5 Fresh New Bathrooms With a Low-Curb Shower
Designers use low-curb showers to create bathrooms that feel open, practical and inviting
A low-curb shower strikes a practical balance between style and function. It reduces the step into the shower while helping keep water where it belongs, and it often avoids the added construction required for a fully curbless design. Paired with frameless glass and thoughtfully selected materials, it helps create a bathroom that feels bright, open and connected. Here, design pros share five bathrooms that make the most of a low-curb shower.
2. Easy-Care Elegance
Designer: Amber Weekley Elioff of Crystal Kitchen + Bath
Location: Minnetonka, Minnesota
Homeowners’ request. “The original bathroom had been updated but was not finished with high-quality materials, and the functionality was horrible,” says designer Amber Weekley Elioff. “The clients wanted a single-bowl vanity that was longer and offered more storage. Adding a half wall between the vanity and the shower solved both problems — it allowed us to design a longer, wall-to-wall vanity while also creating space for a bench in the shower.”
Low-curb shower details. “Due to the construction of the floor joists, modifying the space for a zero-entry shower would have put the project over budget,” Elioff says. “We made the curb as low as possible and added grab bars in the shower for safety and accessibility.”
Other special features. “Since they wanted a low-maintenance space, we chose Cambria quartz for the countertop, bench top, wall cap, curb cap and shower niche bottom,” Elioff says. “The floor is a porcelain tile that’s easy to keep clean without being slippery. We carried the herringbone tile through the shower and behind the vanity rather than using a short countertop backsplash, creating a large, easy-to-clean surface that adds texture, visual interest, pattern and a touch of color to the space.”
Designer tip. “The homeowners liked the look of a floating vanity but didn’t want the hassle of cleaning underneath it,” Elioff says. “I designed a taller, deeper toe kick and had our tile installer extend the floor tile up the face of it. This gives the vanity the open, airy feel of a floating design while keeping the space beneath it easy to clean.”
Shower head and grab bars: Purist in brushed nickel, Kohler; wall paint: White Down, Benjamin Moore
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Designer: Amber Weekley Elioff of Crystal Kitchen + Bath
Location: Minnetonka, Minnesota
Homeowners’ request. “The original bathroom had been updated but was not finished with high-quality materials, and the functionality was horrible,” says designer Amber Weekley Elioff. “The clients wanted a single-bowl vanity that was longer and offered more storage. Adding a half wall between the vanity and the shower solved both problems — it allowed us to design a longer, wall-to-wall vanity while also creating space for a bench in the shower.”
Low-curb shower details. “Due to the construction of the floor joists, modifying the space for a zero-entry shower would have put the project over budget,” Elioff says. “We made the curb as low as possible and added grab bars in the shower for safety and accessibility.”
Other special features. “Since they wanted a low-maintenance space, we chose Cambria quartz for the countertop, bench top, wall cap, curb cap and shower niche bottom,” Elioff says. “The floor is a porcelain tile that’s easy to keep clean without being slippery. We carried the herringbone tile through the shower and behind the vanity rather than using a short countertop backsplash, creating a large, easy-to-clean surface that adds texture, visual interest, pattern and a touch of color to the space.”
Designer tip. “The homeowners liked the look of a floating vanity but didn’t want the hassle of cleaning underneath it,” Elioff says. “I designed a taller, deeper toe kick and had our tile installer extend the floor tile up the face of it. This gives the vanity the open, airy feel of a floating design while keeping the space beneath it easy to clean.”
Shower head and grab bars: Purist in brushed nickel, Kohler; wall paint: White Down, Benjamin Moore
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3. Coastal Calm
Designer: Brittany Cocozza of Trinity Design
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Size: 68 square feet (6.3 square meters); 6 feet, 10 inches by 9 feet, 11 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners wanted this bathroom to feel bright, airy and reflective of the home’s overall coastal-inspired design,” says designer Brittany Cocozza. “Since this was a custom build, the goal was to create a timeless space that felt both elevated and functional from the start. Soft blue tones, clean lines and classic materials were selected to bring a sense of calm while maintaining a sophisticated aesthetic. The result is a fresh, inviting bathroom that complements the rest of the home.”
Low-curb shower details. “We selected a low-curb shower to create a clean, open feel while still providing better water containment than a fully curbless design,” Cocozza says. “This approach offered many of the same visual benefits while simplifying installation and drainage requirements. Frameless glass was used to keep sightlines open and allow the beautiful blue tile to remain the focal point. The low threshold helps the shower blend seamlessly into the rest of the space.”
