Modern Shower Styles For A Refreshing Bathroom Reset
When you really think about it, a shower system has to be considered one of the utmost important fixtures within a home – it provides the facility to kick off your day in a wholly revitalizing manner. This brings about the question, what modern shower should I get?
So, for the many people who count a refreshing showering experience as an integral part of their daily routine, we’ve decided to shine the spotlight on an immense variety of contemporary showers to ponder when upgrading your system.
Think premium performance, stunning aesthetics and ease of usability. All elements that will play a part in punctuating the profile of a perfect modern shower system addition, and enable the user to enjoy an efficiently invigorating shower with regularity for many years to come.
As such, the selection and buying of a modern shower really can prove to be one of the most integral decisions you make, certainly in terms of additions you make to your home, and more specifically, bathroom.
Don’t be daunted by the sheer wealth of modern shower ideas available, though. Allow Big Bathroom Shop to steer you through an ultra-stylish contemporary shower system landscape, dropping handy hints and tips along the way to ensure you ultimately arrive at the right modern shower choice.
What To Consider For Modern Showers
Before diving straight into shopping for modern bathroom showers, there’s a few things to take heed of, that might even help you to eliminate certain models from your thinking from the off.
Basically, you should consider which sort of domestic water system is in use at your home, in addition to the water pressure that is operational throughout the property.
The importance of these two simple factors cannot be underestimated – they can play a huge role in determining which types of contemporary showers represent suitable options for your bathroom specifically.
Essentially, the water pressure within your home will largely dictate how powerful the performance of any modern shower will be, and realistically which type you can install.
There’s a simple means to measure water pressure as detailed in our blog on How To Create An Amazing Showering Experience. However, if you aren’t totally confident in drawing up the correct calculations, you can enlist the services of a professional plumber for peace of mind.
With regards to the water system, you’ll typically find that UK properties tend to be built with one of three specific types. We’ll explain how to identify which sort your home incorporates below.
What Type Of Water System Do You Have?
Gravity Fed Water Systems
The most common type to be found within UK households, gravity fed water systems typically feature a cold water tank (often housed in an attic area), along with a water cylinder (usually stored in a closet or airing cupboard).
Such systems can be susceptible to providing low water pressure, however it is possible to enhance the pressure via the fitting of a shower pump.
A single pump has the facility to feed into multiple modern showers at the same time as well, making them a very worthy addition to larger properties with two or more working shower systems.
Combi Boiler Water Systems
Typically, combi boiler water systems will include a boiler in the absence of water cylinders or tanks. They are designed to heat up water as and when it is distributed via the connected shower, taps or other water outlets.
Generally speaking, combi boilers tend to offer the highest level of water pressure, and they can be teamed alongside a shower mixer to deliver hot water to order when required.
Unvented Water Systems
In the case of unvented water systems, a boiler or immersion heater raise the temperature of a water cylinder under high pressure.
This enables mass quantities of hot water to be supplied to modern showers and other water outlets within the home.
After you’ve identified which sort of water system is present in your home, and gauged an idea of the water pressure levels too, you’ll have formed a general idea regarding which sort of modern showers will be suited to your property specifically.
Furthermore, you’ll be aware of any sort of extra shower accessories you might need to guarantee your chosen component is working to its full capacity, such as shower pumps.
Essentially, determination of the correct water pressure and water system can help you narrow your modern shower system search down considerably, right from the off.
What Are The Main Types Of Modern Showers?
There’s a broad array of modern shower styles on the market, each offering their own unique advantages and in some instances, minor drawbacks as well.
We’ll dive deeper into the properties and features of each main type shortly, but first enjoy a brief overview of the various available models…
Thermostatic Mixer Showers
Thermostatic mixer showers boast a thermostatic shower valve, which allows the shower to deliver water which remains at a consistent set temperature.
They represent an especially prudent modern shower choice for family households in which elderly adults or young children make use of the shower cubicle facilities, given that they pose a much lower scalding risk.
Manual Mixer Showers
With manual mixer showers, both hot and cold water supplies are combined with manual functionality.
A fairly no-nonsense contemporary shower selection, manual mixer shower systems are simple to install and offer excellent ease of usability.
