7 Stylish New Bathrooms With Low-Curb Showers
Pros share ideas for making streamlined shower entries functional and beautiful
Low-curb showers offer a streamlined look and easy entry. They also help contain water without some of the added construction considerations of a fully curbless design. In these seven bathrooms, pros share how they use tile patterns, textures, stone and other details to make the low-profile transitions feel polished and purposeful.
2. Warmth and Texture
Designer: Courtney Cartee
Project developer: Chad Krupa of Murphy Bros.
Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Size: 55 square feet (5.1 square meters); 5½ feet by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners wanted a bathroom that felt like ‘a warm cup of coffee’ — warm, inviting and comfortable, while still feeling clean and functional,” says designer Courtney Cartee. “Rather than completely reworking the footprint, we focused on improving the function within the existing layout.”
Low-curb shower details. “We chose a low-profile curb to create a subtle but intentional separation between the shower and the rest of this long, narrow bathroom,” Cartee says. “It gives the shower a defined boundary and helps contain water while maintaining much of the open feeling of a curbless shower. A fully curbless shower would have required additional waterproofing and construction considerations throughout the bathroom floor. The low curb allowed us to keep the project simpler while still achieving a streamlined, low-profile look.
“We used the same matte porcelain tile on the bathroom floor and the sides of the shower curb, helping the curb visually blend into the surrounding space. The top of the curb is a creamy white cultured marble, which keeps that transition quiet and neutral. Inside the shower, we wanted the materials to have more personality. The handmade ceramic tile on the walls brings subtle variation and texture, while the honed marble mosaic on the shower floor and niches adds another layer of natural texture. Keeping the curb and bathroom floor more understated allowed those details to stand out.”
Other special features. “Because this is such a small space, we wanted every material to contribute to the overall feeling without competing for attention,” Cartee says. “The palette is primarily warm whites, soft marble tones and natural white oak, with black fixtures and accents adding contrast.
“The custom white oak vanity features fluted drawer fronts, and the matching fluted detail on the recessed medicine cabinet adds continuity. The warm wood brings the caramel tone we were looking for and helps keep the predominantly light bathroom from feeling too stark. The vanity is topped with a creamy white quartz with subtle beige and gold wisps. The material adds a soft, warm variation without introducing a strong pattern.”
Designer tip. “I kept the overall color palette relatively quiet and used texture selectively,” Cartee says. “Too many competing colors, patterns or materials can make a small space feel busy very quickly. The key is not necessarily to avoid texture in a small space but to be intentional about where you use it.”
Shower wall tile: Montauk in Gin White, 2 by 8 inches, TileBar; wall paint: Greek Villa, Sherwin-Williams; project photographer: Alyssa Lee Photography
Designer: Courtney Cartee
Project developer: Chad Krupa of Murphy Bros.
Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Size: 55 square feet (5.1 square meters); 5½ feet by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners wanted a bathroom that felt like ‘a warm cup of coffee’ — warm, inviting and comfortable, while still feeling clean and functional,” says designer Courtney Cartee. “Rather than completely reworking the footprint, we focused on improving the function within the existing layout.”
Low-curb shower details. “We chose a low-profile curb to create a subtle but intentional separation between the shower and the rest of this long, narrow bathroom,” Cartee says. “It gives the shower a defined boundary and helps contain water while maintaining much of the open feeling of a curbless shower. A fully curbless shower would have required additional waterproofing and construction considerations throughout the bathroom floor. The low curb allowed us to keep the project simpler while still achieving a streamlined, low-profile look.
“We used the same matte porcelain tile on the bathroom floor and the sides of the shower curb, helping the curb visually blend into the surrounding space. The top of the curb is a creamy white cultured marble, which keeps that transition quiet and neutral. Inside the shower, we wanted the materials to have more personality. The handmade ceramic tile on the walls brings subtle variation and texture, while the honed marble mosaic on the shower floor and niches adds another layer of natural texture. Keeping the curb and bathroom floor more understated allowed those details to stand out.”
Other special features. “Because this is such a small space, we wanted every material to contribute to the overall feeling without competing for attention,” Cartee says. “The palette is primarily warm whites, soft marble tones and natural white oak, with black fixtures and accents adding contrast.
“The custom white oak vanity features fluted drawer fronts, and the matching fluted detail on the recessed medicine cabinet adds continuity. The warm wood brings the caramel tone we were looking for and helps keep the predominantly light bathroom from feeling too stark. The vanity is topped with a creamy white quartz with subtle beige and gold wisps. The material adds a soft, warm variation without introducing a strong pattern.”
