Important Elements of Walk-In Showers: Buying Tips

Building, renovating and decorating a bathroom can be very daunting tasks. There are really too many things to think about, and everything you put in the room needs to be both extremely practical and very stylish, or in other words, both fulfil its function and purpose and benefit the appearance of the space.

And within the bathroom, often one of the biggest challenges the shower space. Showers come in many different forms and models, and most simply we can divide them into two groups – prefabricated and custom-built. Even though building a walk-in shower takes a lot of time, it’s messy and more time-consuming and more expensive, many people still choose it for their contemporary bathrooms, and for many reasons.

Unlike with installing a prefabricated shower unit, where there isn’t so much mess, and you don’t really need to think about many things – except choosing a quality one-piece shower you like, when it comes to building a walk-in shower from scratch in your bathroom, it means spending more time and money. Nevertheless, if you are lucky to have enough space for it, you should definitely go for it.

You probably already know how you want your shower to look, and you most likely have at least a general idea about the shower floor and the screens. But like houses, showers are built from the bottom up, so after making sure you know the limits of your space, after measuring everything carefully, as well as learning as much as you can about your plumbing and the pipes, you have to dedicate some time to these small but vital parts and look at bathroom shower grates and drains, learn about your bathroom shower tapware options, etc.

And regardless of whether you are buying the larger or the smallest elements for your walk-in shower, you should make sure that when you are choosing them, you take into consideration several things, including the available space and its limits, functionality, price, style, ease of instalment, etc.

The Shower Grate and the Drain

Shower drains and bathroom shower grates may not be very exciting to shop for, but they are vital for a beautiful contemporary walk-in shower, that’s also highly functional. There are many different types of shower drains, but they can mainly be divided into two categories: point or linear drains.

Linear drains have been gaining popularity lately, because of their contemporary look. They are long and narrow which is why they are mostly installed along the wall. Point drains, on the other hand, are typically located in the middle of the floor, although you could instal linear drains in the middle as well. Point drains are the more popular choice, mostly because they are quite easy to fit in, meaning they are cheaper to install.

The next step is to choose the style of the shower floor grate. It is the part that will be visible, so you’ll most likely choose one based on your bathroom style. Normally people match them with the finishes of the tapware, the frames of the screens (if you choose framed screens), etc. Thankfully you can find a huge variety of styles, so you can easily make this vital part of your shower an asset when it comes to the style of your bathroom.

Primarily you can get a square grate for a centre point drain with different finishes and in different designs or a longer rectangular shower grate for a linear drain. Of course, these come in a huge variety of styles, and you have to find the ones that complement the aesthetic of your bathroom best. If you prefer minimalism and a sleeker look, you can also go for a more “invisible” option for the grate, and get a shower grate tile insert, regardless of whether you have a point and a linear drain.

The Shower Tap

Most people choose the tapware for the entire bathroom in one style, so you’ll probably purchase a shower tapware with the same or similar design and finish as the rest of the bathroom. Aside from the size, the design and the overall look – the materials, the finish, etc. shower tapware also comes in an incredible number of styles and functionalities. All those different types of taps may not only install differently, but they also work in different ways. And after you decide on how you want your taps to work, simply find a design that you like and that matches well with your bathroom’s interior style. If you aren’t limited by the plumbing in your bathroom, the opportunities are endless.

The Showerhead

When it comes to the showerhead you also have a lot to decide. Because, although the aesthetics and the practicality of every element of your bathroom may influence the level of comfort and relaxation you get when you take a shower, it all comes down to the way the water falls on you. Even simple handheld shower head or a fixed one can be a great and beautiful option, if you choose well.

Of course, if you want something luxurious and very relaxing, and the space allows it, you can install a fixed rainfall showerhead… However, you can also go for an overhead shower head combined with a handheld shower head for a cheaper and easier to install option. It all depends on your own preferences and your budget.