Shower Renovation Roadmap: Craft Your Dream Shower

Shower renovations have risen in popularity in recent years with many choosing a bathroom that boasts a stunning shower area as its main focal point. As local bathroom fitters, we’ve seen first-hand proof of this – homeowners ripping out their bathroom and swapping their bathtub for a shower as part of a full bathroom renovation.

However, a shower renovation is no simple task and there are a lot of factors to consider. So, if you’re not sure where to start, let this article act as your roadmap to a successful shower renovation that ends with the creation of your dream shower. Whether you’re obsessed with the idea of a spa-style shower with a rainfall showerhead and soft mood lighting, or perhaps you would love a modern walk-in shower remodel that offers a striking, cutting-edge design, this is where your shower renovation journey begins.

Planning Your Dream Shower Renovation

When dreaming of a new shower, it’s easy to get caught up in style and aesthetics. Of course, you want your new shower to look incredible, there’s no problem with that. But as much as it is important to consider how your new shower will look, you must also think of functionality.

A well-designed shower isn’t just for appearance purposes. A shower that has been designed well means it will also function as expected. It will be easy to manoeuvre, simple to maintain and perform optimally.

During this initial phase of the project, it’s important to work with a bathroom fitting professional you can rely on, and even better if they can offer assistance at every stage of the project, from designing to supplying the products, fitting and beyond. The most important aspect of planning a shower renovation is to define your needs – what do you want out of your new shower? What makes up your dream shower? Asking important questions such as these will help you progress naturally through your shower renovation project.

For shower renovation ideas and inspiration, try using online resources such as Pinterest or download bathroom brochures. Or visit a local bathroom showroom.

What is the Difference Between Walk-In Showers, Wet Rooms, and Enclosed Showers?

When it comes to types of showers that can be created through a shower renovation, the lines can be blurred between walk-in showers, wet rooms, and enclosed showers.

A bathroom remodel with spacious walk-in shower that features a shower seat and cream tiling.

A walk-in shower is similar to a wet room but is differentiated by typically coming with screens or panels but with some of the shower still open to the rest of the room. Walk-in showers also usually come with a shower tray, whereas a wet room does not. A walk-in shower is different from an enclosed shower as this type of shower is normally completely enclosed and features a door.

Shower Renovation Ideas: Types and Styles for Your Home

Another important thing to consider is the extent of your planned shower renovation. In particular, will you just be renovating the shower in your current bathroom or will you renovate the shower as part of a larger bathroom fitting project, where you will be creating an entirely new space? Getting clear on this is a good idea as it will affect such things as costs and timeframe.

Below, in the hopes of providing some inspiration, we are going to share some of our favourite shower renovation ideas.

Idea #1: Bathroom Remodel With Walk-In Shower

Now that we know what a walk-in shower is, the first shower renovation idea on our list is to go big and bold to create a new bathroom that is mainly comprised of a walk-in shower. As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, bathrooms that only consist of a shower are becoming increasingly popular and we understand why.

Why is a walk-in shower remodel a good idea? There’s something so enticing and luxurious about a fresh new bathroom that offers a spacious, sprawling walk-in shower. With easy access, you simply walk into your new shower and enter into a calming and accommodating oasis.

Idea #2: Opt for a Shower Over Bath Option

Having only a shower in your bathroom with no bathtub isn’t for everyone. If you’re neither exclusively a bath nor shower person, have the best of both worlds with a shower-over-bath installation. Many bathrooms in the UK come with a shower over a bath – it’s a sensible option, especially for smaller bathrooms and can be more suitable for budget bathroom renovations.

With this shower renovation idea, you can create the ultimate hybrid bathroom feature, giving you the ability to enjoy a quick shower in the morning rush and also wind down at the end of a long day with a warm soak. Despite being a common theme in most bathrooms, you can make your shower over bath stand out by experimenting with shower screens, bathtub shapes, and walling options.

Idea #3: Bathroom to Wet Room: The Ultimate Shower Renovation

Remember, a wet room is different from a walk-in shower as a wet room is typically all open plan – the room IS the shower. Sure, screens and panels can be used in a wet room, but the main principle remains the same. Also, with a wet room, the water will often flow away through a drain in the floor instead of via a shower tray.

Wet rooms are widely considered the epitome of shower elegance. Almost giving a futuristic vibe, a wet room is easy to access and use, with the whole room tailored to your showering needs. A wet room shower renovation could be a great option for a smaller bathroom as they can come in varying sizes and can contain just the essentials of a bathroom, such as a sink and WC.

Idea #4: Create an Accessible Shower to Suit Your Needs

If manoeuvrability is limited for you, either due to disability or old age, bathing can be a strenuous task. With this in mind, some bathroom suppliers and fitters offer accessible showering features that can be added to a shower renovation. Such features include fold-out shower chairs and grab handles.

There is a misconception that accessible showers don’t look appealing. However, when your shower renovation extends to the whole bathroom, you can add whatever bathroom style you like to your space. And when you work with an expert bathroom designer and stylist, they can help to blend accessible features into the overall design, keeping that visual appeal for your new shower.

Idea #5: Go For an Enclosed Shower Renovation

Our final shower renovation idea is to create an enclosed shower for your bathroom. As highlighted above, an enclosed shower is different from a walk-in shower or wet room by being completely encased by screens or panels and a door. If a shower over a bath doesn’t suit you or a walk-in shower doesn’t appeal, then this can be a nice and simple option.

