Most bathroom suites are sold as two piece (basin and toilet) or three piece sets (bath, basin and toilet) so, unless you buy a shower suite rather than a bathroom suite, you’ll need to choose your shower cubicle independently of your other bathroom fittings. Here, then, is our handy guide to some of the options available to you…
Step One
Standard bathroom: separate shower - For bathrooms where there’s room for a separate bath and shower (or in households where a bath has been deemed unnecessary), a separate shower cubicle is a popular choice. Available in sizes from a bijou 700x700mm square up to a whopping 2000x1000mm, shower cubicles come in several basic shapes. Quadrant enclosures can be helpful additions to a smaller space: their curved shape minimises the amount of floor space they take up, but they manage still to feel relatively spacious inside. Square and rectangular enclosures and trays remain popular, however, and often the choice between curved or angular shower cubicles comes down to personal preference. A similar range of sizes is available in either style.
Step Two
A selection of door types, from pivot and bi-fold to sliding and hinged, allow for easy access to the cubicle itself. You should give some thought to the amount of space in your bathroom if you’re thinking of choosing an outward opening door; in a small space, pivot and bi-fold doors are often the most suitable. Walk in shower enclosures have two sections: a wet area and a drying area (often equipped with a stylish wooden duckboard). The two are partially separated by a curved or angled section of shower panel, and they have no door.
Step Three
A selection of shower trays is available to suit most models of shower enclosure, granting you a choice of shower tray material (cast resin being a popular, hard wearing option) and style (low profile trays look good and minimise your step up into the shower; easy plumb styles provide space to conceal pipework above floor level).
Step Four
Smaller bathroom: shower bath - If your bathroom is too small to accommodate a separate shower, a shower bath could be the ideal solution. Although a shower can be fitted over any bath, shaped shower baths have been carefully designed to ensure the most spacious shower experience possible.
Step Five
L and P shaped shower baths are available in similar sizes: the difference is that the shower area in a P shaped shower bath is curved, while the shower area in an L shaped shower bath is angular. The choice, then, is similar to the choice between a quadrant or rectangular shower cubicle: it depends upon personal preference and on individual bathroom shape and style.
Step Six
Shaped shower screens with rubber seals protect your bathroom from leaks and spray while you’re showering; many screens can also be folded right back to the wall out of the way when the shower is not in use. If you are looking for a shower for your bathroom Better Bathrooms has a fantastic range to choose from.