At first glance, the shower may not seem to offer the romance and escapism that the ever-revered bathtub does but in reality, these small spaces prove themselves to be just as rich in relaxation and calm.
You might think these spaces are purely functional, but shower trends span both how they're practically used, and how good they look. The utilitarian origins of the shower have moved on in favor of more colorful and considered spaces that offer elevated experiences.
We spoke to interior design experts across the globe to see how this bathroom trend is evolving.
What style of shower is on-trend right now?
From cleverly concealed niches to statement stone enclosures and smoked glass structures, creativity and functionality are both key tenets of modern shower design.
'In the homes we feature in Livingetc, you can expect anything but a standard enclosure,' says trends editor Lilith Hudson. 'Spaces are embracing bespoke designs — whether they make a statement of the enclosure through materials or layout, or use minimalist glass to make this element almost disappear.'
Remember to design with your daily rituals in mind, the perfect shower should speak to your personal sense of style whilst keeping everything you need within arm’s reach.
1. Two shower heads are better than one
This clean and contemporary shower space designed by Los Angeles-based designer Lindsay Hayslett proves that versatility goes hand in hand with style. By introducing two shower heads, one fixed and another handheld, she's able to offer her clients greater flexibility in their day-to-day.
Whether it's quickly rushing in and out or taking your time to relax, this type of shower works in a multitude of ways.
'More and more people are opting to get handhelds along with a showerhead in their bathrooms. These items help with getting into areas that a showerhead can't reach, and they are a perfect way to have options when needed while showering,' says Linda Hayslett, founder of LH Designs.
When it comes to designing your shower carefully consider coordinating your hardware to create a cohesive and inviting space. Investing in high-quality hardware, be it stainless steel or antique brass, is a great way of ensuring your shower looks great today and tomorrow. This is especially important for those living in areas with hard water as it can damage certain hardware over time, always consult an expert to see what will work best for you.
2. Stone enclosures elevate the experience
Precious and colorful stones are not strangers to bathroom design by any means but there is always more that designers seek to show us using this material to create schemes that capture the imagination. New York-based interior designer Nanette brown has done exactly that with this statement stone shower enclosure idea.
Built from slabs of Bardiglio marble, its surface reminiscent of ocean waves rippling under beams of sunlight, this isn’t a shower that anyone is likely to forget. By creating a dedicated space for your shower in such a rich and enticing material, Brown offers her clients a marble bathroom that feels akin to the best boutique hotel experience. Joining the shower to the bathtub gives her clients every option they could ever need or want.
'We typically add two heads to any shower area where space allows and increasingly we’re turning shower and bath areas into entire wet rooms,' reveals interior designer, Nannette Brown. 'We’re seeing a greater dedication of space for not only practical purposes like bathing but also for cold and hot water therapies as health and wellness protocols become more mainstream. If you have the space and budget there’s a real movement to expanding simple showers into water-proofed rooms to allow added features and usability.'
Price: $65
This bathroom set's graphic marble is the next best thing to this amazing marble shower enclosure — well, kind of.
3. Colorful tiles capture the attention
It's wonderful to see more and more shower designs featuring bright and joyous tiles whether it be pastel pinks or verdant greens. As smaller spaces, it can often be that we shy away from high doses of pigment as a shower tile idea in fear that they will become too imposing or dark — in actuality, colorful tiles can give your shower a wonderful sense of playfulness.
Designed by a local designer, this Parisian apartment realized by Camille Hermand Architectures tempers the joviality of pink with strategically placed black tiling and a coordinated screen. 'Incorporating colors into your shower can be achieved through colored lighting, colored tiles, or even colored showerheads. This simple addition can turn a routine activity into a more enriching and enjoyable experience,' says architect and interior designer Camille.
4. Embrace the shower bench
The ritual of taking a shower has always been seen as something fast, quick, ever to be hurried. Award-winning interior designer Greg Natale thinks differently. He's seeing a greater demand for built-in shower benches and seating, challenging the assumption that we must be in and out of the shower at lightning speed and instead allowing us all to take the time to relax, ponder, and escape. Enrobed in a charming and distinctive marble, swirling with soft purples and striking grey and black tones, this shower design for their Bellevue hill house project keeps the seat almost camouflaged. It’s integral to the experience but calmly sits in the background, allowing the focus to be on the stone.
