Got a bathroom remodel on your docket? Whether you're planning on ripping out your bathroom's seen-better-days shower or simply daydreaming about a new one, a bathroom renovation can turn a dingy, dated space into a spa-like one—a room you'll love to start and end your day in.
To inspire your shower makeover, whether a small change (like a fresh shower curtain) or an entire gut renovation, we've rounded up 35 beautiful shower ideas. Some are bold and colorful, and others are understated and elegant, but all will spark a "let's renovate" ambition.
Scroll on for a range of enviable showers in various sizes and styles—each worthy of emulating in a way that fits your space and style.
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Build In Niches for More Storage
Can you ever have enough shower storage? No, and that's why Hunter Carson Design incorporated a wall niche into this shower. Not only does it create a dedicated home for shampoos, conditioners, and soaps, but it also acts as an additional design opportunity to feature a contrasting tile.
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Install a Floor-to-Ceiling Glass Partition
When designing this bathroom, Kate Marker Interiors dedicated serious square footage to a spacious bathing area that includes both the shower heads and bathtub. This enclosed shower and bathtub stall is made all the more indulgent with luxe tiles that extend across the ceiling.
Not only does the glass wall create a splash guard from wayward water and let natural light stream in, but it allows you to peek at the pretty tile.
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Do Some of the Work Yourself
Any homeowner intent on remodeling a shower is probably also looking for ways to lessen costs. One time-tested, surefire way to save money on a shower remodel is to demolish the area yourself.
Even if you hire a full-service contractor to build out the shower, this is one job you can do. Contractors are accustomed to homeowners doing pre-construction work, so talk to the contractor ahead of time and work according to the project plan.
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Let Other Features Stand Out
What catches your eye in this bathroom? Maybe it's the vintage-style freestanding vanity, painted in a barely there shade of blush, or the matching shiplap ceiling. Maybe it's the Art Deco-like floor tile. Either way, chances are you aren't noticing the shower first, and that's on purpose.
For this bathroom's design, Andrea May Interiors opted for a minimal glass-walled shower, which allows other elements to steal the show. Pretty in pink, indeed.
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Take a Seat
Everything about this shower, designed by Lori Gentile, is luxurious—from the oversized marble tiles to abundant natural light from a pair of windows. Its opulence peaks with the built-in window bench under an arched ceiling; it makes for an extra relaxing place to let your hair mask set in or simply let the warm water wash over you.
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Ditch the Shower Door
When remodeling your new shower, consider removing the shower door entirely. Foregoing the standard shower door creates a seamless entrance, as long as you have enough square footage to work with and excellent drainage. The no-glass door look is a posh splurge but gives the shower a spa-like quality.
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Choose a Stamped Patterned Tile
To stay on trend, take interior designer Amanda Barnes's word for it: stamped patterned tiles are it right now. They're bright, joyful, and make showering even on even the most tired of mornings a joy.
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Include a Tub—Or Don't
Debating whether to incorporate a tub into your shower or not? Consider how often you actually take baths, or if you have children who do. You may also want to consider how a tub versus no tub could impact your home's resale value.
Are you comfortable with the bathroom being listed as a "three-quarter" bath rather than a "full bath"? If you eventually list the home for sale, bathrooms without tubs are considered a three-quarter bath—even with a nice shower.
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Add Multiple Shower Heads
You know what we always say: the more shower heads, the better. For a truly luxurious showering experience, consider multiple shower heads, like this creation by Centered By Design.
The soothing rain shower head provides a spa-like experience, with a gentle pressure that mimics rainfall. The hand-held one, meanwhile, helps you direct water exactly where you need it, making washing your hair or your dog all the easier.
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Paint the Ceiling
Need proof you don't need to play it safe when painting your bathroom's ceiling? Exhibit A: this bathroom's bold, broody black ceiling, which extends over the glass-walled shower. Take it from Living with Lolo's principal designer Lauren Lerner.
"We opted for painting the ceiling black to enhance the space's coziness and moodiness," Lerner says, "The crisp, geometric black and white tile is anchored by the dark ceiling and black shower tile in the area."