With an enclosed shower, you will be practically zoning out a section of your bathroom for showering. The term “enclosed” may make some feel claustrophobic or create the idea of a cramped shower space, but a shower enclosure doesn’t have to be small, some are quite large and offer the same accommodating essence as walk-ins and wet rooms. Make your shower enclosure stand out by adding little touches, such as brushed brass detailing or gun metal fixtures.

Don’t Forget These Shower Renovation Essentials

New shower controls and handle in a brass style.

Hopefully, you now have some shower renovation ideas bubbling in your brain. With your vision becoming clearer, it’s important not to forget about the finer details of your shower renovation.

Shower Head Options

Shower Renovation Essential #1

Shower Head Options

Control how you shower by installing the right shower head for you. Choose from rainfall shower heads, concealed shower heads, handheld shower heads, fixed shower heads, aerating shower heads, or dual shower heads.

Shower Walling

Shower Renovation Essential #2

Shower Walling

The best walling options for showers are fully waterproof and provide easy cleaning. Hydrowall is a popular option.

Shower Doors, Screens, and Curtains

Shower Renovation Essential #3

Shower Doors, Screens, and Curtains

Depending on the type of shower you would like to create, you may need a shower door. For other showering options, to limit water getting everywhere, you may need a screen or curtain. Glass screens are considered the better, more sustainable option.

Shower Unit

Shower Renovation Essential #4

Shower Unit

Which shower unit will you choose? The most common options include electric showers, power showers, mixer showers, and digital showers. To see how much each costs to install, see our blog: ‘How Much Does a Shower Installation Cost?’

How Much Does a Shower Renovation Cost?

If you are happy with your current bathroom in general and it’s just the shower that could do with an update and refresh, a shower renovation could cost anywhere from £2,000 to £5,000. The price will depend on several factors, such as the type of shower you would like to install and the labour costs involved (if you’re not doing it yourself).

A large walk-in shower that has a sliding glass door, alcove shelves, and a live plant inside.

If you would like to renovate your whole bathroom along with the shower, then the price will rise. For a bathroom fitting project such as this, you could expect to pay roughly £6,000 to £15,000.

Shower Renovation Before and After: Real Incredible Transformations

As a Norfolk bathroom installation company, we have completed many different shower renovation projects. One of the best parts of a high-quality shower renovation is seeing the before and after – seeing how a shower and/or bathroom looked before remodelling versus how it looks after. Here are some of our favourites:

Small Shower Wet Room

This dated and tired shower enclosure was not enough to satisfy our customers’ needs. So, seeking a change and wanting to put this shower space to good use, we created this cosy wet room, featuring dramatic grey tiling and modern fixtures.

An old blue small shower room before renovation.

Small shower room after a shower renovation by bathroom fitting company in Norfolk.

Creating an Accessible Shower Over Bath

As we mentioned before, sometimes a bathroom can be generally tolerated but the shower space needs some work. This was the case for this customer who was hoping to action a shower renovation on a tight budget. The accessible features added to this shower include a handheld shower head, grabrails, built-in bathtub seating, and a walk-in bathtub.

A messy and cluttered bathroom that features a dated accessible shower.

A new accessible shower over bath that was designed and fitted by Norfolk bathroom fitters.

Modern Enclosed Shower Renovation

Originally more of a shower cubicle, this shower area benefited from a remodel as part of a large full en suite renovation. By opting for a sharper design with unobstructed glass panels and adding black detailing, we updated this enclosed shower to become a modern dream.

A bathroom with an enclosed shower before renovation.

Shower renovation in Norfolk leads to a stunning new enclosed shower.

Shower Remodelling Services

A successful shower renovation project starts with finding a reliable bathroom specialist to work with. You may be thinking that’s easier said than done, which it can be, but not if you ask the right questions and do a little research. Unless you’re a professional bathroom fitter, the likelihood is that you’re going to need some help. So it’s a good idea to work with a team of bathroom specialists who can take care of every stage of the shower renovation for you. For example, The Bathroom Place are a team of designers, fitters and suppliers who specialise in shower renovations.

A clean, bright and white bathroom that features a large walk-in shower with glass sliding doors.

Searching for bathroom installers that also hold certain accreditations is also a smart move, such as our BiKBBI accreditation. In most cases, this proves the reliability of an installer. If you’re local to Norfolk, we can help turn your dream shower into reality. Reach out to our team and send us your ideas.

Final Thoughts

Let’s recap on our shower renovation roadmap: we’ve identified that the planning stage is incredibly important. Not just for things such as budget and timescales, but for getting exactly what you want out of a shower renovation. We explored some of the many shower renovation ideas, such as walk-in showers, wet rooms, and enclosed showers.

Following that, we remembered not to forget about the finer details of a shower renovation, like shower heads and the best walling for a shower. Then, the cost, which of course is a massive factor. It may be worth keeping in mind that some bathroom fitting companies may provide a finance option, allowing you to spread the shower renovation cost over a defined period, rather than paying upfront.

Finally, we ended with the reality of shower remodelling services – how finding a reliable bathroom installer is so important. We hope this guide has been helpful to you and given you confidence heading into a potential shower renovation project.