Digital Showers
Digital showers can essentially pertain to take the form of a new-age, ultra-modern thermostatic mixer shower. Basically, this shower style utilises digital technology to enable the user to program a set water temperature that will not fluctuate.
Depending on how advanced a model you potentially invest in, you could source a digital shower system with the capability to be regulated via a smartphone, remote control or alternate device.
Smart Showers
Another style to retain distinct possibilities with thermostatic mixer showers, smart shower systems do so in a yet more technologically savvy sense than even digital models do.
Smart showers seamlessly integrate with other smart home systems including the likes of Amazon Alexa and Google Nest, so you can control water settings like flow and temperature via voice activation settings.
Power Showers
Power showers are another type renowned for offering an efficient, hassle-free installation means.
They operate by taking water from both hot and cold water feeds, incorporating a key built in pump which bolsters water pressure to deliver an altogether more gratifying showering experience.
Electric Showers
Another modern shower style that is quick and easy to fit, electric showers are often confused for power showers due to their similar aesthetic. Such is the makeup of electric shower systems to include their own heating element, they are able to work with only a cold water supply intact.
Of course, the technical aspects of modern shower systems are a crucial consideration. However, you shouldn’t allow the ‘nuts and bolts’ elements completely dictate which type of shower you opt for.
Once you are satisfied you’re shopping in the right category of contemporary showers to suit your water system and pressure levels, you can go about selecting a style that meets your preferences from an appearance perspective.
Classic chrome, as well as brilliant bronze and black are amongst the most readily available modern shower finishes, so there’s versatility abound in terms of something to suit contemporary bathroom décor.
As earlier alluded to, there’s an immense variety of modern shower room ideas to wade through, so you can be confident of identifying the perfect combination of performance and aesthetics to enhance your specific bathroom space.
Thermostatic Mixer Showers
The mixer controls contained within these showers feature a thermostatic valve which will make sure water is maintained at a constant temperature. Exactly what the temperature is set to can be determined and altered by any users manually.
What results is a supreme choice with regards to family households, in which small children or elderly adults will regularly make use of the modern shower cubicles present. The increased reliability concerning temperature control makes them such a stellar pick from a safety perspective.
In order to successfully fit a working thermostatic mixer shower, you’ll need a hot and cold water supply with a water pressure of 0.1 bar or more.
You can also top up the water flow, if you would prefer, via the use of an electric pump.
Key advantages, as well advertised previously in the article, are the safety features of thermostatic mixer shower systems. They offer, on a basic level, a reduced scalding risk, with the water temperature completely unaffected by the use of other water outlets elsewhere in the home.
Manual Mixer Showers
Manual mixer showers are a perfect selection for settings that boast a strong hot water supply in cohesion with lofty water pressure.
This sort of modern shower combines both hot and cold water supplies so it can be set to the user’s ideal temperature any time they set foot within the shower enclosure. They are also very easy to initially install and simple to operate thereafter.
The same basic requirements exist for manual mixer showers as they do with thermostatic versions – both hot and cold water supplies must be present with a minimum water pressure gauge of 0.1 bar.
Usually providing a cheaper alternative to mixer showers with thermostatic properties, manual mixer shower systems are very much advantageous from an ease of installation and use perspective.
Given their inferior safety features in comparison however, manual mixer showers are perhaps better suited to adult-only households.
Digital Showers
As aforementioned, digital showers can largely be defined as a jazzed up, technologically enhanced version of thermostatic mixer models. They are able to provide meticulous water temperature control due to the presence of a standard processor.
Certain digital shower systems offer remote control functionality, allowing users to regulate water temperature and flow rate at the touch of a button via smartphone or an alternate device. An excellent generational innovation that enables you to get your shower up and running in prime condition ready for when you enter.
Both concealed and exposed shower valves can accompany digital showers as well, as well as specific digital valves, so you can be sure to find the right key fitting to enhance any modern shower room aesthetic.
To successfully fit a working digital shower, you’ll require hot and cold water supplies in addition to an electrical supply, plus a minimum 0.1 bar water pressure level. As with thermostatic showers, you can team electric pumps with digital systems to boost water flow, if you would prefer.