Other special features. “This bathroom combines soft coastal colors with timeless materials to create a fresh and functional retreat,” Cocozza says. “Highlights include glossy light blue subway tile extending throughout the shower, a coordinating mosaic shower floor, a frameless glass enclosure, white cabinetry, a marble vanity countertop with subtle veining, chrome plumbing fixtures and an illuminated mirror. Coastal artwork adds personality without overwhelming the space, while the reflective tile and glass surfaces help maximize light and make the room feel larger.”
Designer tip. “In smaller bathrooms, using a single tile throughout the shower and pairing it with frameless glass can make the room feel significantly larger,” Cocozza says. “Allowing the eye to travel uninterrupted across the space creates a more open and cohesive look. Adding color through tile rather than paint is also a great way to introduce personality while maintaining a timeless design.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “One challenge was finding the right balance between incorporating color and maintaining a timeless aesthetic,” Cocozza says. “There was concern that too much blue could make the space feel overly themed or trendy. By limiting the color to the shower tile and keeping the remaining finishes light and neutral we were able to create a bathroom that feels fresh, sophisticated and enduring.”
Cocozza uses Houzz Pro software for project management, client communication, selections, proposals and overall organization. “Houzz Pro helps keep projects running smoothly by providing clients with a centralized location for reviewing selections, tracking progress and staying informed throughout the design process,” she says. “We used Houzz Pro on this project to streamline communication and improve the overall client experience.”
Vanity paint: Misty, Sherwin-Williams
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
Designer: Brittany Cocozza of Trinity Design
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Size: 68 square feet (6.3 square meters); 6 feet, 10 inches by 9 feet, 11 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners wanted this bathroom to feel bright, airy and reflective of the home’s overall coastal-inspired design,” says designer Brittany Cocozza. “Since this was a custom build, the goal was to create a timeless space that felt both elevated and functional from the start. Soft blue tones, clean lines and classic materials were selected to bring a sense of calm while maintaining a sophisticated aesthetic. The result is a fresh, inviting bathroom that complements the rest of the home.”
Low-curb shower details. “We selected a low-curb shower to create a clean, open feel while still providing better water containment than a fully curbless design,” Cocozza says. “This approach offered many of the same visual benefits while simplifying installation and drainage requirements. Frameless glass was used to keep sightlines open and allow the beautiful blue tile to remain the focal point. The low threshold helps the shower blend seamlessly into the rest of the space.”
Other special features. “This bathroom combines soft coastal colors with timeless materials to create a fresh and functional retreat,” Cocozza says. “Highlights include glossy light blue subway tile extending throughout the shower, a coordinating mosaic shower floor, a frameless glass enclosure, white cabinetry, a marble vanity countertop with subtle veining, chrome plumbing fixtures and an illuminated mirror. Coastal artwork adds personality without overwhelming the space, while the reflective tile and glass surfaces help maximize light and make the room feel larger.”
Designer tip. “In smaller bathrooms, using a single tile throughout the shower and pairing it with frameless glass can make the room feel significantly larger,” Cocozza says. “Allowing the eye to travel uninterrupted across the space creates a more open and cohesive look. Adding color through tile rather than paint is also a great way to introduce personality while maintaining a timeless design.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “One challenge was finding the right balance between incorporating color and maintaining a timeless aesthetic,” Cocozza says. “There was concern that too much blue could make the space feel overly themed or trendy. By limiting the color to the shower tile and keeping the remaining finishes light and neutral we were able to create a bathroom that feels fresh, sophisticated and enduring.”
Cocozza uses Houzz Pro software for project management, client communication, selections, proposals and overall organization. “Houzz Pro helps keep projects running smoothly by providing clients with a centralized location for reviewing selections, tracking progress and staying informed throughout the design process,” she says. “We used Houzz Pro on this project to streamline communication and improve the overall client experience.”
Vanity paint: Misty, Sherwin-Williams
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
4. Scandinavian Simplicity
Designer: Heidi Nyblom of Blom Design Studio
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Size: 90 square feet (8.4 square meters); 6 by 15 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The vision for this bathroom, and the home in general, was to create a functional space with a feel of Scandinavian simplicity and warmth,” says designer Heidi Nyblom. “Many times to achieve the minimalist, more modern look with floating vanities and clean lines, you’ll need to sacrifice on functionality and storage solutions. We designed and built the vanities for this space with that in mind, adding a tall cabinet on the other side of the room for functional storage while keeping the overall look clean and simple. We also didn’t want the space to feel too modern or cold, so the wood tones in the vanity, paired with neutral but soft tiles on the walls, create an overall soft, minimalist, warm modern look.”
Low-curb shower details. “We chose a low-curb walk-in shower for this bathroom since we have a tub-shower in another bathroom on the same floor, and space was a concern, so we couldn’t fit both a walk-in shower and a tub in the same space,” Nyblom says. “In a smaller room like this one, we often prefer a low-curb shower over a curbless one to define spaces and functions within the room better. We chose the same tile throughout the bathroom floors and shower walls in different-size square tiles to bring interest to the space while keeping the look cohesive.”
