There are lots of benefits to the walk-in shower, and various ways to place one in your bathroom during your next renovation. A walk-in shower is an open shower that is streamlined and spacious with a minimal frame. It lets a homeowner maximize the space in a bathroom by foregoing traditional shower parts such as a shower pan and shower casing. Walk-in showers make the perception that the bathroom is bigger than it is.
A small bathroom looks and feels bigger with a walk-in shower because space isn’t broken up by opaque walls, a bathtub, heavy ledges, and a shower enclosure frame. This frees up precious space for storage, a 2nd sink, or more vanity. A walk-in shower is more functional than a standard shower as it offers ease of access and safety. It takes away the danger of stepping into a bathtub, which makes it convenient for individuals with limited or impaired mobility.
It’s essential to consider the long-term requirements of a user if you’re remodeling a bathroom for persons with restricted mobility or the elderly. Walk-in showers are ideal for accessible bathrooms as they may be combined with customized installations like grab bars and shower seats to decrease the risk of a fall. Though walk-in showers provide endless benefits to the user, it comes with its downsides, which need to be considered before installing the setup.
Can you have a walk-in shower in a small bathroom?
Yes, it is possible and one can get a walk-in shower in a small bathroom. If you have a bathroom speck, it is hard to think about installing a walk-in shower when it looks like you have sufficient room for a toilet and a sink. But with the help of strategizing, you can remodel your bathroom and have this luxury. Be creative with the configuration of your layout, and begin thinking about how you can use tile, glass, hardware in innovative ways to have a walk-in shower.
Advantages of Walk-in Showers
walk-in showers do not need a door or curtain for blocking the water’s spray, and this thing results in a spacious, and open look. While prefab units contain shallow curbs to keep excess water from running onto the bathroom floor, various custom walk-ins are designed with no curbs, a gently sloping floor which means greater accessibility, a benefit for those with joint injuries and mobility problems. Another asset is a multi-nozzle spray, a standard feature in several walk-in showers. Depending on your individual preference, you may have as many as 10 spray nozzles directing water to all body’s sides.
Easy to Clean
A walk-in shower since most of the surfaces are flat and there are some corners or places with less dirt and grime buildup. It takes less time to clean the glass walls and tiled floors as there are some crannies and nooks to scrub compared to a traditional shower enclosure.
Versatile
A walk-in shower may be installed in any bathroom size, as it may be customized to suit your usual space. You won’t have any difficulties putting up this kind of shower in a room that may be limited in space or of an unusual shape.
Ease of Access
Unlike bathtubs and shower enclosures, walk-in showers are more accessible and are the best solution for individuals with mobility challenges. They remove the need of stepping over a higher ledge or tripping on a steep threshold while entering into the shower.
Minimalist Contemporary Design
A walk-in shower is simple because it has some moving parts with no doors and shower curtains. Since most models are made of glass walls with a frameless look, no elements may distract the attention from your bathroom décor making it more like a transparent feature.
More Space
A walk-in shower makes the illusion of a big space though it can simply fit in tiny bathroom spaces. The shower itself becomes visible, as it isn’t blocked from view by a shower door. This settle footage is contributed to the whole bathroom doubling the view of bathroom size.
Cons of a Walk-In Shower
Lack of Privacy
A walk-in shower doesn’t provide sufficient privacy, as it lacks a door though other designs are purely made of glass walls. It isn’t ideal for a commercial space where people share the bathroom as it can mean that one person can utilize it at a time. However, people who incorporate a walk-in shower in their washroom have the freedom to customize their privacy level.
Feels Colder
You’re more probably to feel colds in a walk-in shower as it lacks a door and a shower curtain. The air that relocates through the door-less entrance makes the room colder. However, you can solve this problem by installing a glowing warmed flooring and mounting a warmth light.
Water Splashes
There’s a possibility of water splashing into the rest of the shower room depending on your shower design. You can minimize this problem by installing the right kind of shower base and mindful planning. Water splashes can make your bathroom a mess and raise the chances of fall if it isn’t taken care of.
High Moisture and Humidity
Irrespective of the design, water, and moisture will leave the shower in some form either as water splashes and as steam from hot showers. This causes damage to the whole bathroom since high humidity and moisture makes a damp environment, which is a favorite recipe for mold.
It’s Costly
The cost of a walk-in shower may be a major disadvantage to homeowners looking for a minimalistic design. Though it can look straightforward in appearance, it’s made up of good quality glass and complicated hidden drainage systems that make it expensive compared to traditional designs.