'I can’t help but notice a lot of my clients have been requesting custom walk-in shower seats,' Greg says. 'Whether you are using them as a seat or a place to rest your toiletries, shower seats give you that private spa experience at home. In Bellevue Hill House, we wrapped several ensuites in different types of marble to create a totally immersive, textural space, and installed built-in shower seats in the same marble for a seamless look.'
Price: $241.05
Go for a matte black shower in a space where you want your fixtures to make a real impact.
5. Opt for the invisible shower
Whilst some seek to create statements with the shower designs there is also power in silence. Constructing an ‘invisible’ shower with floor-to-ceiling glass blurs the lines between your shower and your bathroom, creating the illusion of a larger space and letting more light into the room. This charmingly modern bathroom design created by JLF architects utilizes an invisible shower to make the most of the landscape and bring their clients closer to nature. The firm specializes in creating spaces that feel rooted in their surroundings, a statement echoed in each of their designs.
'For this contemporary home with rustic roots in Park City, Utah, we kept the focus intentionally on the surrounding natural world,' say JLF Architects. 'For the primary bathroom, we chose an all-glass approach to the shower that keeps attention on the views. Our design-build partner Big-D Signature created seamless connections at corners and floor, so the shower feels invisible in the room. Interior designer Natasha Wallis also used small steel bathroom mirrors with integrated lights mounted to the window mullions above the vanity that allow you to look past and enjoy the view.'
6. Use smoked glass for a sense of zen
Glass seems to be having a bit of a comeback as proven by this Japanese-inspired inviting bathroom design by WRJ Design. The studio takes a gentle hue that keeps the shower feeling subtly separate and contained but also part of a larger picture. From a practical perspective, this is particularly great if you want to keep your shower and bathroom looking pristine every day as clear glass is a little less forgiving.
The more natural bathroom materials within the space like the oak used for vanity and ceiling contrast with the sleek and structured nature of the glass perfectly. 'For this Swiss-inspired chalet-style house at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for a male client, WRJ Design selected European sculptural interior design elements while embracing natural materials in keeping with this special region of Wyoming,' says Rush Jenkins, co-founder of WRJ Design. 'In the primary bathroom, the team selected a smoky glass for the shower to complement the room’s more masculine Zen-meets-modern-moodiness vibe reflected in the dark stone flooring and sinks.'
7. Use niches for stylish storage
The bespoke joinery bug has made it to the bathroom as we see more and more interior designers creating bespoke spaces that maximize storage for their clients. For her Knightsbridge apartment project in Cadogan Square, interior designer Louise Bradley does exactly this with a beautifully framed bathroom niche idea carved out of Calacatta marble. Lighting proves these vignettes to be key ingredients in elevating the functional and visual aspects of shower design.
'With many clients, we have noticed 'built-in shelving' gaining popularity,' says British interior designer, Louise Bradley. 'This shelf style allows the client to maximize their storage space, whilst seamlessly blending it into the surrounding bathroom design. Additionally, by using high-quality materials, like the Calacatta Marble pictured here, this shelving gives the ultimate high-end feel without compromising on practicality and maintaining a chic and minimalistic look.'
What are the shower head trends right now?
According to Livingetc's editor Hugh Metcalf, you'll find three big trends in terms of shower heads this year.
1. Fixed, rainfall showers with sleek handheld
'Even the best-looking riser showers aren't being favored in bathroom design right now, so look to fixed overhead showerheads with a generous rainfall, paired with a minimalist handheld shower for practicality.'
2. Water conservation
'Showerheads that conserve water while still feeling powerful are better than ever — they used air to make the shower pressure feel stronger, so it's a win-win for you and the environment.'
3. Beauty filters
'Hard-water filtering showerheads that take the nasties out of the water are growing in popularity with the skincare-obsessed. Our style editor recently reviewed the Jolie Shower Head, and loved the difference it made to her daily routine.'
