The glazed ceramic tiles in varying shades of blue span the entire shower wall in a herringbone pattern, creating an eye-catching focal point that’s an homage to the wife’s love of quilting. “It also allowed me to give the bathroom a little bit of elevation and luxury,” Glaister says. The frameless glass panel keeps sightlines to the tile open. The side walls of the shower are 12-by-36-inch matte white glazed ceramic tiles. “It’s a very soft, subtle look,” Glaister says. “It’s quiet, like those walls are almost not even there.”
The new custom paint-grade maple vanity features inset doors and drawers and polished nickel pulls and square knobs. “It was their habit to have a single-sink vanity,” Glaister says. “With clients that are a bit older, it’s better not to change up their habits too much. It has all soft-close doors and drawers, so it’s easy to use.” Marble-look quartz slabs form the countertop and short backsplash. “It was a matter of cost,” Glaister says. “It was part of a remnant our stone fabricator had. I didn’t want my clients paying for a large slab they didn’t need.”
The shower floor is 8-by-8-inch waterproof porcelain tiles with a matte finish, light taupe grout and a cheerful pattern. “We just wanted to add something unique and playful,” Damron says. “She loves pattern and we wanted to be a bit bold but still keep the room looking clean. She wanted something that would not be too slippery, and this one has a bit of grit to it.”
The low curb is a creamy white quartz remnant left over from the vanity countertop fabrication. “I always recommend doing this for a shower curb,” Damron says. “It makes it very easy to clean since there are no grout lines.” The shower includes a polished nickel rain shower head, as well as a fixed shower head and hand shower behind the curtain. Light concrete-look 12-by-24-inch porcelain tiles wrap the shower walls.
The richly textured, variegated green grasscloth wallcovering above the vanity prompted the room’s nature-inspired material and color palette. Wintersteen wasn’t concerned about the grasscloth’s durability since the large size of the shower stall and the windows help limit moisture in the room. The marble countertop’s small backsplash adds a measure of protection too. Wintersteen designed the custom white-stained white oak cabinetry, including the vanity and adjacent towers. The vertical reeded texture complements the horizontal texture of the grasscloth.
Here’s a closer look at the wallpaper, which is installed above the white quartz countertops. The mirror’s soft geometric shape and antiqued gold finish complement the leaves’ curves and subtle shimmer. The short backsplash prevents water from coming into prolonged contact with the wallpaper, which could damage the paper and cause mildew behind it. For the same reasons, it’s best to avoid wallpaper on shower walls and bathtubs used by splash-happy kids.
The designer knocked the bathroom back to the studs and stole space from the adjoining guest bedroom to add 30 square feet, bringing the bathroom total up to 90 square feet. “That was huge for everything,” she says. “We had a better layout where you don’t have three things — vanity, toilet and shower — in a row. And most importantly, we were able to give her extra storage.” The extra storage came by way of a new 60-inch vanity and open cubbies to the right of the shower. The new low-curb shower has a frameless glass enclosure to help keep things feeling open. The shower walls are covered in white ceramic subway tiles with an accent band of honed marble tiles. The shower floor is marble mosaic tile.
“I created large horizontal alternating stripes of navy and white on the tub surround to add a wow factor as well as a playful vibe, but without making the tile feel too busy,” Munnell Kruus says. “I used white grout in the shower to make the navy pop and create a cohesive look between the different tile colors.” Other special features. Blue-gray concrete floor tile. Quartz countertop.
Adina Hall Design increased both style and function in this 42½-square-foot basement bathroom in Chicago by replacing the dated tub with a walk-in shower and using various tiles, including herringbone for the shower floor and back wall and fluted tile for the vanity wall that continues into the shower. Budget-conscious choices included installing a low curb instead of going curbless and opting for a partial glass panel rather than a panel with a door system. Black details, including Hinkley’s Somerset vanity light and the shower panel’s grid design, add industrial flair.
Wall-mounted shower heads are typically installed at 80 inches above the finished floor. Ceiling-mounted, or rain-style, shower heads are generally more expensive and require additional plumbing. Some people love rain-style shower heads for the soothing patter of water; others feel the pressure isn’t always strong enough to wash hair products out. Some people like having both options, as was done in the bathroom shown here.