Ultimately, digital showers derive the utmost popularity for a combination of safety features, simple-to-use controls and cutting edge convenience elements such as remote control utility. Typically, they’ll boast ultra-contemporary looks as well, making for a seamless blend within a modern bathroom setting.
Smart Showers
Right at the very forefront of modern shower technology sit smart showers, which could loosely be referred to as a savvier, more modernised version of a digital shower system.
Smart showers can provide users with a truly tailored showering experience, with customisable features and settings applicable to water flow, temperature and timings in terms of when to switch on and off.
Many smart shower systems also offer touchless control, with in-built sensors constituting extremely easy usability. Plus, remote control functionality is again a regular feature amongst several smart shower models.
Hot and cold water supplies are again needed, with a minimum 1 bar water pressure level also required for smart showers to thrive. And an electric pump can be fitted to boost water flow, if a more immersive shower coverage better suits the preferences of the user.
Perfect for gadget lovers, smart showers’ main advantages stem from their capability to deliver a fully customised showering experience even without having to touch a single button. Most smart shower systems can be linked to voice activation devices such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa components.
Furthermore, you can create safety-specific shower programmes for any children or elderly relatives who might make use of your modern shower enclosure. All in all, they represent an excellent investment for the tech-savvy modern bathroom shopper, who loves to keep up to date with all the very latest home tech innovations.
Power Showers
The term ‘power showers’ is bandied about with great regularity, often times in reference to any sort of contemporary shower system that outputs a vigorous flow rate. But they are a modern shower type in and of themselves in actual fact.
Power showers incorporate an integrated shower pump, and are fed water from each of the hot and cold water supplies to provide an enhanced water flow.
Both thermostatic and manual versions of power showers exist, so you can select the style best reflective of your household needs. Generally, manual power showers will tend to be less expensive than thermostatic options.
Either type makes for an excellent addition to a home with low pressure water systems, especially those with gravity fed networks, though a consistently reliable water supply is a necessity. Again, hot and cold water supplies are required along with a minimum water pressure gauge of 0.1 bars.
Perhaps the biggest beneficial aspect of power showers as a modern shower selection is the fact that they can bolster water pressure even in the absence of an extra water pump.
Electric Showers
Often confused with power showers in several scenarios, electric showers actually represent one of the most common modern shower types available, due in no small part to their versatility. Essentially, they are suitable for fitting in almost any property.
Electric showers feature their own heating units, meaning they can operate irrespective of a connected hot water supply – a fact that makes them an especially prudent choice for the likes of bathroom en-suites or particularly small downstairs modern shower rooms.
Only a cold water supply is required with a minimum 0.1 bar water pressure gauge for a successful electric shower installation. However, the fitting must be completed by a qualified plumber and electrician. So be sure to factor in additional costs for these services when considering your modern shower budget.
Probably the biggest plus point with regards to electric showers is their suitability for any setting, along with their economical and efficient performance quality, and the fact that the temperature of the water they deliver is unaffected by any other outlets within the home.
Selecting The Right Modern Shower Head
Once you’ve zoned in on the perfect style of modern shower to add to your home, you can begin to think about which sort of shower head will best line up with your modern shower room ideas.
Contrasting shower head styles can have a massive influence not only on the aesthetics of the bathroom, but also on the way in which your modern shower system actually operates.
There’s four main styles of modern shower heads on the market, so we’ve put together a brief overview of each type below…
Ceiling Mounted Shower Heads
Arguably the most in-vogue option with regards to statement modern shower head style, ceiling mounted shower heads offer an entirely streamlined appearance, with the fixture failing to impact on any surrounding space.
Both square and rounded designs can be fit within the ceiling itself to create an ultra-contemporary look, and deliver a fully immersive shower experience with full coverage from above. They are an especially tempting option to team with modern shower systems that can provide a rainfall effect water flow.
Riser Kit Shower Heads
Riser kit shower heads are parked into a fixed bracket attached to the shower enclosure wall, and are adjustable depending on the height of the user for a more comfortable shower. Furthermore, they can be detached from their fixed or ‘resting’ position for targeted showering – homing in a specific area of the body or even for rinsing the modern shower cubicle.