Designer tip. “I kept the overall color palette relatively quiet and used texture selectively,” Cartee says. “Too many competing colors, patterns or materials can make a small space feel busy very quickly. The key is not necessarily to avoid texture in a small space but to be intentional about where you use it.”
Shower wall tile: Montauk in Gin White, 2 by 8 inches, TileBar; wall paint: Greek Villa, Sherwin-Williams; project photographer: Alyssa Lee Photography
3. Green and Terra-Cotta Tile
Builder: Heather Shuster of Alair Decatur
Designer: Laura Brown Design
Location: Atlanta
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This entire home was renovated from the foundation up,” says builder Heather Shuster. “The original bathrooms were dated and dark. The homeowner wanted to bring joy, color, art and whimsy to all parts of the house.”
Low-curb shower details. “Low-curb showers are a great solution for durability and ease of use,” Shuster says. “While a curbless can be excellent for those needing zero trip hazards, there are some negatives to curbless showers. The necessary sloping floor can restrict tile options, and depending on the direction of the slope, there can be challenges with the glass door meeting the finished floor. Curbless showers generally have a bit more water escaping unless perfectly designed with sufficient space. With a low curb, there is ease in having the glass door — or even curtain if necessary — meet the floor perfectly. Water escapes are seldom an issue as the shower floor is fully surrounded by a framed surface.”
Other special features. “The collection of tile in this bathroom is especially appealing,” Shuster says. “Blending the sparkling green at the walls with the terra-cotta pattern at the main bathroom is striking.”
Designer tip. “Single-color tile can be stunning when the surface and glaze offers some variation,” Shuster says. “A slight texture to the tile’s surface and the bounce of light on the glossy finish make this seemingly simple tile choice really work.”
Shower wall tile: Kaze in green, Emser Tile; shower floor: Casablanca hexagon mosaic, Riad Tile; main floor tile: Parma terra-cotta-look star-and-cross porcelain, TileBar
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Builder: Heather Shuster of Alair Decatur
Designer: Laura Brown Design
Location: Atlanta
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This entire home was renovated from the foundation up,” says builder Heather Shuster. “The original bathrooms were dated and dark. The homeowner wanted to bring joy, color, art and whimsy to all parts of the house.”
Low-curb shower details. “Low-curb showers are a great solution for durability and ease of use,” Shuster says. “While a curbless can be excellent for those needing zero trip hazards, there are some negatives to curbless showers. The necessary sloping floor can restrict tile options, and depending on the direction of the slope, there can be challenges with the glass door meeting the finished floor. Curbless showers generally have a bit more water escaping unless perfectly designed with sufficient space. With a low curb, there is ease in having the glass door — or even curtain if necessary — meet the floor perfectly. Water escapes are seldom an issue as the shower floor is fully surrounded by a framed surface.”
Other special features. “The collection of tile in this bathroom is especially appealing,” Shuster says. “Blending the sparkling green at the walls with the terra-cotta pattern at the main bathroom is striking.”
Designer tip. “Single-color tile can be stunning when the surface and glaze offers some variation,” Shuster says. “A slight texture to the tile’s surface and the bounce of light on the glossy finish make this seemingly simple tile choice really work.”
Shower wall tile: Kaze in green, Emser Tile; shower floor: Casablanca hexagon mosaic, Riad Tile; main floor tile: Parma terra-cotta-look star-and-cross porcelain, TileBar
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4. Serene Spa
Designer: Madelyn Eckhart of Hoskins Interior Design
Location: Carmel, Indiana
Size: 240 square feet (22 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “These homeowners wanted their primary bath to feel spa-like with serene, neutral finishes,” says designer Madelyn Eckhart. “They wanted to maximize storage but had a very skinny bathroom to work with.”
Low-curb shower details. “We went with a low-curb shower to ease the transition of the flooring materials, as they wanted a real marble mosaic on the shower floor, and the main tile is porcelain,” Eckhart says. “It gave us an opportunity to use different materials in an otherwise neutral project.”
Other special features. “We added sconces with shades to give the bathroom softness,” Eckhart says.
Designer tip. “If you don’t have a lot of storage space, try adding hooks and cabinets in adjacent spaces,” Eckhart says. “Add hidden recessed medicine cabinets where you can. We did it on the side of the vanity cabinets.”
Designer: Madelyn Eckhart of Hoskins Interior Design
Location: Carmel, Indiana
Size: 240 square feet (22 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “These homeowners wanted their primary bath to feel spa-like with serene, neutral finishes,” says designer Madelyn Eckhart. “They wanted to maximize storage but had a very skinny bathroom to work with.”
