On the hunt for the best shower? We know that when you’re looking for bathroom ideas for a complete redesign or even for a simpler update, choosing the best shower for your bathroom is a crucial part of planning. Ultimately, it will mean the difference between a very satisfying shower and a lukewarm trickle.
So if you don’t know where to start, if you’re wondering what is the best shower for a combi boiler, and so on, you can look to our guide, to discover the main types of shower available, and which is best suited to your home’s water system.
How To Choose The Best Type Of Shower
Before you even start to think about the type of shower enclosure or shower head you need, get to know your bathroom’s plumbing and water heating systems, whether for your family bathroom or for an en-suite bathroom. Unless you are willing to upgrade, you may be restricted by what is already in place, eliminating some of the options.
Electric Showers
Quick and easy to install, electric showers draw on a cold-water supply and heat the water on demand so you can jump in at any time of day. They’re also extremely economic – up to 99.7 percent energy efficient – as the cold water is heated by an element, providing hot water instantly, with no wastage. The higher the kilowatt rating you choose, the better the flow will be.
Water-Saving Shower Heads
Eco showers limit the flow of water to an efficient, usable level no matter what your household pressure system is, whilst maintaining your selected temperature. Available in both electric and mixer variations, they can offer up to a 50 percent reduction in water usage when compared to conventional mixer showers.
Digital Showers
Available in either mixer or electric variations, digital or remote control showers are an increasingly popular choice as they offer a combination of state-of-the-art bathroom technology, stylish design, and ease of installation. The shower is controlled by a panel, which can be located within a 10-meter radius, giving you more freedom in your bathroom layout.
The panel then communicates with the power unit, located either in the loft or airing cupboard, to adjust the flow and temperature of the water. Water at a preferred temperature is then delivered through the ceiling or wall to the showerhead, and there is no unsightly plumbing visible.
How To Choose The Best Shower Heads
Whether your shower will be over the bath, in a wet room, or in its own cubicle, there are a few choices.
Shower Taps
Some bath taps come with a shower head attached. You can get a rail to hold the head, but they are often fitted as part of a freestanding bath, perhaps away from a wall and intended to be handheld. As such, they are generally best for those who prefer to sit in the bath and rinse their hair, and are also good for bathtime for those with young children.
Fixed Shower Head
This type of showerhead (as the name suggests) is fixed through the ceiling or on an arm from the wall. Generally, the shower rose will have one flow pattern (although some may be adjustable) and they are often found in wetrooms. For versatility, you may pair it with a handheld showerhead, and switch between the two during use – although some can be operated at the same time.
They are sometimes referred to as rainfall, or rainforest showers and can offer a really luxurious showering experience if high-pressure.
Handheld Shower Head
Handheld showers tend to have a head that can offer both jet and spray options for varied use. They also offer better reach and flexibility than fixed showerheads. Don’t worry, you won’t have to hold it for the length of your shower – they can be paired with a wall-mounted slider rail kit.
How To Choose The Best Shower Enclosure, Screen Or Door
While there are a number of shower cubicles and screens available, here are the most common and popular shower enclosures on the market today:
Single-Door Quadrant Shower
Quadrant shower enclosures are perfect for any bathroom that may have tight corners or is lacking in space. They will fit snugly into any corner meaning no area is wasted. You can choose from a single door opening or to minimalize space even further choose a sliding door option.
Hinged Shower Doors
If space isn’t a problem and a sliding door is not necessary a hinged door is practical and stylish. There is a huge array of modern shower encloses with hinged doors to choose from, they open outwards into the bathroom and come complete with a variety of chrome, brass, or metal fittings.
Sliding Shower Doors
If you want a streamlined, modern-looking shower enclosure a sliding door will be perfect for you – a practical and stylish option. Also, ideal if space-saving is high up on your list of requisites. There are different glasses to choose between, however, they work best using clear, strong, toughen glass.
Bi-Fold Shower Doors
Many shower doors require you to have a certain amount of free space outside of the shower enclosure to allow the door to open fully. Bi-fold shower enclosures, also known as in-fold, are the ideal space-saving buy. They fold in on themselves to make space for users to enter and exit the shower with ease.
D-shaped Showers
D-shaped shower enclosures provide a spacious showering space and can make a bold statement in any bathroom. The three-sided shower enclosure is a unique style as it only requires one flat wall to fit the enclosure, as opposed to using two wall spaces in the corner of a room. This grand showering space is growing in popularity.