A shower bench seat should be 17 to 19 inches high and 15 inches deep and must not infringe on the interior size of the shower. That means that if your shower size is the minimum 32 by 32 inches, the bench should not take away from those dimensions. In terms of materials, I always like to recommend a slab finish, at least for the top of the bench. This could be marble or quartz, for example. Usually I recommend matching the bench slab top to your vanity countertop for design continuity. I wouldn’t recommend tiling the top of your bench, because the grout lines can be uncomfortable to sit on.
You can also opt for no door at all. A fixed panel of glass creates a modern look that’s easy to clean. These panels can be framed in metal or frameless, as seen here. Most shower glass is fabricated at ⅜ inch (or 10mm) thick so it’s durable, safe and long-lasting. Standard openings range from 22 to 26 inches depending on the shower size. The go-to opening size for our clients is 24 inches.
You’ll want to consider how the door swing affects available floor space and other elements, such as the toilet, towel bars, product carts and so on. Shower doors are typically made at a minimum of 22 inches wide and a maximum of 36 inches wide. Also think about the metal finish of your shower door hinges and hardware.
A glass enclosure will make your bathroom feel light and airy and will allow accent tile in the shower to become a focal point. Hinged shower swing doors are the most popular option. They can open outward to a 90-degree angle, providing a safe, wide and open entry, or they can swing inward, or both.
You can upgrade the visual aesthetic of a shower-tub combo by incorporating higher-end fixtures and materials, such as adding tile to the walls or a stylish material to the apron front. Here, marbled tile walls and a mirrored tub front enhance the look. You’ll also notice the tub is a walk-in model, offering the best of both worlds. The door seals shut so you can fill the tub, and the low-curb entry makes the shower super accessible.
To achieve proper drainage in a curbless shower, you’ll need to lower the shower floor below the bathroom floor to create a slope to the drain. That means that switching to curbless can sometimes be tricky in an existing bathroom if you’re not raising the level of the flooring in the entire space. Again, talk to professional design and remodeling pros about what’s possible — and practical — in your space. The recommended minimum slope for a curbless shower is about 4%, or a half-inch drop per every 12 inches from the shower walls to the drain.
If you’re wondering how much space you’ll need, consider that the most popular shower widths are 32, 36 and 60 inches. (Lengths will vary.) Shower dimensions can be as small as 32 by 32 inches, but most people prefer a shower that’s at least 36 by 48 inches. Shower ceiling heights typically fall between 84 and 120 inches, depending on the space and the design.
“Use good-quality porcelain tiles instead of natural stone,” Steve Baker of The London Bath Co. advises. “Technology is so good now, it’s often hard to distinguish between them, and porcelain tiles can be considerably cheaper. “Porcelain is also much more durable than natural stone, and less prone to cracking and chipping, and it doesn’t require regular sealing to stop it staining,” he adds. “Go for a [through-body] porcelain tile, which means your tiler will be able to polish the edges instead of using unsightly trims.”
The polished marble-look countertop and backsplash feature wispy gray veining against a warm white background. “We carried that material through to the shower for the bench, shower curb, corner shelves and privacy wall sill for the glass,” Jacobs says. “I always tell people for a bathroom of this size it’s a great way to use the entire slab so it’s harmonious throughout.”
Now the homeowners have just a small step into a generous 7-foot-long shower that has an articulating shower head on the left and an adjustable handheld shower on the right. A bar on top supports the shower’s thick tempered-glass enclosure, eliminating the need for a frame.
Cambria’s new Harlow style of quartz is a bit tamer. But its large, undulating brushstrokes of veining still bring a heavy dose of drama.
Dekton quartz is also great in moisture-heavy bathrooms. Here, the new Marmorio style, which mimics the striped look of Navona travertine, is used for flooring, wall covering and tub deck cladding. The Pietra Kode collection is available now.
The toilet is ADA-compliant. The Americans With Disabilities Act recommends installing toilets that are 17 to 19 inches high. Perkins added support behind the toilet paper holder to make it weight-bearing. “It could be used to help someone push themselves up,” she says. The resin grab bar above it eases the way from the toilet to the sink.