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Raise the Roof for Better Air Circulation
Enclosed environments like showers trap moisture and are prone to mold and mildew. Bathroom exhaust fans are one way to combat the problem, but a sure-fire way to fend off mold and mildew is to increase air circulation at the ceiling level.
For this high-end residential bathroom remodel in Seattle's Greenwood district, Malboeuf Bowie Architecture popped off the shower ceiling, exposing the space to natural light and airflow.
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Refresh the Fixtures
Classic metals always seem to be in style like brushed nickel and chrome. However, bold metal choices like gold accents, flat black, and oil-rubbed bronze are wowing bathroom remodel projects and are worth a thought. Some simple changes to faucet and shower fixtures can make a dramatic statement—just make sure that, if you change one piece of hardware in the bathroom, that you change them all.
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Embrace Pattern
The floor tile or bath mat doesn't have to be the only place for a pattern in your bathroom. You can mix up patterns in interesting ways in a bathroom via wallpaper, tile designs, and shower curtains. The best part about pattern mixing in the bathroom is that it is one room where you can often get away with layering several patterns.
If you are thinking about changing the tile in the shower, think about ways to add patterns to it. You can even lay out the slate, subway tiles, or stone mosaic pieces in interesting ways to give the shower a graphic look.
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Go Monochrome
If you are planning to redesign your shower, you can think about changing up the color scheme of the rest of your bathroom too. A timeless classic for the bathroom is a monochromatic white, gray, and black array.
It's simple, it's elegant, and the color scheme lends itself beautifully to unique fixture designs, patterns, and geometric tile layouts. It affords you the liberty to experiment with changing out the design style and accent colors in the coming years, too.
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Add a Shower Towel Rack
A heated built-in towel rack can make your walk-in shower feel extra luxurious—giving you that ritzy, hotel feeling. The steam softens the towels a tad, making them feel nice and cozy. Even better, you don't have to step out of the shower to dry off. To pull this off, you need to make sure that your shower dimensions are large enough that water won't splash on the towels.
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Think Minimalist
If you want to craft a simple, modern bathroom shower, be minimalistic. Pick up sleek fixtures that are free of excessive embellishments. Think modular with your design by erasing curves and patterns, then limiting your decor to one or two simple pieces.
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Splurge for Heated Shower Floors
On a bitter winter morning, a heated shower floor is the ultimate in luxury and convenience. Using a dedicated heating cable and carefully waterproofing the shower area, you can warm the shower floor like any other tiled floor. This option is pretty energy efficient, using about 300 watts less than an average space heater.
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Welcome Dramatic Contrast
Here's your permission to be bold: dramatic choices in your shower area will make a striking impact on your whole bathroom. Get bold with your tile selection and harmonize your choice with a bold wallpaper pick.
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Run With a Theme
Many years ago, picking a theme for your bathroom involved buying a few matching elements, like a shower curtain, bath rug, trash can, and soap dispenser that were part of a set. A theme or inspired design doesn't mean getting matchy-matchy; it's more about evoking a feeling. There are so many ways to go: coastal, vintage, industrial, farmhouse—the sky's the limit.
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Make Your Color Palette the Star
A vibrant wall color or tile color choice may be all your bathroom needs to bring it back to life. A bold blue, jet black, or rich plum color might kick your remodel into high gear. Take this pretty pink bathroom as inspiration. You can draw this into your shower area with a tub, tile, or curtain pick.
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Go White for Spaciousness
All white everything—paint, tub, towels, everything—guarantees to make your entire bathroom look brighter and airier. Consider making crisp white your primary color, like this bathroom designed by Britt Design Studio. Add dimension by introducing some light gray or another muted color choice.
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Stand Out With a Freestanding Tub
If you have a lot of space in your bathroom (lucky you), make your tub or shower a bathroom focal point by installing a freestanding tub right in the center of the space. Whether you get a clawfoot or a deep soaking basin, they're all elegant, modern, and jaw-dropping.
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Move the Tub/Shower Area
Although relocating the shower/tub area is a pricier option, it can sometimes be the best move. With the help of an architect or contractor, you might find out that moving the placement of the tub and/or shower buys you extra space.
