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Open Concept Bathroom Showers: Can You Embrace This Design Idea?
ProSource | 1/12/2016 | Project Tips
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At one time, updating a bathroom shower might have meant installing a new shower door. Now, some homeowners who remodel their bathroom shower space are doing away with doors (and even walls) altogether, creating open, airy shower spaces.
These open showers are gaining popularity with homeowners who want to maximize their bathroom’s perceptual space, and minimize the presence of walls, doors and curtains.
The Benefits Of Opening Up
An open shower design can certainly be aesthetically pleasing. Fewer walls and doors can give your bathroom a more expansive, serene, contemporary feel…like having a luxury spa in your own home.
Fewer shower walls and doors also means less surface area to keep clean – an added bonus for bathroom showers that are used often.
Open showers offer greater accessibility. Because they are often “curbless,” meaning that they have no curb around the shower floor area, they can enable more independent use by people in wheelchairs or who require the use of a walker or cane.
Finally, open showers are more convenient to use. No need to open a door or pull a curtain. Simply walk in, turn on the water and shower.
Before You Forgo Walls However, Think About Privacy
Less enclosure around a shower also means less privacy. For this reason, showering in an open area might feel uncomfortable for some homeowners. If your bathroom is shared by multiple family members, especially simultaneously, a more private, enclosed shower might be a more practical solution.
A Few Other Requirements For Open Shower Success
If you’re ready to open up your shower area there are a few other things you need to consider, starting with your space. Depending on where you plan to place your shower, and how open the design will be, you may need to dedicate an area of at least 6.5 feet in both directions.
If your open shower is also curbless, you need to have adequate drainage. The floors should be slanted to facilitate this. Depending on the size of your shower you might also consider installing an extra drain, or a long trough drain, to help keep water from sitting on your bathroom floor.
Remember that an open shower can expose the rest of your bathroom to more moisture, in the form of steam and splashed water. Keep this in mind when choosing bathroom materials such as cabinets and flooring. The ability to withstand wetness is a must.
Review inspiration and the online catalog of flooring and bath products. Find the look you desire, and add the images to the myProSource Project Center to share with your friends and, of course, your trade professional.
The specialized requirements of an open shower, and the impact it can have on your entire bathroom design, are just two reasons to seek the expertise of a qualified designer in your planning process.
You’ll find this expertise at your local ProSource Showroom. When it comes to open showers, a ProSource designer can help you “open up” a world of possibilities.
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