An expansive array of riser kit shower head designs exist so you can be confident of finding a style to suit your tastes, and they’re certainly worth looking into as a fail-safe, simple shower head option.
Fixed Shower Heads
With fixed shower heads, which are amongst the very most popular available styles, the shower head can be wall mounted or ceiling mounted dependent upon personal preference, each providing a clean, luxurious aesthetic.
As such, fixed shower heads bore their main advantages from a looks perspective. They’re ideal for accentuating an elegant modern bathroom appearance, but are perhaps not the finest option for busy family bathroom areas, as they can’t be adjusted for more flexible usability.
Again, a wealth of fixed shower head designs exist, so if you do decide the style is right for you, there’ll be no trouble identifying attractive models for contemporary or traditional bathroom interiors.
Combination Shower Heads
There’s the best of both worlds, at least from a functionality point of view, with combination shower heads. In essence, this shower head type features both detachable and fixed shower heads to provide the utmost level of versatility.
Although you could fear multiple heads resulting in a cluttered look, the plethora of stylishly streamlined combination shower head sets available means such worries are unfounded.
You can create a classy appearance with the best aspects from both fixed shower heads and adjustable riser kits factored in with regards to usability.
Choosing The Right Modern Shower Valves
Another supporting element that has to be considered when investing in a new modern shower system is which sort of valves you opt for, as well. Two main types exist in the form of concealed and exposed shower valves, with single, double and sometimes triple versions available in each style. So you can select the ideal version in accordance with the number of outlets your modern shower features…
Concealed Shower Valves
Concealed shower valves are a particularly popular pick for modern shower room areas in which slick, streamlined designer flair is the order of the day.
As their moniker suggests, concealed valves are barely visible, with their working parts cleverly masked by the wall they are attached to. The only parts to be clearly seen tend to be the controls attached to a back plate which are connected directly to the wall.
When fitted in cohesion with fixed shower heads, concealed shower valves will feed straight into the ceiling or wall. If you install concealed valves to work with a riser kit or shower hose, by contrast, an extra outlet will usually be used to feed into the component.
The space-saving, sleek profile of concealed shower valves probably has the strongest claims with regards to reasoning for their immense popularity.
Exposed Shower Valves
They’ll typically take the eye instantly, with exposed shower valves visible on the exterior of shower walls.
Again, there’s a multitude of different exposed valve designs available to suit any bathroom layout or style. Shower bar valves are the most common type of model available.
In the case of exposed valves, riser kits, shower pipes or hoses will connect to the valve directly.
All in all, they’re an easy-to-install and comparatively inexpensive shower valve solution, if perhaps not providing the same level of aesthetic appeal for modern bathroom interiors as their concealed counterparts.
Combining Features For A Perfect Modern Shower
Once you understand the key features that combine to make the right modern shower system for you, you can work out whether all main components fall within your budget, and start putting together your dream setup.
Of course, a simpler and potentially more cost-effective way to do so can be to invest in modern shower bundles or shower panels, which will often incorporate all the elements you crave into a single component.
Indeed, sleek shower towers will typically incorporate a shower head, often offering rainfall flow functionality, as well as in-built valves and simple touch-button or touchless controls.
As alluded to, they can make for a simple but effortlessly stylish means to bring ideal modern shower aesthetics and practicality to your bathroom in one fell swoop.
Alternatively, you can put together your own bespoke perfect modern shower package by selecting a shower head in your ideal shape, along with the perfect accompanying valves and control panels.
How do I know if my water system is gravity fed?
Older properties are usually gravity fed systems. Gravity fed systems are known for their poor pressure and flow. These systems are fed by a hot water cylinder, usually stored in an airing cupboard, and a large cold water storage tank, found in the loft.
Shop Modern Shower Systems With Big Bathroom Shop
No matter which sort of modern shower style you have your heart set on, there’s an excellent array of options available from Big Bathroom Shop, seamlessly combining outstanding aesthetics with premium quality functionality.
If you would like any further help or advice with regards to selecting the perfect modern shower system for your bathroom space, or have any other pressing bathroom concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team.
John has a background in sports journalism, and lists content writing amongst his primary passions. He provides expert bathroom trends commentary and analysis, as well as offering meticulously researched answers to the most frequently asked bathroom posers.