Making the bathing experience luxurious is a dream for many homeowners. After all, a bathroom is that space that allows you to wash away your worries and stress! If you are considering adding a walk-in shower to your bathroom, it can make for a stylish and comfortable experience.

Such a shower can create the illusion of more space, giving your bathroom an attractive and neat look. And those who prefer a quick shower to long soaks, this fixture is sure to suit your active lifestyle.

Top walk-in showers
Walk-in showers are stylish, functional, and elegant additions for any modern bathroom. This gives your bathroom an organized look and feel, being one of the most effective and useful ways of utilizing space in your bathroom. Listed below are the common types of walk-in showers you can choose from.

Top types of walk-in showers — Based on the design

  • Glass-enclosed shower
    If you wish to create an uninterrupted transition between the shower space and the remaining bathroom, glass is an apt option. In a glass-enclosed shower, the shower is mounted on the wall that runs from the floor to the ceiling in between the glass area. Shelves are also mounted on the wall inside the glass cabin. A king-sized showerhead can be a style statement in this case.
  • Light-filled shower
    The presence of a window in your bathroom, irrespective of its size, could make a massive impact. If especially placed in your shower cabin, it could enhance the look of the space. The feel of the sunlight embracing you while taking a bath is unique and divine. This can generate positive thoughts and vibes within you. The shower, immersed in sunlight, will have a soothing impact. This is the best way you can connect with nature while taking a shower in your house. You can enhance the look of your shower cabin by installing a decorative slab or mounting waterproof decorative items.
  • Shower and steam room in a single space
    You can combine a steam generator with a walk-in shower enclosure to make a steam room in your bathroom. This is the easiest way of creating your spa. The amenities you add are very important to the final look of the area. You must have a window that can be opened for cross-ventilation while taking a shower. However, remember that the steam generator is costly and requires periodic maintenance.
  • Small shower unit
    If you have a space constraint in your bathroom, you can still have a small walk-in shower without wasting a lot of space. You must choose glass material for the enclosure of your shower cabin, as it will provide a seamless transition and not make the area look cramped. You should opt for a glass cabin with straight lines, as it will reduce area wastage. Frameless doors are a wise choice.
  • Private spa
    If budget and space are the least of your concerns, you can incorporate a complete spa in your walk-in shower area. You can go for a sitting bench, luxurious spa-like shower and fixtures mounted on the wall to store your regular products, all inside the enclosure. The entire arrangement can be near a large window so that natural light can easily flood the shower area.
  • Nature-inspired
    If you are a nature lover and want to feel close to it while taking a shower, you should use wood and stone as materials in your walk-in shower. You can try out different combinations of these materials and finally create a picturesque design. You can have river stones placed on the floor too, to get a more natural look.
  • Open
    Although glass enclosures or curtains separate the shower area from the rest of the bathroom commonly, these features are not necessary for walk-in showers. You can make the bathroom more spacious by not having any partition and having an open shower.

Top types of walk-in showers — Based on the shape

  • Round shower
    The contour of the walk-in shower is the most vital element that defines the whole bathroom space. Round showers are usually visually appealing, especially if they are enclosed in glass. However, a round shower is not an optimal way of utilizing the space in your bathroom.
  • Rectangular enclosure
    A rectangular enclosure is based on straight lines and is square or rectangular. They come in a wide variety of dimensions to fit into any space. These are usually spacious and open. This is the best way of utilizing the space in your bathroom. These walk-in showers can be easily placed in small bathrooms as well.
  • Curved enclosure
    As the name suggests, these walk-in showers have a rounded entry. In these, one end is squared, and the other side that faces the room is of a rounded shape. These enclosures resemble the shape of a slice of pie.
  • Neo angular enclosure showers
    These walk-in showers possess five sides and are ultramodern, with no sharp edges. These are small enclosures in which the door is placed in the center, which makes it easier for you to enter or exit the enclosure. These are fitted in one corner of your bathroom.

Benefits of walk-in showers

Walk-in showers are not only recognized for their stylish and exquisite designs but also for their versatility. Listed below are the benefits of a walk-in shower.