Another space-saving feature in the bathroom is the rolling shower door. Schultz found an image of a shower with similar hardware on Houzz and showed it to the builder for guidance. Using a rolling door like this saves space compared with a swinging door. Another advantage a rolling door has over a swinging one is that a bathmat can be placed directly outside the stall. A shower door that swings out into the bathroom can get stuck on the mat.
After: Nguyen and Miskell removed a wall between the water closet and low-curb shower to open up the area. A two-sided frameless glass enclosure creates an airy effect. White square ceramic tiles wrap the shower walls and extend into the toilet area, creating a cohesive design that visually enlarges the shower and brightens the room.
Curves allow for better flow in any floor plan, but they work especially well in tighter spaces. Curved elements are easier to maneuver around, and they add softness to a design, which helps visually lighten the look. If you have multiple entry points into your bathroom, consider a curved vanity. It will physically create more comfortable traffic paths and psychologically eliminate any worry about bumping a hip on a sharp corner.
Upgrading your vanity from a style with doors to one with drawers is worth the extra outlay as it gives you far more functional storage,” says Ashleigh Teune, interior designer at Smarter Bathrooms+. “Drawers are also easier to clean as you don’t have to reach awkwardly into the back of cupboards.”
Upgrading from a regular mirror to a mirrored cabinet will help keep your countertop clear,” del Popolo says. “It’s the perfect spot to house all those small creams, tubes and bottles at a convenient eye level. “Mirrored cabinets do not need to be expensive and can either be partially recessed into the wall or surface-mounted. Just be aware that your choice of installation will affect your lighting options for around the mirror,” she says.
“If you have chargeable shavers or electrical toothbrushes or if you plan on using or charging any electrical devices in the bathroom, consider installing electrical outlets inside cabinets or drawers to avoid countertop clutter and messy, dangling power cords,” del Popolo says. “Power docks aren’t just for custom vanities — you’ll find them in some off-the-shelf vanities too. Just be sure to tell your electrician early on that you want outlets integrated into your vanity or drawers so he or she can plan for them,” she adds.
Adding a skylight is one of the most effective upgrades you can make to a bathroom,” says Giulianna del Popolo, principal designer at GDP Interior Design. “Having natural light streaming in from overhead creates a serene, spa-like atmosphere. It also means you can do away with having a window, which gives you more scope with shower placement.
The privacy of shower and fake light as if from window.
LED tape lighting recessed above the shower wall washes light down the wall.
The wood extends all the way to the ceiling, and the mirrors are extra tall. The added height visually elongates this wall. Meanwhile, the feet on the vanity provide a view underneath it, making the room feel more spacious. “I gave a little nod to midcentury modern style through the shape of the legs,” the designer says. “This made the vanity feel younger and fresher.” The countertop is Statuario Gold marble. Martin had it mitered to appear thicker than a standard countertop. “This added a little more visual weight,” she says. This larger presence works well with the tall mirrors and wood wall trim.
Martin also added LED strip lighting under the vanity. The strip has a motion sensor, automatically providing soft light during late-night trips to the bathroom.
The shower walls, ceiling and main bathroom floor are 12-by-24-inch porcelain tiles that mimic the look of Calacatta marble. The shower floor consists of 1-by-3-inch mosaic tiles set in a herringbone pattern.
Also look at the entry-level ranges by quality bathroom manufacturers, as you’ll often get better materials for less money,” Baker adds.
“We’ve noticed more customers opting for showers rather than baths, and this can not only bring down the initial … outlay, but [also] lower running costs long-term due to greater energy efficiency,” Ghaly says.
“Porcelain is also much more durable than natural stone, and less prone to cracking and chipping, and it doesn’t require regular sealing to stop it staining,” he adds. “Go for a [through-body] porcelain tile, which means your tiler will be able to polish the edges instead of using unsightly trims.”
“When visiting a showroom, take pictures of your space as well as the measurements,” he adds. “The bathroom isn’t always an easy or straightforward room to buy for.”
When it comes to a bathroom remodel, you do not want iffy waterproofing. Trust me, when it comes to your budget, this is where you should invest. Do it right the first time by working with trained and certified waterproofing contractors.