Other special features. “The color and material palette is very neutral throughout the space, with some warm wood tones for a softer feel,” Nyblom says. “The vanities are custom-made in-house out of Egger Vicenza Oak, which is an engineered woodgrain laminate commonly seen in a European-style cabinetry with a natural lineal grain for timeless design.
“The tiles are neutral gray with some warm tones in them, varying in different sizes of square tiles, from 24 by 24 inches on the bathroom floor to 4 by 4 inches on the vanity wall — continuing to the shower wall — to small 2-by-2-inch mosaic on the shower floor. This allows everything to fit in the same grid while adding interest in different surfaces and keeping a cohesive overall look.”
Designer tip. “We opted for black cabinet hardware and light fixtures to add just the right amount of sharpness and contrast to the overall warm neutral look,” Nyblom says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “With wall-mounted fixtures, the planning and design stage is very important to ensure that everything lines up,” Nyblom says. “During the walk-through on this project, we found that the lever portion of the fixture was centered with the sink instead of the spout being centered. Thankfully we were able to make a quick repair before the tile work behind the sink was installed. Not the worst ‘uh-oh’ moment but definitely a reminder of why walk-throughs are so important since there are so many details even in a small room.”
10 Beautiful Bathroom Vanities in Warm Wood
Designer: Heidi Nyblom of Blom Design Studio
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Size: 90 square feet (8.4 square meters); 6 by 15 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The vision for this bathroom, and the home in general, was to create a functional space with a feel of Scandinavian simplicity and warmth,” says designer Heidi Nyblom. “Many times to achieve the minimalist, more modern look with floating vanities and clean lines, you’ll need to sacrifice on functionality and storage solutions. We designed and built the vanities for this space with that in mind, adding a tall cabinet on the other side of the room for functional storage while keeping the overall look clean and simple. We also didn’t want the space to feel too modern or cold, so the wood tones in the vanity, paired with neutral but soft tiles on the walls, create an overall soft, minimalist, warm modern look.”
Low-curb shower details. “We chose a low-curb walk-in shower for this bathroom since we have a tub-shower in another bathroom on the same floor, and space was a concern, so we couldn’t fit both a walk-in shower and a tub in the same space,” Nyblom says. “In a smaller room like this one, we often prefer a low-curb shower over a curbless one to define spaces and functions within the room better. We chose the same tile throughout the bathroom floors and shower walls in different-size square tiles to bring interest to the space while keeping the look cohesive.”
Other special features. “The color and material palette is very neutral throughout the space, with some warm wood tones for a softer feel,” Nyblom says. “The vanities are custom-made in-house out of Egger Vicenza Oak, which is an engineered woodgrain laminate commonly seen in a European-style cabinetry with a natural lineal grain for timeless design.
“The tiles are neutral gray with some warm tones in them, varying in different sizes of square tiles, from 24 by 24 inches on the bathroom floor to 4 by 4 inches on the vanity wall — continuing to the shower wall — to small 2-by-2-inch mosaic on the shower floor. This allows everything to fit in the same grid while adding interest in different surfaces and keeping a cohesive overall look.”
Designer tip. “We opted for black cabinet hardware and light fixtures to add just the right amount of sharpness and contrast to the overall warm neutral look,” Nyblom says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “With wall-mounted fixtures, the planning and design stage is very important to ensure that everything lines up,” Nyblom says. “During the walk-through on this project, we found that the lever portion of the fixture was centered with the sink instead of the spout being centered. Thankfully we were able to make a quick repair before the tile work behind the sink was installed. Not the worst ‘uh-oh’ moment but definitely a reminder of why walk-throughs are so important since there are so many details even in a small room.”
10 Beautiful Bathroom Vanities in Warm Wood
5. Bay-Inspired Blues
Designer: Kristina Holmes of Kristina Anne Designs
Location: Cape Charles, Virginia
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners recently purchased the home, which was in dire need of a refresh,” says designer Kristina Holmes. “Since the home is located in a charming beach and golf community on the Chesapeake Bay, we wanted the inside to reflect the lifestyle they enjoy. The room originally felt dark and dingy. Once I saw the room, I knew that even if we kept the existing plumbing locations we could change the entire feel of the space by creating a bright focal point with colorful tile extending to the ceiling and adding shiplap to the walls for depth and texture.”
Low-curb shower details. “Featuring a low-curb shower kept the overall project costs down,” Holmes says. “We avoided dropping the shower floor, which a curbless shower would have required. I also appreciate how using marble pieces for the sill and edging of the shower half walls added depth to the design. Marble is timeless and I always aim to incorporate timeless, classic design choices into my projects.”
