When it comes to renovating the bathroom, many people are ditching the bath, and are instead opting for a shower enclosure.
A quick shower in the morning provides a great way to start your day, and can also help you to relax and unwind in the evening.
As well as saving time, showers use less water than a bath, making them an eco-friendly choice.
Another advantage of choosing a shower rather than a bath, is that you don’t need as much room, which is perfect if your bathroom is on the small side and helpful in making more room to.
Walk in showers for compact spaces
Walk in showers are perfect for small bathrooms, as the sleek, glass panels enhance a sense of space.
If you are updating an existing bathroom and the bath has hardly been used, then why not replace it with a walk in shower to make more room?
If the bath is in good condition, you could sell it and get some of the money back you spent on your new walk in shower.
If you’re wondering what a walk in shower is, then it’s basically a shower enclosure with no doors.
One end is open to the room, which allows for easy access, while the opposite end features a glass shower panel.
Walk in shower enclosures also feature a low level shower tray, so there’s a minimal step into the shower.
They can be fitted into the corner, where there’s two glass panels, or into a recess, which uses just one glass shower screen.
You could even fit a walk through shower for a designer look – this features a glass panel that’s fixed to the wall or ceiling with support arms. You can access the shower from either end.
For further inspiration as it pertains to walk in shower enclosures, meanwhile, take a look at our dedicated blog – 12 Wonderful Walk In Shower Ideas To Transform A Small Bathroom.
Wet rooms for small bathrooms
Creating a wet room is a great way to really open up the space in a small bathroom.
But, as the entire room will need tanking, this is an installation job best left to the professionals.
And, as there’s no tray, the floor will need to have a slight gradient to allow the water to flow in the direction of the drain.
In a true wet room the space is completely open plan, but a glass shower screen will protect items such as towels and loo roll from getting splashed with water.
Glass shower panels create a sense of space, and they come in a wide range of sizes to suit any bathroom.
At Big Bathroom Shop, glass shower screens feature 8mm toughened glass with an easy clean coating.
They all measure 1950mm in height to catch more splashes. There’s also a choice of shower drains to complete your wet room installation.
Save space with a quadrant enclosure
Quadrant shower enclosures are ideal for small bathrooms and en-suites as the curved front helps to maximise space.
Designed to fit snugly into the corner of the room, a quadrant enclosure incorporates a comfortable amount of showering space. They come in a range of sizes, as well as offset designs, where one side is longer than the other.
Making use of the corner in a compact bathroom is a great way to utilise space that could otherwise go to waste. Complete your quadrant shower enclosure installation with a low level shower tray to ensure a neater finish.
Corner entry shower enclosures are another good option for a small bathroom.
Again, these fit neatly into the corner and feature sliding doors to save space. There’s a range of sizes available, and each one features a chrome frame that blends in easily with any bathroom décor.
Shower doors for small bathrooms
When it comes to choosing a shower door for a small bathroom, a bi-fold door offers a super practical space saving solution.
Available in a range of sizes, bi-fold shower doors can be fitted between two walls or with a side panel. This type of shower door folds back on itself, so no extra room is required to allow for the door to open.
Sliding shower doors are another space saving option for small bathrooms. These feature a fixed panel with the other panel sliding back behind. Again, these can be fitted into a recess or with a side panel.
There’s a choice of sizes to choose from and the larger widths such as 1700mm, offer a bath replacement solution.
Remember to avoid hinged or pivot shower doors, as these will only take up valuable space within your small bathroom.
Enhance space and go framless
Frameless shower enclosures add sleek, streamlined style and enhance a sense of space in small bathrooms.
They create a cleaner, more minimal look and add a designer touch.
Wet room glass screens feature a frameless design; they can be fitted direct to the floor or on a low level shower tray.
Some shower doors can also feature a frameless design such as sliding, hinged and pivot.
A frameless shower door or glass panel fitted between two walls is a great solution for small bathrooms, leaving the rest of the floor space free for storage.
Finish the look with a stylish shower kit
Once you’ve decided on the best shower enclosure for your small bathroom, you can then decide on the type of shower kit to compete the look and enhance the spacious feel.
A fixed shower head that comes out of the wall or ceiling is not only a stylish option, but you can position it directly above your head, which creates a clean, minimal look.
Fixed shower heads come in many styles and sizes to suit any bathroom, and they deliver a refreshing rainfall effect that’s sure to awaken your senses.
They can be wall or ceiling mounted, and some feature a recessed design that fits into the ceiling for a neater finish.
In addition to a fixed shower head, you may also want to fit a shower handset, so you can rinse and clean around your shower enclosure with ease.
Shower handsets are available as part of a slide rail kit – the handset can easily be adjusted to the desired height.
They are also available separately, where they come complete with an outlet elbow and bracket – this option provides a cleaner look. Opting for a shower kit with a smooth hose will make cleaning less of a chore too.
Combine your shower head with a concealed thermostatic shower valve for the ultimate streamlined look. With a concealed valve there’s no visible pipework, and all that’s on show is a face plate.
At Big Bathroom Shop, all our thermostatic shower valves incorporate anti-scald technology to ensure a safer showering experience.
Each one has a solid brass construction and a premium quality chrome finish that blends seamlessly in with any bathroom décor. There’s valves with modern and traditional style handles to suit any decor. The handles provide smooth control over the flow and temperature of the water.
If you are fitting a fixed shower head and handset, you will need to opt for a twin shower valve with diverter so you can switch between the different functions. You could also fit a third shower outlet such as body jets for a spa-like effect, in this case you will need to choose a triple shower valve with diverter.
Keeping the shower sleek and minimal will go a long way in enhancing a sense of space in your small bathroom.
If you would like an alternative, in-depth, look at all sorts of stylish, premium quality shower enclosures meanwhile, be sure to browse our Shower Enclosure Buying Guide.
Rikki has a passion for interior design and an even bigger passion for writing about it. When she isn’t writing about gorgeous bathroom interiors, you’ll find her discovering all of the latest trends.