It is essential to establish your remodeling budget as accurately as you can before the work starts. Create a list of exactly what you’ll be replacing or repairing, such as shower walls, faucets, mirrors and cabinetry. If you’re planning to replace any tiles, you’ll also have to work out the square footage you’ll need. Find a bathroom remodeler on Houzz Bianca Ecklund Design Add in the cost of subcontractors you’ll need. And if you’ll be doing anything yourself, include the price of any tools you’ll need to buy or rent. I’d recommend adding in a buffer of about 10% to the budget to pay for any unexpected costs that crop up — because chances are, they will.
All the experts agree that the key is to list everything you’ll need and might need. Factor in the builder’s costs to do any reconfiguring, electrical, plumbing, tiling and decorating, plus the cost of the fixtures, Hoad says. “And don’t forget tiles, storage and accessories such as a toilet roll holder and shower shelf. “I recommend you create a spreadsheet,” Merry says. “List every item from the floor up — tedious, but I promise it will pay dividends. Levy says that if your water pressure isn’t strong enough for a big shower head, but you really want to have one, you can ask your builder to add a pump. But this will impact the budget too.
A bathroom designer will know if it’s feasible to change your layout,” Levy says. “For instance, you may not be able to swap a bath for a low-level shower tray — it depends on the plumbing underneath, and sometimes you won’t know until you look behind the existing bath panel. Usually, however, you can raise the shower tray on a small step to allow the appropriate slope in the waste.” Hoad says that to some extent, how much you can change a layout will depend on whether you live in a house or an apartment, how it’s constructed (wood joisted floors or solid concrete slabs), where the existing soil pipes are and whether it’s feasible (economically and practically) to move them. Explore whether moving features around would improve the flow and functionality of your bathroom. “If you’re paying a designer to look at the space, it’s probably worth asking them to consider whether other layouts are possible, even if you don’t think they will be,” Hoad says. “We can often ‘find’ space by using formerly boxed-in walls or ‘borrowing’ space from adjacent unused areas to increase the options.”
More than 3 in 5 (62%) of homeowners make updates to systems, a 3-point increase in 2022 compared with 2021. Home system enhancements include adding a ventilation fan (59%), installing radiant floor heating (14%) and adding a tankless water heater (9%) or water softener (6%). In addition to system upgrades, homeowners are making other major changes to their bathrooms as well. These include increasing the shower size (51%), changing the layout (45%, up by 3 points year over year) and modifying walls (41%).
“Streamline your material palette to make a small space feel large,” Hur says.
This tiny bathroom had no room for a window, so the designer installed a tubular skylight to introduce natural light. Some models can reach all the way from the basement to the roof.
Curbless or barrier-free showers allow a seamless run of floor tile in the bathroom. When paired with a frameless glass shower door or partial glass enclosure, they create the illusion of more space and can improve accessibility. (The tile slopes gently toward the drain in the shower area, but with a partial glass screen, a central drain can help keep the floor dry too.) Bonus tip: Ideally, you can place the controls so they’re accessible without having to get inside the shower. Can’t move the plumbing? Near the controls, have a hole cut in the glass panel just big enough for you to reach in.
If you prefer a vanity, make it wall-mounted too. While you’re at it, opt for a wall-hung toilet and wall-hung accessories. Keeping the ground clear will not only make your bathroom look larger, it will also make the floor easier to clean. Bonus tip: Wall-mounting your faucet allows you to save inches at the back of the sink. If you live in a cold climate and you’re mounting the sink on an exterior wall, just make sure your pipes are well-insulated.
Cobalt blue 3-by-12-inch ceramic tiles in a stacked pattern accentuate the height of the room, giving the appearance of more space. “This tile took a little convincing with the client,” Kaplan says. “I love a hand-formed tile, because it gives it a lot of dimension and texture. He trusted I was giving him good advice, did some research on his own and decided to go with it. I love the color variation of this tile. It gives it a more organic feel.”
Room features. The focal point of this soft bathroom is a shower wall featuring a watery blue ceramic tile set in a striking basketweave pattern. A chevron-patterned honed marble floor tile that flows from the bathroom into the curbless shower adds just the right amount of contrast to be interesting on its own and make the blue wall really pop. Beachy sconces made of abaca rope and powder-coated metal add a highly textured counterpoint to the smoother surfaces.
Designer tip. “Bigger is better,” Carhart says. “Large-format tile is not only visually pleasing, it is practical. Less grout lines means less to clean.”
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