  • Walk-in showers are easy and safe to use. This makes them more manageable and accessible than regular showers and tubs, especially for elderly people, kids, and people with disabilities. Walk-in showers are accessible from the wheelchair, which gives them a competitive edge over other showers.
  • They give your bathroom an elegant and minimalistic look. Because of the straightforward and simplistic design of walk-in showers, they make your bathroom look brighter and airier. They offer effective space utilization and, hence, can be easily fitted in smaller bathrooms.
  • It is easier to clean and maintain a walk-in shower than a tub or regular shower. As these are simple and mostly made along straight lines, they have lesser areas and parts where dirt and mold can accumulate. The design and structure of walk-in showers help trap the vapors inside, thereby reducing the damage to your walls.
  • These are usually made of thick and durable materials so that they do not get damaged easily. As walk-in showers have lesser parts, they are less prone to breakage too.
  • Such showers are available in a wide array of designs that can also be customized in a number of ways according to your requirement. A lot of different features like steam, spa, and sauna can be added to walk-in showers.

Cons of walk-in showers

  • Either walk-in showers have no doors or have glass walls for separation, which offers less privacy for a shower. It is not apt for commercial areas where people have to share a bathroom, as only one person can use it at a given time.
  • As most walk-in showers do not have a door or a curtain, you can feel cold while or after you finish taking a shower. The glass barrier blocks any undesired stream of air. The air that moves from the shower area to the other parts of the bathroom makes the room cooler.
  • If the walk-in shower has no door, there is a greater probability of splashing water from the shower area to the remaining part of your bathroom. These splashes of water make the floor wet, increasing your chances of slips or falls if you do not move with caution.
  • Irrespective of the type of walk-in shower, moisture and water will splash from the shower to the rest of the bathroom in the form of steam or small droplets. This moisture and humidity can make the area damp, encouraging mold and causing damage to your bathroom.
  • Though walk-in showers look simple and minimalistic, they can be costlier than a bathtub or a normal shower. Some walk-in showers might have intricate drainage systems that increase their cost even further. If you wish to add steam, sauna, and spa to your walk-in shower, this will significantly increase its cost too.

Things to keep in mind while installing walk-in showers
Although the installation of a walk-in shower seems to be a simple and easy task, you need to keep a few things in mind. For example, choosing the right material and planning the space can affect the outcome. Listed here are some points you must consider before installing a walk-in shower.

  • Consider construction costs
    Installing a walk-in shower is a process that requires extensive planning. It requires access to the plumbing area by breaking the walls and making the walls moisture-resistant and then fitting the drains. A lot of pipework has to be taken care of near the shower area, and then only the walls can be re-tiled. This is an expensive and lengthy process.
  • Always review your options
    Before finalizing your shower, you must gauge the pros and cons of the various types of walk-in showers available in the market. In case you want to get your walk-in shower customized, you must build it from scratch and consult an architect.
  • Be smart with space
    Once you are certain that you want to install a walk-in shower, you must plan for its space allocation. A minimum of 30 inches of the area is required in the enclosure of a walk-in shower. If you have a glass separation in your walk-in shower, make sure there is enough space for its smooth opening.
  • Think about functional forms
    A custom-made walk-in shower can be designed according to your space and budget. If you have a small space, a walk-in shower with no doors should be given preference as it will make the area look bigger and brighter. Also, always opt for a walk-in shower built along straight lines instead of rounded or neo-angular ones, as the former will occupy less space.
  • Pick stylish surfaces
    If budget is not a big concern, you can make your a more elegant and stylish walk-in shower by incorporating marble slabs, stone, and glass in its design. You could also add designer tiles on the walls in the enclosure to give it a chic look. You could also add a fancy jacuzzi if the space permits.
  • Think about accessibility
    Do not install your shower at a height where your children cannot easily access it. If you have a door, always consider whether the door will open on the inside or the outside, as other fixtures have to be installed according to it.

Tips for maintaining a walk-in shower
Some quick and easy tips for maintaining your walk-in shower are as follows:

  • To get rid of extra humidity, you must turn on the exhaust fan before taking a shower.
  • You must ensure proper storage space for your bar soap, conditioner, and shampoo. If these are left on the ground, they can leave behind a slimy and sticky residue and promote mildew growth.
  • The shower spray should be used after you take a shower to prevent hard water growth.
  • Use glass cleaners and clean cloth to clean and wipe the glass panels after every showering session to maintain the glass.
  • Cover the mortar lines periodically to avoid hard water marks and mildew from developing.

All in all, a walk-in shower can take your bathroom to a whole new level of style and functionality. However, keeping its pros and cons in mind is important, besides choosing the perfect design and size. Getting professional advice is recommended if you are not sure or if you are planning to create a luxurious and unique showering space for yourself.