Bathroom Showers | Shower Seat Help

Your shower can take a lot of abuse. Think of all the moisture and humidity that it is subjected to on a daily basis. It is no wonder that it doesn’t take long before it begins to look old and tired. Renovations can be extremely costly and inconvenient. However, you can avoid many of these costs and give your bathroom a much-needed lift by simply installing a beautiful shower surround.

A shower surround acts as a stylish 3-wall barrier to protect water from leaking from your shower through to your walls. Surrounds are made to be attached to the walls of the bathroom and can easily be installed in a day. Many of them can go right over your existing shower wall. Even if you have tiles on the walls around your tub right now, chances are that you can install a new surround right over them. Additionally, surrounds can be cut to fit any type of existing tap and faucet combinations.

The wonderful thing about surrounds is that they come in relatively few pieces. In fact, some are actually one solid piece. This means that once installed there is very little chance of any leaks or water damage to the walls, and you will not have to spend a lot of time messing with caulking.

Shower surrounds are available in a number of different materials. Among your choices are ceramic, fiberglass, and acrylic. If you do not want to change or alter the other fixtures in the bathroom, you can get a surround that will fit into any motif. You can also select from a vast range of solid colors. White and bone are no longer the only available choices on the market. In truth, if you do not want a solid color, there are many different designs and patterns that you can pick from. Popular choices include faux marble, granite, or stone.

Your personal choices do not stop there. Shower surrounds are available for both stand-up showers, as well as for the bathtub, as detailed in What Tub Shower Combinations are Available? If you want to avoid the typical square shower look, think about a shower surround that has rounded corners. This design gives the shower a softer look.

In addition, among your surround choices are options such as built-in shelves and soap dishes. Depending on the number of accessories that you and your family tend to have in the bathroom, you can pick a single shelf or perhaps one that provides shelves at both ends. To prevent falls many of these units also have safety handles and grab bars.

If you’re handy, you might want to consider purchasing a shower surround kit and doing the install yourself. Because they are made to attach to bathroom walls, surrounds are light and easy to handle.

One caution is to make sure you have measured the size of your bathroom doorway. You want to be sure the shower surround you buy will fit through the door. You may have to buy a kit with separate surround pieces to fit through your door.

The next time that you walk into your bathroom and look at your old worn out shower, think about giving it a makeover. By simply adding a shower surround, you can give it a completely new look and feel.

A shower curtain is much more than just a hanging sheet of plastic that keeps water inside your shower. Shower curtains today are decorative expressions of taste and personality. There are thousands of designs, styles and accessories, which will enhance and compliment any bathroom decor.

Shower curtain shopping used to be very simple. There were very few choices or options. Now when you go to select a shower curtain you have a number of options – all of which will make your bathroom more elegant. You are going to have to consider things like curtain liners, rods, rings and fabric. All of these items are related and are going to have visual impact on each other.

Selection Strategy

Before you go and look at curtains, you should have a starting point or a strategy.

What is the overall theme of the bathroom?
Do you have your colors selected?

Once these decisions are made, you should choose a curtain. The type of curtain that you select will affect all the other products that you will need to buy to achieve a consistent look in your bathroom.

For example, if your house is done in an ultra modern style, you may want to pick a contemporary style or a designer style. You might even want to have a curtain that features a double swag. These are shower curtains that part in the center.

If you are planning to decorate a child’s bathroom you can find curtains that feature everything from animals to popular cartoon characters.

If you do not yet have a theme or a color selected, take a quick glance at the curtains that are available. Some people prefer to pick their curtain first and then plan the rest of the bathroom around it.

Fabrics

Shower curtains are available in different types of fabrics. Common fabrics include polyester, vinyl or plastic.

If you select a polyester curtain, you will need to wash it occasionally to make certain that is does not get mildew. Polyester and other cloth curtains are probably going to need a shower curtain liner to ensure that they keep the water in the tub. The vinyl will not require washing, but it may need to be wiped down occasionally to keep it germ free. There are a number of curtains that are now being manufactured with an antibacterial and mildew resistant compound.

