shapes. For example, narrow rectangular tile stacked for the shower walls and lighter tiny square tiles for the shower floor.
26. Lay tile in patterns
Laying tile in a herringbone pattern adds dynamism and livens up a shower space.
For your shower to look its best, make sure your tile and grout are super clean. Find out how much tile and grout cleaning costs to have a professional handle that task for you.
27. Terrazzo bathroom shower
Very popular in contemporary bathrooms right now is the use of terrazzo. Either in the form of tiles and slabs or poured into place (it’s a mix of cement and chips of stone or synthetic materials). Many people love the speckled look of terrazzo, and it comes in an huge range of colours and styles so you’re sure to find one to suit your bathroom décor.
Another popular look is cement tile.
(Renovating your shower? Don’t forget the all-important exhaust fan!)
28. Layer materials
Mix classic materials like white subway tile, marble and brass to achieve depth and texture. A shallow shower niche can be designed to house the fixtures as well as provide a handy spot for your shower products. A black steel Crittall style shower screen completes a classic urban look.
29. Snuggle a tub into the shower space
A tiny shower space can still fit a tub! It may not be a full-size tub, but it will still give you the best of both worlds. A niche increases functionality while light colours visually enlarge the space.
30. Add a dramatic shower curtain
An alternative to a fixed shower screen is, of course, the good old shower curtain. But you don’t have to be limited by what’s available in the homewares stores. Why not be extra and create a unique shower curtain out of a massive sheet of black sailcloth attached to a rail with chrome hooks?
31. Deluxe delight
Go the whole hog and have numerous shower heads with different functions. You could luxuriate under a central rainfall showerhead or share a shower with a love one under wall-mounted double showers. Apart from creating visually-pleasing symmetry, double showers add value to your home. So if you’re doing a bathroom remodel, put double showers on your list!
32. Look down
Drains are available in all kinds of finishes and shapes. But if you’re going for a sleek, streamlined, minimalist shower design, you’ll want to choose a shower drain that seamlessly blends into the décor. You might like the look of an infinity drain, where the water seems to magically run off the edges. Or a practically-invisible wall drain together with a gently sloping shower floor.
33. Make it a wet room
Gaining in popularity for bathroom shower ideas is the wet room or doorless shower/bath. Designed to allow water into every corner, the wet room is a waterproofed bathroom with a shower and tub with no barrier.
No need to worry about the kids getting your whole bathroom floor wet (a pet hate of mine). But you might want to hang your bathrobe out of reach of the shower spray. You’ll need excellent bathroom waterproofing. And you’ll need to consider how slippery the floor might become and factor that into your flooring plan.
34. Go for gold
I love a simple minimalist luxe shower. Simple white subway tile with white grout on a shower wall keeps things classic. And it contrasts nicely with bevelled mini square tiles for an interesting 3D effect. A large gold rainfall showerhead gives you a satisfying drenching while conveying instant glam.
And there you have it – my pick of gorgeous bathroom shower ideas for inspo when it comes to designing your dream shower space.
Want more bathroom shower ideas for your bathroom renovation? Take a look at our in-depth article on bathroom ideas. And our useful price guides will give you an idea of how much a plumber costs, or more specifically, how much it costs for mixer/faucet installation.
I like how you explain that a shower niche is a great way to save space and it becomes multi-use. My wife told me that she would like to renovate our home or sell it to buy a new one but I really like the location of our home. Thanks for sharing this article, I will talk to her about choosing the renovation option and to also think about including shower niches. https://mptenterprises.com/shower-niches