Low-curb shower details. “We went with a low-curb shower to ease the transition of the flooring materials, as they wanted a real marble mosaic on the shower floor, and the main tile is porcelain,” Eckhart says. “It gave us an opportunity to use different materials in an otherwise neutral project.”
Other special features. “We added sconces with shades to give the bathroom softness,” Eckhart says.
Designer tip. “If you don’t have a lot of storage space, try adding hooks and cabinets in adjacent spaces,” Eckhart says. “Add hidden recessed medicine cabinets where you can. We did it on the side of the vanity cabinets.”
5. Creatively Coastal
Designer: Lindsay Olson of Lulu Designs
Location: Bayshores, Newport Beach, California
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters); 5 by 8 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted this room to have traditional bones that related to the Bayshores coastal lifestyle while fitting the context of the original 1950s beach house,” says designer Lindsay Olson. “The overall theme for this house was to be traditional, classic and timeless, while having the personality of my clients shine through.”
Low-curb shower details. “The advantages of a low-curb shower over a curbless design are predicated on the house and its construction,” Olson says. “This house was a slab-on-grade construction, so we had to build up as a platform versus having a curbless shower. The threshold slab material was added for ease of cleaning by reducing grout and adding another element for interest. It also serves as a visual break in the room and to highlight a change in elevation. The plumbing was selected as a timeless nod to what would have been installed in the ’50s as an original fixture but with modern-day function for a family of four.”
Other special features. “The special elements include a vanity made from a piece of furniture, marble materials for a classic look, and bright wallpaper to inject color and personality that the homeowner loved and selected,” Olson says. “Given this bathroom’s heavy use by two children, it was important to make all surfaces as indestructible as possible for longevity. Incorporating tile up the walls is another safeguard against water and or any damage that would otherwise happen to drywall.”
Designer tip. “Have fun and don’t take yourself too seriously,” Olson says. “Buy what you are gravitating toward, especially if it dresses the space to your personality while keeping the bones of the house in line with the overall aesthetic.”
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Designer: Lindsay Olson of Lulu Designs
Location: Bayshores, Newport Beach, California
Size: 40 square feet (3.7 square meters); 5 by 8 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted this room to have traditional bones that related to the Bayshores coastal lifestyle while fitting the context of the original 1950s beach house,” says designer Lindsay Olson. “The overall theme for this house was to be traditional, classic and timeless, while having the personality of my clients shine through.”
Low-curb shower details. “The advantages of a low-curb shower over a curbless design are predicated on the house and its construction,” Olson says. “This house was a slab-on-grade construction, so we had to build up as a platform versus having a curbless shower. The threshold slab material was added for ease of cleaning by reducing grout and adding another element for interest. It also serves as a visual break in the room and to highlight a change in elevation. The plumbing was selected as a timeless nod to what would have been installed in the ’50s as an original fixture but with modern-day function for a family of four.”
Other special features. “The special elements include a vanity made from a piece of furniture, marble materials for a classic look, and bright wallpaper to inject color and personality that the homeowner loved and selected,” Olson says. “Given this bathroom’s heavy use by two children, it was important to make all surfaces as indestructible as possible for longevity. Incorporating tile up the walls is another safeguard against water and or any damage that would otherwise happen to drywall.”
Designer tip. “Have fun and don’t take yourself too seriously,” Olson says. “Buy what you are gravitating toward, especially if it dresses the space to your personality while keeping the bones of the house in line with the overall aesthetic.”
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6. Subtle Pattern Play
Designer: Tawny Chamberlain
Builder: Keel Custom Homes
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Size: 88 square feet (8.1 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The goal for this bathroom was to create a bright, timeless space that felt elevated but still warm and comfortable,” says Kathryn Catherwood, director of sales and marketing for Keel Custom Homes. “The homeowners wanted a clean, classic look without the room feeling overly formal or stark.”
Low-curb shower details. “A low curb gave us a streamlined transition into the shower without the additional construction considerations of going completely curbless,” Catherwood says. “It still provides good water containment while keeping the shower visually open and easy to enter. We used frameless glass so the shower wouldn’t feel closed off and carried the wall tile from floor to ceiling to emphasize the height of the room. The tile was installed in a running-bond pattern with a soldier course [vertical stacked pattern] along the bottom and warm gray grout. On the shower floor, white penny tile is framed by a 6-inch-wide tile border with mitered corners. The combination adds detail and texture while keeping the overall palette quiet and timeless.”
Other special features. “We balanced the crisp white finishes with a natural wood vanity, warm brass plumbing fixtures and hardware, and layers of neutral tile,” Catherwood says.