With a simple shift in the tub and toilet area of this kids' bathroom, designer Emily Henderson freed up space for a double vanity and extra storage. It got a facelift, making it feel brighter, bigger, and airier, too.
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Think About Paneling to Cut Some Costs
Shiplap wall paneling is a signature of country, cottage, and farmhouse designs. It immediately makes a space feel casual, cozy, and quaint and is a unique alternative to painting, tiling, or wallpapering your bathroom walls.
Although you should not use wood paneling in a shower or as a tub surround that comes into direct contact with water, there are many less expensive alternatives, such as high gloss acrylic or laminate panels, marble-patterned PVC composite, or textured laminate wall panels that look similar to wood.
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Start With the Quickest Upgrade You Can Make
Probably one of the fastest and most impactful changes you can make for your shower experience is changing the showerhead and giving yourself a rain shower experience, adding varying settings, or getting a showerhead with an extra handheld head. This small change can make all the difference in the short term as you make bigger plans for a bathroom redo.
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Incorporate a Colorful Shower Curtain
If you're looking for a big, impactful change on a super tight budget, something as simple as changing the shower curtain can make a big change without making a big dent in your budget. Even if you have sliding doors (or are looking to remove them), look at a nice fabric curtain to elevate the room's mood by adding a splash of personality or tie in a theme for your bathroom space.
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Upgrade the Lighting
A drab shower is often one that has low light because it's blocked by a curtain or has no overhead lighting. When planning a bathroom remodel, don't overlook the detail of having extra lighting in the shower. If you have a large shower area, you can install recessed lighting or be more inventive with sconces.
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Add a Bench
A shower seat is great for many reasons. For people who spend time exfoliating or shaving, they're a great benefit to have. Others shy away from a walk-in shower because they prefer a place to sit and relax. A shower seat gives you a spot to rest in a steamy shower.
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Add Arches
Showers often feel like squared-in stalls. To soften the lines, add some curves with an arched entrance. It ensures your shower makes a statement and can tie together other design details or motifs in the rest of the bathroom.
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Get Graphic With Your Tiles
The Lafayette Hotel and Club in San Diego wasn't shy with their graphic use of tile in this shower—and you shouldn't be either. Pack a punch in a small space with black and white tile, whether formed in stripes, checkers, or both. Brass fixtures make the tile patterns pop all the more, creating an timeless look you'll never tire of.
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Get Shelves for the Shower
A built-in shower niche is a lovely idea if you plan on doing a grand remodel. If that's not doable now, and if your shower is large enough, add floating shelves or a freestanding shelving unit instead.
Don't make the classic mistake of forgetting about shower storage as an afterthought; plan out where you will store your bath products so they don't end up in an unorganized mess on your shower floor.
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Tie a Tub and Shower Together
When you have a full-size tub and shower in the same room, you risk visual chaos. For example, a smooth acrylic bathtub surround may clash with a shower's tiles. Try matching materials for a harmonious look.
This pretty bathroom project by Reena Sotropa nicely pairs up a generously sized bathtub with an adjacent shower enclosure. By using white tile for both the shower and the tub surrounds, Sotropa deftly ties the two together.
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Create a Place for Zen
The ultimate shower experience elevates a simple shower stall to a place of relaxation and rejuvenation. Create a spa-like atmosphere with multiple showerheads, including a rainfall showerhead that pours water from the ceiling, mimicking a relaxing rainfall.
A ceiling-mounted showerhead and several more along the wall offer a completely personalized experience. A shower seat allows you to take the load off your legs as you give your pores a luxurious steam treatment.
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Add a Skylight
Industrial, imaginative, and indulgent—any (and all) of those words could be used to describe this bathroom's wall-to-wall polished concrete floating vanity and matching ceiling. Real estate agent and interior designer Julian Porcino took advantage of the skylight, which lets sunshine pour in over the minimalist, yet far from boring, bathroom.Continue to 35 of 35 below - 35 of 35
Go Glam
No one is stopping you from designing the most glamorous bathroom of all. Use this Carrie Livingston-designed bathroom as inspiration. The ingredients: petite pink tile, a freestanding tub, and a glistening grand chandelier. It's a vibe, and maybe it's your vibe. If so, lean into it.