Hello. We are about to build. Our master shower is slated to be 7x3 1/2. I realize I’m in the minority here but I’m looking to do as cheap a shower as possible as no one will really see it but us and I’m trying to avoid high cost and tile if at all possible.

Thoughts:

- This extra-long length isn't going to add anything to your shower, and it's keeping you from using standard-sized items (also known as more affordable items). I'd remove 2' from the end and add a stack of shelves for storage. I added two pictures to the end of this post, but you could just as easily make it a narrow closet. I have a 2' closet, which has a hamper in the bottom and a couple shelves above -- not luxurious, but functional.

- It'd be smart to place your shower head "against" a set of shelves or closet. If you ever need to work on the plumbing, you can go in through that wall, which means not destroying your expensive tile (or whatever). I have an access panel inside my linen closet.

- By reducing the shower to 5' x 3 1/2', you'll be able to use a standard-sized shower pan. A shower pan is cheaper and more long-lasting than a tile floor. You're also guaranteed that the slope of a shower pan will be correct, whereas with a tile floor you're at the mercy of your installer's quality.

- The cheapest walls you can get are acrylic panels. They're a breeze to keep clean and no nooks or crannies to cause mold trouble -- but they are a step down from tile in terms of looks. They'll probably last two decades. A question to consider: Is this in keeping with the rest of the finishes in your new house?

- You might be happy with acrylic panels if you go with a shower curtain of the expected glass doors. Shower curtains are easier to keep clean, as they can go in the washing machine, whereas (in real-people's houses) glass doors are never really clean-clean like they are on Pinterest. With a 42" wide shower, you're not going to have any problems with the curtain clinging to you. A shower curtain also brings in color and texture; you can also change out the color /style without much effort -- can't do that with tile.

- I looked up this FlexStone some people are recommending. I don't know it personally, but it looks pretty good -- and the price is reasonable.

- If you go with a shower curtain, consider sewing one yourself (or having one made). A floor-to-ceiling shower curtain bears little resemblance to the ones purchased off the shelf at Walmart. See two pictures at the end of this post.

- If you still want tile walls, opt for large, simple, rectangular tiles and have them installed with small grout lines. Opt for a medium-dark grout color that won't show dirt. No shower is going to be maintenance-free, but smaller grout lines won't be a monster to keep clean.

- Consider that tile is expensive to buy /install, but it's almost forever. I mean, you can see threads on this board about bathrooms that were tiled in the 1950s-60s, and the tile is still in good condition. Don't focus so much on budget that you overlook durability.

- If you want an easy-to-clean shower, avoid today's trendy white subways -- small tiles require a great deal of grout, and white-white is hard to keep clean. Choose a tile with some variation in the color.

- If you go with tile, choose a smooth tile -- no texture, which can hold grout.

- Even though you're trying to do this without spending much, don't skimp on your in-shower storage. And you don't want to go with some last-minute metal rod or over-the-shower-rod junk -- those things are torment. You want a niche or ledge that'll allow you to store all your shower toiletries -- and 12x12 isn't enough. You don't want to build a nice shower, then have to keep your shampoo on the floor. Consider that a shower curtain'll keep your not-so-attractive things covered. If you go with tile, be sure the niche /ledge base is made of stone and is slightly angled to allow water to drip off /not build up and become gunky.

- Definitely go with a hand-held shower head so you can spray all around the shower for cleaning. Cutting back to 5' will also allow you to reach the far edges with one showerhead; whereas, if you stick with the 7', you might need to consider a second shower head on the far end.

- If you go with the glass doors, be sure you position the shower controls in such a way that you can reach in /turn on the shower without committing your body to the initial cold spray.

- Do consider where you're going to be able to hang towels -- be sure you can reach them from the shower.

- Finally, I hear you when you say this is something no one else will ever see, and you want to do it inexpensively; but do make it nice for yourself.