Designer tip. “One design trick we used was repeating the same materials in different ways throughout the room,” Catherwood says. “On the main bathroom floor, the large-format tile is framed with a white penny tile border. Inside the shower, that combination is essentially reversed, with the white penny tile becoming the primary floor material and the other creating the border. Repeating materials this way gives the space a more custom, intentional look without introducing too many different finishes.”
Vanity: Faye in oak with Morel finish, Kemper Cabinets; wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
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Designer: Tawny Chamberlain
Builder: Keel Custom Homes
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Size: 88 square feet (8.1 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The goal for this bathroom was to create a bright, timeless space that felt elevated but still warm and comfortable,” says Kathryn Catherwood, director of sales and marketing for Keel Custom Homes. “The homeowners wanted a clean, classic look without the room feeling overly formal or stark.”
Low-curb shower details. “A low curb gave us a streamlined transition into the shower without the additional construction considerations of going completely curbless,” Catherwood says. “It still provides good water containment while keeping the shower visually open and easy to enter. We used frameless glass so the shower wouldn’t feel closed off and carried the wall tile from floor to ceiling to emphasize the height of the room. The tile was installed in a running-bond pattern with a soldier course [vertical stacked pattern] along the bottom and warm gray grout. On the shower floor, white penny tile is framed by a 6-inch-wide tile border with mitered corners. The combination adds detail and texture while keeping the overall palette quiet and timeless.”
Other special features. “We balanced the crisp white finishes with a natural wood vanity, warm brass plumbing fixtures and hardware, and layers of neutral tile,” Catherwood says.
Designer tip. “One design trick we used was repeating the same materials in different ways throughout the room,” Catherwood says. “On the main bathroom floor, the large-format tile is framed with a white penny tile border. Inside the shower, that combination is essentially reversed, with the white penny tile becoming the primary floor material and the other creating the border. Repeating materials this way gives the space a more custom, intentional look without introducing too many different finishes.”
Vanity: Faye in oak with Morel finish, Kemper Cabinets; wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
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7. Slab Style
Designer: Lindsay Lausch of Lindsay Lausch Interior Design
Location: Chicago
Homeowners’ request. “This client wanted their new city condo to feel like home,” says designer Lindsay Lausch, who uses Houzz Pro software. “They loved natural stone, black, greige, gold and pops of color.”
Low-curb shower details. “We went with full porcelain slabs on the shower walls,” Lausch says. “We wanted the space to feel seamless, so a lower curb was important to achieve this.” Quartzite tops the curb.
Other special features. Black mosaic tile flooring and niche detail. Black fixtures, including a handheld sprayer.
Designer tip. “Invest in quality materials,” Lausch says. “This will make your project unique and last a lifetime.”
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Designer: Lindsay Lausch of Lindsay Lausch Interior Design
Location: Chicago
Homeowners’ request. “This client wanted their new city condo to feel like home,” says designer Lindsay Lausch, who uses Houzz Pro software. “They loved natural stone, black, greige, gold and pops of color.”
Low-curb shower details. “We went with full porcelain slabs on the shower walls,” Lausch says. “We wanted the space to feel seamless, so a lower curb was important to achieve this.” Quartzite tops the curb.
Other special features. Black mosaic tile flooring and niche detail. Black fixtures, including a handheld sprayer.
Designer tip. “Invest in quality materials,” Lausch says. “This will make your project unique and last a lifetime.”
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
More on Houzz
Read more stories
Browse photos for ideas
Find home professionals
Designer: Rande Leaman Interior Design
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 120 square feet (11 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This was part of a new build and a bathroom within the primary suite,” says designer Rande Leaman. “The directive was a masculine vibe with a natural look.”
Low-curb shower details. “Early on we decided on using a low-curb shower rather than curbless to curtail any water leakage from the shower,” Leaman says. “The homeowners did not want the cleanup associated with curbless showers. Going low-curb gives you the best of both worlds, as it’s low profile and easy to maintain. We used stone on the top of the curb and as a finishing accent edging the walls to delineate the small shower tile from the large-format tile backing the vanity. This gave a beautiful and rich finished look to the shower.”
Other special features. “Functionality was incredibly important to the homeowners, and we were able to incorporate lots of usable storage into the custom walnut wood vanity, as well as a large medicine cabinet with tons of storage,” Leaman says.
Designer tip. “Using several different tiles within a space creates interest and depth,” Leaman says. “Don’t feel you must stay with one look throughout. It’s much more interesting to mix sizes and textures.”
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