Elevate Your Shower Remodel: 11 Tips for a Blend of Luxury and Function!
The shower has transformed from a quick morning stop into a space for pure relaxation and rejuvenation. Today’s homeowners are looking for features that combine durability with elements of luxury, creating a personal retreat that still meets everyday needs. To help inspire your next remodel, we spoke with design professionals about the top finishes, fixtures, colors, and materials that bring a fresh, elegant feel to any shower space.
1. Infuse Spa-Like Elements
Bring the serenity of a spa to your home with features like a steam system, multiple spray heads, or a rain shower head. Adding these elements can create a calming environment that offers relaxation beyond the daily routine. And don’t forget a built-in bench for the ultimate touch of luxury and practicality.
2. Combine Overhead and Handheld Showerheads
For a versatile showering experience, many designers recommend a combo of an overhead rain shower and a handheld showerhead. This gives you both the luxury of a rainfall shower and the functionality of a handheld for easy rinsing and cleaning. It also makes your shower adaptable to different height people using your shower. You know the kids love your bathroom better :) TIP: A hand shower with additional plumbing on the wall can serve as a focal point in the bathroom, especially when integrated with dramatic tilework.
3. Go Bold with Shower Jets
For a true spa-at-home vibe, water jets can deliver targeted streams of water that relieve muscle tension. With adjustable settings, you can customize your experience, from a gentle mist to a powerful massage. Tip: Delta’s H2Okinetic PowerDrench Spray, which has special technology that sculpts water into a unique wave pattern, forming a powerful, drenching spray is a pretty cool showerhead.
4. Opt for a Sliding Handheld Shower
If space or budget constraints rule out a dual shower station, consider a handheld shower on a sliding rod. It provides flexibility for different heights and adds a striking focal point when paired with elegant tilework.
5. Future-Proof with Accessibility Features
Adding features like grab bars and curbless entries enhances accessibility for years to come, while also adding style. A sleek, curbless shower adds a streamlined look and is perfect for maintaining open flow within the bathroom.
6. Invest in Built-In Storage
Create ample, accessible storage with recessed niches or a built-in bench. Opt for larger and deeper niches to accommodate shampoo bottles, razors, and other essentials without cluttering the space. Tip: Go bigger and deeper than your contractor recommends. Most people have oversize shampoo bottles, soap, razors, kids’ products and more. If you don't have pre labled containers you may consider hiding the storage area on the front side so no one can see it.
7. Prioritize Drainage and Lighting
A quality drain prevents standing water, and lighting can make or break your shower space. LED lights or a clerestory window allow for natural and ambient light, creating a welcoming environment.
8. Embrace Smart Features
Smart technology is everywhere, including in the bathroom. Smart showers have many features that can make your shower experience more convenient and safer, including:
- Digital temperature control: Set and lock in your preferred water temperature, and use sensors to ensure the water is the right temperature.
- Safety features: Prevent scalding with built-in safety features, like heat range limits for children.
- Voice control: Use a voice command system, like Alexa, to control your shower hands-free
9. Choose the Right Door and Curtain Options
A frameless glass shower provides a sleek, open feel, while a fabric curtain can soften the look and add a touch of color or pattern. For guest bathrooms, some designers favor curtains as a budget-friendly, flexible option to adapt the decor over time. Shower doors, on the other hand, offer a watertight barrier that keeps water contained and prevents splashes on the floor. Curtains offer more versatility than doors, allowing for easy, cost-effective updates to the bathroom's style. In larger bathrooms, opting for no door or curtain can create a more spacious look with less upkeep.
Tip: Most shower curtains and liners are machine washable. Use a mild detergent and a gentle cycle for best results.
10. Pick a Striking Tile and Grout Finish
Make a statement with bold feature tiles or porcelain in matte finishes for safety. Consider colored grout to add a custom touch while keeping maintenance easy. Tip: Choose matte-finished tiles for shower floors to enhance slip resistance; smaller tiles, like mosaics, provide even better traction. For the walls, opt for a glossier finish—these tiles are easier to clean, reflect light well, and keep the space feeling bright and open.
11. Experiment with Mixed Hardware Finishes
Don’t feel limited to matching everything. Try mixing hardware finishes, like matte black with brushed nickel, for a unique and balanced look that enhances the overall aesthetic of the shower space.Metals, like colors, come in temperatures, with warmer tones being those we associate with yellows like brass, copper, gold, and bronze. In the same way, silver tones like stainless steel, nickel, chrome, and aluminum are considered cool tones. Black may be neutral, but it acts like a cool metal would. Any black metal, like cast iron, can easily work with other metal tones in your bathroom design plan.TIP: Try pairing shiny, polished fixtures with matte metals for a clean, modern look. For a sleek bathroom, try brushed finishes in complementary colors. Oil-rubbed bronze allows you to see just hints of bronze, so look for other warm-toned metals like polished bronze, copper, or even gold.
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