Other special features. “The main focal piece of this room is the Bedrosians Cloe tile in Baby Blue,” Holmes says. “It captures the colors we see here in the Chesapeake Bay on a sunny summer day, and with its high color variation, it adds an organic edge to an otherwise very clean and simple bath design. We also have custom white oak vanities with fun cabinet feet, shiplap walls painted white and the remaining walls painted Kingston by Sherwin-Williams. The plumbing fixtures in champagne bronze add warmth to the space, complemented by cabinet hardware in honey bronze.”
Designer tip. “The homeowners were moving from a home with 9-foot ceilings, so this primary bathroom with its 8-foot ceilings felt especially cramped to them,” Holmes says. “To help the room feel taller and brighter, I laid the shower tile with its high-gloss finish in a vertical stack and ran it all the way up to meet the ceiling. I also recommended adding new LED lighting in a slightly cooler light color throughout the home, which really made a huge difference compared to the original soft white light bulbs.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “During the demo of the original shower, the contractor found water damage behind the old tile,” Holmes says. “Finding water damage is always daunting. However, it’s always a good time to review with clients the importance of having proper tile prep and waterproofing completed by an experienced contractor.”
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Designer: Kristina Holmes of Kristina Anne Designs
Location: Cape Charles, Virginia
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners recently purchased the home, which was in dire need of a refresh,” says designer Kristina Holmes. “Since the home is located in a charming beach and golf community on the Chesapeake Bay, we wanted the inside to reflect the lifestyle they enjoy. The room originally felt dark and dingy. Once I saw the room, I knew that even if we kept the existing plumbing locations we could change the entire feel of the space by creating a bright focal point with colorful tile extending to the ceiling and adding shiplap to the walls for depth and texture.”
Low-curb shower details. “Featuring a low-curb shower kept the overall project costs down,” Holmes says. “We avoided dropping the shower floor, which a curbless shower would have required. I also appreciate how using marble pieces for the sill and edging of the shower half walls added depth to the design. Marble is timeless and I always aim to incorporate timeless, classic design choices into my projects.”
Other special features. “The main focal piece of this room is the Bedrosians Cloe tile in Baby Blue,” Holmes says. “It captures the colors we see here in the Chesapeake Bay on a sunny summer day, and with its high color variation, it adds an organic edge to an otherwise very clean and simple bath design. We also have custom white oak vanities with fun cabinet feet, shiplap walls painted white and the remaining walls painted Kingston by Sherwin-Williams. The plumbing fixtures in champagne bronze add warmth to the space, complemented by cabinet hardware in honey bronze.”
Designer tip. “The homeowners were moving from a home with 9-foot ceilings, so this primary bathroom with its 8-foot ceilings felt especially cramped to them,” Holmes says. “To help the room feel taller and brighter, I laid the shower tile with its high-gloss finish in a vertical stack and ran it all the way up to meet the ceiling. I also recommended adding new LED lighting in a slightly cooler light color throughout the home, which really made a huge difference compared to the original soft white light bulbs.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “During the demo of the original shower, the contractor found water damage behind the old tile,” Holmes says. “Finding water damage is always daunting. However, it’s always a good time to review with clients the importance of having proper tile prep and waterproofing completed by an experienced contractor.”
More on Houzz
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Browse photos for ideas
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Designer: Briton Bieze of Bieze Design
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters); 6 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted a beautiful guest bathroom that could serve as both a powder room and a full bathroom for the adjacent guest bedroom,” says designer Briton Bieze.
Low-curb shower details. “I couldn’t install a curbless shower because of the floor joists underneath,” Bieze says. “Since grandparents would be staying in the adjacent first floor guest bedroom, I designed the shower to be as accessible as possible for occasional guests who may have mobility challenges. This is also why I installed a bench with a hand shower. I used small tile on both the bathroom and shower floors to ensure there was a lot of grout to prevent falls. However, since it also served as a powder room, I wanted the bathroom to be stunning, memorable and full of color.”
Other special features. “The shower wall tile is a zellige-like tile in a saturated aquamarine color with lots of movement and texture, and the bathroom floor tile is a mosaic marble in a basketweave pattern,” Bieze says. “The vanity top is made from Carrara marble. The polished gold fixtures highlight the room’s beautiful colors. The vanity is custom-made from cherry wood in a nutmeg stain.”
Designer tip. “This bathroom is a standard full bathroom size that packs a big punch,” Bieze says. “I love to have fun with guest bathrooms and powder rooms, playing with saturated colors and lots of pattern.”
Plumbing fixtures: Invari, Brizo; paint: Reflection, Sherwin-Williams; project photos: Cat Wilborne Photography
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