Creating an Efficient Shower Design For Your Bathroom Reno

More and more often, homeowners are choosing to forego their baths for an upgraded shower space. There are hundreds of possibilities when it comes to shower design; however, before designing your space, it is important to answer several questions, including:

• What time of day do you plan on showering?
• Are you hoping to make the shower a relaxing experience?
• Who will be using the shower? Adults? Children? Both?

To put it simply, the shower cannot be an afterthought in design.

Shower Design by Balducci Builders, Inc.

How to Personalize Your Shower

While there are endless ways to design a shower, the main components to keep in mind are 1) who will be using the shower?, and 2) what are their preferences?

If there are several people who use the shower, one way to accommodate everyone's personal preferences would be to incorporate a hand shower with a slide bar to allow for height adjustments for all family members.

Shower Design by Balducci Additions and Remodeling

Want extra personalization? Another way to personalize the shower space is by adding in some (yes, you guessed it) smart technology. There are now smart shower systems available that can connect via iPhone or Android. It allows all users to fully customize anything from lighting, audio, and water consumption and be saved to each user's profile.

In-Home Spa

While bathrooms aren't necessarily growing in square footage size, the shower area is becoming larger. Because of this, a recent trend in shower design is to create a spa-like experience. This is executed by incorporating multiple shower heads and body sprays.

Shower Design by Balducci Additions and Remodeling

Gaining recent popularity in bathroom design are wet rooms. According to Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, the formal definition of a wet room is “a bathroom in which the shower is open or set behind a single wall, its floor area being flush with the floor of the rest of the room and the water draining away through an outlet set into the floor.” Wet rooms convey a spa-like look because of their clean lines and minimal design. Here's a recent blog article on wet room designs.

Other ways to create a spa-like experience in the shower is by including some in-shower seating, or by adding in steam capabilities.

Shower Design for Aging in Place

Aging in place design continues to trend, and it looks like there's no slowing down. The bathroom, and the shower in particular, is an extremely important place to update in aging in place design due to the prevalence of possible injury.

Shower Design with Grab Bar by Balducci Additions and Remodeling

One way to incorporate aging in place design in the bathroom is by installing a low or no threshold shower. No threshold, or curb-less, shower designs are great for those using crutches or a walker. In addition, it can also allow an easier experience when bathing the kids or pets.

Grab bars are a necessity in aging in place design. Luckily, grab bars no longer have to be an eyesore thanks to new designs. There are grab bars on the market that can be disguised a shelf, a towel rack, or even a toilet paper holder.

Other aging in place design ideas include adding hand showers mounted on a slide bar and adding a shower seat that can be folded up when not in use.

Water Conservation

Another reason why showers are growing in popularity is because of their efficiency. Showers are more efficient than baths since they provide hot water longer for longer and are easier to clean up.

Additionally, showers use less water than baths as long as the shower is not running for more than 10 minutes. Luckily, many regions have water conservation regulations; thus, most shower heads that are installed today are low-flow show heads. In the end, showers can save you time and money on heating and water bills.

Trending Materials

A popular option in shower design is to use a glass shower enclosure. This not only keeps the bathroom from looking too dark, it also works to show off intricate tile designs. For larger bathrooms, you could even forego the shower door by adding in a curved tile wall or an L-shaped design.

Bathroom Design by Balducci Builders, Inc.

Currently, popular tile colors for shower areas are white and off-white designs since they offer a clean and contemporary look. Often, more color is incorporated through accent tiles and shower trays.

What about finishes?

Photo: Green Magazine

A recent trend in bathroom finishes are matte black fixtures. Matte black fixtures are perfect for those looking to make a statement in their bathroom design. The industrial/modern feel of the matte black blends with more traditional materials, such as the classic white subway tile.

Photo: Decor Pad

While gold was a huge hit a few years back, recently, rose gold and bronze have been gaining recent popularity. The hues of the rose gold and bronze add a warmer finish on more contemporary fixtures.

Overall, there is a lot to keep in mind when designing a shower, let alone an entire bathroom. Shower design, much like any other design, can be personalized down to the last detail. Thanks to more readily available technologies, the shower experience can be accommodated to any and all users. Additionally, shower design can be focused around aging in place design and easily accommodate multi-generational households.

Are you hoping to create a spa-like shower experience in your home? Feel free to call Balducci Additions and Remodeling to get started on your home's shower design.

Wet Rooms - The Newest Trend in Bathroom Design

Have you noticed the recent wet room design trend? Wet rooms as extremely stylish and can add a contemporary feel to your home. According to Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, the formal definition of a wet room is "a bathroom in which the shower is open or set behind a single wall, its floor area being flush with the floor of the rest of the room and the water draining away through an outlet set into the floor." Wet rooms can be created from both small and large bathrooms, downstairs bathrooms, or as part of a master suite.

Photo: HGTV.com

Perhaps, a couple of reasons why the wet room has been gaining recent popularity is due to the sought-after spa like bathroom experience. Wet rooms convey luxury with their clean lines and minimal design. They also allow the free standing tubs with the chance to steal the show.

While many wet rooms have recently been found in luxury and larger bathrooms, they previously started out in lower budget and institutional settings. Over recent years, free standing tubs have become a staple in bathroom design and can perfectly complement a wet room. Free standing tubs are often complemented by floor-mounted tub fillers. These might invite some extra splashes and spillage. While this could cause concern, wet rooms have been professionally waterproofed to avoid any possible leaks leading to water damage.

One of the main challenges associated with wet rooms is figuring out an efficient way to keep certain items dry, including towels and toilet paper. One way to keep water from going everywhere is to install a frameless shower screen placed in front or to the sides of the shower. This allows the room to still feel open, while being able to keep some key areas dry. Another way to keep your wet room dry is by adding under floor heating. Adding under floor heating to your wet room is highly recommended. Not only does it mean that you will have a nice, warm floor to stand on, any standing water from showering will evaporate much quicker.

Photo: Pinterest

When planning any wet room, it is imperative to choose non-porous and slip resistant water-friendly materials. A couple of suitable materials include ceramic and porcelain. Choosing slate, marble, and limestone may not be the best choice since they are porous and would require sealing every few months to prevent water damage.

*Bonus: Although it may be expensive, a great way to create a luxurious feeling is by installing the same materials throughout the floor and run it to the ceiling.

While wet rooms can be a beautiful addition to any home, having the shower and bathtub in the same space may be a personal preference and may affect resale. If you are considering a wet room, or a bathroom remodel, please consult with a trusted contractor first. Balducci Additions and Remodeling is a well-known contractor and has been serving the metro Richmond area for over 30 years. Please contact us to schedule a free estimate.