How to Design a Personalized Shower

Imagine walking into a paradise that was made just for you, complete with all the things you need to unwind and recharge. This custom shower can look a lot of different ways, but what counts is that it fits your tastes and style. Still, there are some practical things to think about, like your income. Let's look at how to build a shower that fits your home perfectly.

Step 1: Look at your budget

It's easy to spend a lot of money on a custom shower because there are so many options. The price can easily hit tens of thousands of dollars. If you know how to make such a fancy shower, please do it and send us pictures when you're done!

Most of us, though, can't afford to spend that much on a unique shower, so we need to start setting spending priorities or learning when it's okay to skimp. Does it matter to you that your shower has a steam sauna, or would you rather use the money to knock out a wall and make a walk-in shower? You might not need all of the body sprays. A rainshower fixture and a shower wand might be enough.

Make a list of everything you want, nothing stops you. Note down those prices. Then start changing, removing, and editing things to get the price down. When you're making your private shower, don't forget to add labor costs and a 10–20% cushion in case something goes wrong.

Step 2: Pick Out the Type of Shower Door

Your own shower can look like anything. The majority of people who replace a bathtub with a shower choose either a corner shower or an alcove shower. Some people might choose to just put bathroom doors around their tub and save a lot of money that way.

Many people, though, choose to have a separate bathroom. This can be put in the corner of the room or, if you have enough room, in the middle of a long wall to make it the room's focal point. Some people may even get rid of a closet or smaller bedroom or turn a half-bath into a shower for a real spa moment.

Prefabricated shower kits are a great choice if you are on a tight budget. A pre-made model with a rectangular, square, or even circular shower enclosure can give you a luxury shower. The most common types of containers are made of acrylic and fiberglass. If you have more money, you could use tile, stone, glass blocks, and other items to build a shower from the ground up.

Step 3: Choose the Type of Shower Door

Picking out the right materials for the shower walls can be just as important as picking out the right shower doors. You can do any of these:

Presented in a frame: A standard style of shower door is the framed door, which has hardware on all sides to keep the glass in place. This type of glass is usually smaller than the others, which could give you a better view. The metal frames come in a range of high-end styles, such as gold and composite metal.

No frame: The frameless shower door is made of glass pieces that don't have any support systems for frames. So, they give the room a more uniform look and can bring out the beauty of expensive fittings. It is usually made of thick safety glass.

Somewhat frameless: There is gear on the top and bottom of a semi-frameless shower door that holds it in place. The shower door itself is made of strong safety glass. The end result is a shower door that keeps water inside, where it goes, and makes the bathroom look bigger.

Walk in: In the walk-in bathroom, there is no door. Instead, there is a space where you can step in. In a rectangular shower, the opening is usually in the back. This keeps water from the showerhead from flooding the toilet floor from the back. The shower stall can look classy if it doesn't have any door hardware.

You should also think about how your shower door moves. Would you like a bathroom door that turns when you pull the handle? You might also call them "bypass" doors if they slide. If you have a walk-in shower, this doesn't matter. If your bathroom has both a shower and a tub, you can use either sliding glass doors or a shower curtain for a more retro or vintage look.

Step 4: Pick a Size

You can make your shower as big as you want, but most people choose at least 36 by 48 inches. This size will let you move around without running into the walls of the shower. A luxury bathroom, on the other hand, should be at least 60 inches wide. If you want to make a bathroom a lot bigger, it might be worth it to take down walls that lead to a bedroom or closet.

Step 5: Check the pipes.

This is an important step that you need to take before you order any items for your custom shower. The pipes should be fine most of the time, especially if your home is fairly new. Depending on your plans, you might need to move some pipes or put in a diverter. These are easy jobs for a professional plumber. You may also need to change the drains to make room for more water, especially if you are using more than one jet or showerhead.

However, a worker might find leaks, pipes that are too old to be fixed, or even mold and mildew from leaks that have been going on for a long time behind the walls. This could make the cost of remodeling your bathroom and installing a shower go up a lot, so make sure your plumber or shower builder agrees before you go ahead with it.

In addition, you might need to get a new water heater. If you really want a custom shower that floods you with water, you'll need a water heater that can keep up with the demand.

Step 6: Pick out materials for the walls and floors

You can be very creative with the materials you use in your shower, but some are pretty standard, like the ones used to make the shower floor pan:

1. Clear acrylic
2. Glass fiber
3. Mixed Plastic Molded
4. Tile

The most common materials are acrylic and fiberglass. Composite modeling comes in third. Tile costs more, especially if you want a unique shower that is tiled from floor to ceiling to make it look like one big piece.

All of those things can be used to make the walls, as well as unique things like glass blocks or real stone. Tile is often used for bathroom walls because it comes in many styles that can be used in different situations. There are a lot of different styles of tiles, from large subway tiles to small patterns. For example, natural stone panels with tile details running along the top or bottom are something that many people choose. So are built-in shelving units with mosaic tile.

Keep in mind that plastic and fiberglass are often the least expensive choices.

Step 7: Pick out showerheads and other fixtures

Don't forget how the fixtures and showerheads in your unique shower will make it look. People who use accessible baths often choose showerheads that can be detached or fixed and have a second wand. In bigger showers, rainshower showerheads are often used to make the atmosphere feel more luxurious. People also like showerheads with jets that hit the body from all sides. However, because they require so much plumbing, they are usually the most expensive choice. If you choose fans, remember that they are great for massaging. Place them so that they are at the right height for your shoulder, lower back, and upper leg.

Have you thought about adding a bench or seat to your shower to make it feel even more fancy? A folding seat can probably fit in even a small shower. The seat of a built-in bench should have a non-slip finish so that it stays in place even when it's wet. If you need a seat in the shower, check the size of your shower again to make sure you can fit one in without making it hard to turn around.

When placing chairs or seats, think about where the showerheads will go. You don't want a showerhead that hits you in the face when you sit down. You should think about where the bench and faucet will go before you finalize your plans.

There are many finishes and styles of buttons and valves that can be used to run the shower. Since they all do the same thing, it comes down to style and personal taste. Think about a few different choices and let the contractor know what you want so that they can rough-in the walls accordingly.

Think about the storage choices in your shower. Built-in shelves, especially ones that are set back into the wall, can look nice and give you a place to put things you need. Make sure the shelves are tall enough to hold shampoo and conditioner bottles, and hang loofas and other similar items from the hooks.