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leandra_schrag

Shower options for a small space

8 months ago

My house was built in the late 60s. The master bathroom is quite large but still has the original tub, which sits in a space less than 32 inches across. The bath sits on the same wall as the entrance to the bathroom and is almost flush with the wall. I want to replace the tub with a walk in shower. Is 28 inches too narrow for a good shower space? Or will I need to build out the shower space (which will end up putting the entrance in to a recessed space)

Comments (17)

  • 8 months ago

    Floor plan please with dimensions.

  • PRO
    8 months ago
    last modified: 8 months ago

    Yes, 28 " inches is far too narrow for a shower.

    You need a to the exact fraction of an inch drawing. for the existing bath. Use graph paper, 1/4 inch to one foot, and 2 boxes equals a foot....essential a 1/2 inch to one foot scale drawing. Upload that as a jpeg, add pictures of the bath. That's how you get help. Every solid wall dimension, exact window size with casing, exactly how much wall left or right of that window,, door opening etc. That's how you get help.

  • 8 months ago

    Thanks for the guidance! I’ll add more details

  • PRO
    8 months ago

    I forgot to add.........WRITE the dimensions on that! The boxes help you." )

  • 8 months ago

    Agree you will get more insightful input if we can see the size and shape of the bathroom. This is our smallest bathroom. We ripped out the tub and added this shower. The tile floor is 26” from back to front. It is by no means luxurious, but it works for the small space allotted.





  • 8 months ago

    Thank you! love the shower, warm and functional. pics added, not super-precise dimensions, but hopefully gives a sense of what i am working with




  • 8 months ago

    28" is too shallow for a shower. If the tub is 32", I assume you reduced down to 28" to allow a 4" skinny curb for a tile shower pan? Or, clarify the 32" dimension you refer to, the tub (which can be 30" or 32") or the shower surround which extends beyond the edge of tub?

    Without greater context beyond swapping in a shower, you have a couple options:

    • The house appears to be value oriented. A 32x60 prefab shower pan will swap into the space without another thought, if you have 36" clear to the window.
    • Because of the location of door, you can extend the shower out up to another 16" based on the 6'-4" dimension of bathroom. The door would literally be "recessed," but I don't think that is a visual problem because of the layout and still-adequate depth of bathroom. However, there is probably conflict with the window for any extension out too far into the space, and possibly with the HVAC register too depending how far.
    • In any case, removing the toilet pony wall would open up the space visually if you feel confined in there. Also a floating vanity is a trick to open up a space visually.



  • 8 months ago

    Thank you! The tub is quite shallow. There’s about 4.5 inches between the tub and window, about the same to the tegister, but

  • PRO
    8 months ago
    last modified: 8 months ago

    Share the darn sink....reverse. Wager is water, not a tragic relocation below

    Your toilet is cramped, and I would not rip a bath to have a lousy shower.

    I doubt your 72 inch vanity with crowded toilet area of 30"??? Will lose storage, if you simply brush teeth,,wash hands one at a time: ) It's plenty of grooming space, and no loss of real storage.- you can each have a bank of drawers 15" bank of three drawers.

    Wall to wall mirror above for lots of light and view.



    should be zero impact on heat run as well

  • 8 months ago

    That is definitely one option I was thinking of! I’m very new to renovating (and Houzz) Really appreciate the ideas and suggestions

  • 8 months ago

    A couple more pics, for a sense of the rest of the space. Terrible mish-mash of original features and Kira updates

  • 8 months ago

    IKEA updates, not “Kira” (thank you, autocorrect 😜)

  • PRO
    8 months ago

    Easy to see a way dated vanity with ALL the storage just gaping holes beneath two sinks and undoubtedly not higher than 33"? Elbow bang toilet space, as well: ) I'd flip it in a heartbeat.

  • 8 months ago

    Lots of extra $$ to flip the layout?

  • PRO
    8 months ago
    last modified: 8 months ago

    Extra dollars is a simple relocation of drains, water lines,especially if a basement below and your heat run suggests you are.. I wouldn't put lipstick on a pig, pardon the analogy: ) How long will you be in the house? If you're moving in five years? Replace the flooring/ vanity, leave the tub shower alone , paint the walls,, get new hardware, call it a day and let the next person worry.

    If you are staying ten years?? You DIVIDE the delta $$$ between that lipstick improvement, and the bath you w.a.n.t. by the number of years the stay.

    'Also, we can not see all the hall, rooms that surround the bathroom. A relocation of the bath entry? Now THAT gives you yet more possibilities.

  • 8 months ago

    Good points and considerations. Thanks again!

  • 8 months ago

    I don't think flipping the shower to the other side has any merit here. Entering into a 36" path in front of a "full wall" of shower is much more visually limiting than a 52" path in front of a vanity that is open above and with a mirror. A 30" width for a toilet is not cramped. A 72" vanity is much larger than a 60" vanity.

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