Attaching the Curtain

You do not have to pick a curtain that requires the use of hooks. There are thousands of shower curtains that slide directly over the rod or that use snaps. If you do decide that this is what you want, you may need to change the rod in the bathroom.

Shower curtain rods come in a number of different diameters and styles. The arc shaped rod is becoming more popular and can be easily installed in almost any shower. There are even circular shaped rods to hold a shower curtain that will wrap around a freestanding clawfoot tub shower combination.

If you choose a standard curtain, you will need to get hooks. Numerous retailers provide hooks that are made to compliment the curtain. Additionally, if you want the entire room to match, you may want to look at other available matching accessories.

Summary

Attention to detail is what makes any decor come together. Having a theme and color plan right at the beginning will make your decisions easier and faster. The shower curtain can be the focal point of your bathroom, so if you want the bathroom to look its best, start with a plan.

For the alternative to shower curtains, read Shower Doors and Shower Glass Add Style to Your Bathroom.

If you want the benefits of both a tub and a shower in the same floor space, a tub and shower combination unit may be your solution. With both a tub and shower unit, you get the best of both worlds.

For example, when you feel like soaking away the stress of the day by surrounding yourself with hot water, fill up the tub and relax. If it’s the morning and you’re rushing to get ready for work, hop in the same space, turn on the showerhead and take a quick shower.

If the space saving and convenience benefits appeal to you, here are some things to think about when considering a combination tub and shower.

There are three primary types of tub shower combination units:

Ceramic
One piece
Sectional

Traditional Ceramic

Traditionally, a tub shower combination can be created by building a ceramic tile shower enclosure around an existing tub. The ceramic tile forms three walls of the shower. An opening for a showerhead is built into one of the walls. The original tub sits below the ceramic tiled walls.

Ceramic tile requires ongoing maintenance and care to prevent mildew and leaks but provides the most traditional look.

One piece combination units

As the name implies, a one piece tub and shower combination unit includes either all three walls that surround the tub or all three walls and the tub. Fixtures are usually part of the combination including the tub faucets and showerhead. Ledges for holding soap and shampoo may also be built into the unit.

The one piece units are made of acrylic or fiberglass and tend to be heavier and bulkier than the traditional ceramic combination units.

Because of its size, you must measure to be sure the unit will fit through the doorway in an existing bathroom. For new construction, you can build in the one piece combination unit, then build your bathroom around it.

Sectional combination units

To address the size issue, a third type of tub shower combination unit is available. This unit comes in sections that can be put together inside the bathroom. The tub is one piece that is usually placed in first. It can be acrylic, fiberglass, or even porcelain. The walls, made of acrylic or fiberglass, are then placed around the tub. As with the one piece combination, fixtures are usually part of the wall pieces.

This type unit provides the benefits of the combination unit while getting around the problem of weight and size.

Sizes

Bathtub shower combinations offer size options depending on the available space in your bathroom. The standard option is a regular sized tub, which is five feet long. But if space is an issue, units are available in smaller sizes, such as a four foot tub. There are also units built to fit into a corner to which you can add a built-in shower seat.

Frames

For the above described options, we’ve been talking about three-sided combination units. But frames are available that can rest on the tub. You can install sliding glass doors inside the frame to provide a fourth wall so water from the showerhead doesn’t get all over the floor.

Depending on the type of glass used, the glass doors can also provide visual privacy when you’re sitting in the tub.

Many finishes are available for these framed enclosures with brushed nickel and chrome being two of the most popular.

Clawfoot tub shower combination

Some people, who prefer a vintage look for their bathrooms, install a clawfoot tub as part of their décor. But here too, combination kits are available that allow users to add a vertical showerhead riser and shower curtain ring above the clawfoot tub. This gives you the option of taking an old-fashioned soak in your tub or standing in the tub for a standard shower.

Summary

If you can’t decide between a tub or a shower, a tub shower combination lets you have the best of both worlds. You can either sit in the bathtub or stand in the shower while saving space at the same time.

Shower Seat Help

Update Your Shower with a Shower Surround

You Have Choices When Selecting Shower Curtains

What Tub Shower Combinations are Available?