Wet room ideas – stunning wet room bathroom designs for your home
1.Consider different surfaces ideas, not just tiles
Tiling from floor-to-ceiling is practical but can feel cold and uninviting in large volumes. Nicholas points out the importance of exploiting other options.
'We’ve noted a rise in polished plaster – both traditional Tadelakt and more modern Microcement – in wet room designs and the results are stunning,' he says.
Built up in layers, the finish is waterproof and seamless, so there’s no grubby grout to tackle.
2. Pick the right sanitaryware
'If you are embracing the full wet room in a large bathroom look and omitting any sort of enclosure or screen, it is fundamental to think about your choice of sanitaryware, as it is likely that it will get wet from the spray of the shower or the condensation in the room,' advises Rebecca Milnes, designer at CP Hart.
'Opt for ceramics that are flush to the wall and are ideally wall-mounted. A wall-hung toilet is a brilliant choice in a wet room, as there are no areas for water to pool and it makes cleaning easier.'
Though a bathroom that has been tanked doesn’t necessarily need a shower panel, you may want to add one to prevent towels or toilet rolls getting wet. Opt for a fluted or frosted finish to maintain a level of privacy if your wet room forms part of the main bathroom.
'In order to create a true wet room, a watertight environment must be created by tanking both the floor and walls of the room to thoroughly protect it from leaks. First a watertight membrane is laid, then the room will need to be tiled throughout with a gentle gradient in the main a shower area so the water flows away easily into the waste.'
3. Choose the right size sanitaryware to enhance the sense of space
It’s important to choose sanitaryware that is slightly smaller than the average in size so that it can make the room look bigger. A wall-hung toilet with a concealed cistern, is not just easier to keep clean, but being able to see the floor gives the illusion of a bigger room. Wall-hung bathroom vanity ideas will also help reduce visual clutter and use the bathroom space more effectively.
4. Play with the illusion of space
Using matching tiles or composite panels on both floors and walls is a good idea for wet rooms and small bathrooms as it will accentuate the sense of space.
Create areas of bathroom color, and even patterns using mosaics or tiles in a variety of formats, to give definition to your shower space, or mix shapes, sizes and shades for a unique look.
'Add glossy finishes and sleek chrome fittings and use matching shower tile ideas or composite panels on both floors and walls to accentuate the sense of space. Create areas of color and even patterns using mosaics or tiles in a variety of formats to give definition to your shower space, or mix shapes, sizes and shades for a unique look.'
Make sure the floor tiles you want have an appropriate non-slip bathroom flooring rating for wet areas – look out for raised, textured finishes or anti-slip properties in your search.
'Good-quality porcelain tiles are perfect for use in wet rooms and walk-in showers,' says Jo Oliver, Director at Stone & Ceramic Warehouse. ' Firstly, they are impervious to water, making them an ideal solution for everyday use. They also won’t be damaged by detergents or any of the other chemicals we frequently expose our shower surfaces to.'
5. Design a wet room around an awkward space
While it’s easiest to install a small wet room in a new-build or extension, any bathroom, upstairs or down, can be fully tanked for wet room use.
There are certain situations where a wet room comes into its own. ' Wet rooms are particularly effective in small or awkward scenarios, like rooms with sloped ceilings or strange layouts, as you can maximize the showering area without the restrictions of standard shower tray sizes,' says Nicholas Cunild.
Issues like the direction of floor joists can be problematic but not insurmountable. ' In some cases, you may need to accept a step up into the room, in order to achieve the necessary gradients for efficient water drainage. If it’s done by a good professional, it will be unnoticeable.'
6. Fake a wet room
If you are not able to create a true wet room, the latest ultra-low profile shower trays are a clever alternative.
A frameless shower enclosure will give any bathroom a modern, seamless feel and create a contained area for showering without the need for a separate cubicle.
Paired with a low-profile shower tray, these walk-in shower ideas with frameless, clear glass panels help to make even the smallest of spaces feel less claustrophobic and therefore a more calming showering experience.
Don’t forget to allow for adequate drainage at the planning stage. Your shower floor ideas may need to be fitted at a sloped angle away from any doors so water can drain away easily. A sunken shower tray that can be installed flush to the rest of the floor.