Home Bathroom Design 32 Bathroom Shower Ideas For Your Next Refresh With both beauty and function in mind. By Hallie Milstein Hallie Milstein Hallie Milstein is an Editorial Fellow for Southern Living where she is primarily focused on digital production and online content creation. She covers home design, entertaining, and lifestyle across the South, keeping a watchful eye out for emerging and declining trends. Prior to her fellowship, Hallie had been published in Modern Luxury magazines, Our State Magazine, and Hudson Valley Magazine.Hallie recently graduated from North Carolina's Elon University with a degree in Journalism and Religious Studies and has continued her journey by moving even further south. A Southern transplant, Hallie is soaking up the culture, drawls, and as many biscuits as she can in Birmingham, Alabama. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 30, 2024 Close Photo: HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ Showers are a hard-working, functional space, but who’s to say that they can’t also be a thing of beauty? Embellish your shower with stunning tiles and standout hardware, and you’ll have a space that’s equal parts pretty and practical. That’s not where your shower decorating decisions end, however. There’s still more decisions to make: Doors or curtains? Sliding doors or French doors? Unlacquered brass or polished nickel? Stone or tile? Designing a shower is a series of decisions, but with these ideas, the result will exceed expectations. Still, don’t get caught up in the looks and forget the true purpose of a shower. Washington, D.C.-based interior designer Zoe Feldman reminds us that an ideal shower won’t skimp on beauty, but will also prioritize systems for consistently great washes. The power and placement of the shower heads aren’t the only factor of a functional shower, though. Rather, Feldman encourages thought on other considerations that may otherwise go overlooked. Zoë Feldman is the founder and principal designer of Zoe Feldman Design “As far as the function of a shower, what we're concerned about is the placement of valves. When you go to turn on the shower, we like to make sure you don't get wet. A lot of people don't know that you can put your valves in a totally different area than your shower head,” says Feldman. “Another thing people don't realize is that a large shower can get very cold.” Ready to renovate? Whether you prefer bold tile or traditional finishes, there's a shower idea here that's sure to inspire. 01 of 32 Double Door Photo: Laurey W. Glenn No matter which way you swing it, a double door is a lovely choice. This idea provides a clean look and easy accessibility. 02 of 32 A Built-In Alcove BRIE WILLIAMS; Styling: Kendra Surface Turn an unused closet into a walk in shower like Molly Williams did in her primary bath. "I like the idea of the shower feeling like it's a secret little room," says Williams, who used an antique door handle for the shower pull. "I wanted to do something different with the door handle." 03 of 32 A Colorful Clawfoot JAMES RANSOM; STYLING: VERONICA OLSON Don't shy away from color when it comes to your shower. This unconventional primary bathroom utilizes a clawfoot tub painted red with a mounted shower head as a decorative and functional element. This Century-Old Bungalow Is Full Of Playful Patterns And Happy Colors 04 of 32 Seamless Tiling Helen Norman Add textural interest with tile. In her family's beach bungalow, designer Lauren Leiss selected a pebble tile to cover most of this bathroom taking it from the shower walls and across the floor. This 740-Square-Foot Bungalow Proves Just The Right Fit For A Family Of Seven 05 of 32 Picture-Worthy Valance Alison Gootee; Styling: Page Mullins Just because the bathroom isn't a primary area of the home, doesn't mean it shouldn't still be thoughtfully designed. Because this children's bath also functions as a second powder room, designer Lila Malone added a scalloped valance and matching curtains to elevate the space. Natalie Steen's Houston Home Bursts With Brilliant Color And Nostalgic Mementos 06 of 32 Double Shower Heads Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller A his and hers shower is the new his and hers sink. Similar to how your bathroom may have a double sinks in the vanity, double shower heads expand the function of any bathroom. 07 of 32 Open Concept Alison Gootee; Styling: Kate Malpeli If your shower is a central part of the bathroom, use a partial glass divider rather than a full tiled-wall to keep the space from feeling closed off. Here, designer Laura Jenkins carried the Heath Ceramics Ogawa Green tiles from the shower across the wall for a cohesive look. Designer Laura Jenkins Turns Around A Family's 1930 Lowcountry Home 08 of 32 Bring In A Bench NOMI If your shower doesn't include a built-in bench, consider adding one of your own for easy storage or to prop up a leg while shaving. Choose a bench made from a water proof material or one that won't quickly mildew or mold. 09 of 32 Rain Shower NOMI With one simple instillation, your shower can be transformed into a spa-like experience. Raining down from above, an overhead spout can feel deceptively luxurious. 10 of 32 Towel Storage Jonny Valiant One space-saving trick is to build your towel storage right into the shower. This way, there's no need for an external or over-door towel rack. 11 of 32 Matching Finishings Courtesy of Peltier Interiors, Photography by Andrew Bui Create consistency throughout the entire bathroom by matching metals. Tie in the space by aligning shower hardware with the finishings on your sink and light fixtures. 12 of 32 Built-In Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins A built-in shower bench is a stylish choice for any shower, but it's particularly perfect for showers used by those who need a place to sit or help with balance. Extra storage is also a bonus. 13 of 32 Depart From All White Raquel Langworthy All-white and -gray bathrooms have dominated homes for entirely too long, in our opinion. Try out a more eye-catching neutral, like black or charcoal, to grace the tiles of your shower. 14 of 32 Built-In Tub Shower Courtesy of Hillarys Choose your adventure: bath or shower. A shower head above a bathtub expands the potential of the tub. 15 of 32 Pretty in Blue Hector Manuel Sanchez While there are endless tile options to choose from, floor-to-ceiling sleek blue subway tile feels just right for an inviting shower. 16 of 32 Frame It James Ransom, Prop Stylist: Alya Hameedi Create contrast between spaces by framing the shower door with a different material. Here, a marble doorway breaks up the black penny tile floors and gives a little seperation between the green walls and white tiled shower. 17 of 32 Tiny Tiles Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Kendra Surface According to interior designer Whitney Romanoff, small tiles have more modern intrigue than their larger scale counterparts. “Smaller scale tiles in an interesting pattern can really make a space more interesting,” she says. 2020 Idea House: A Dreamy Blue Ridge Mountain Hideaway 18 of 32 Outdoor Shower Joseph de Leo; Styling: Liz Strong Indoor showers aren't the only ones that can be good-looking. Outdoor showers tend to be airy and whimsical, and the rubber ducky and attractive patterns in this one evoke that seamlessly. 19 of 32 Blue And White Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins Blue and white is always right everywhere in the house, and the bathroom is no exception. If you're looking to add that extra oomph to an all-white bathroom, blue details should do just the trick. 2021 Idea House: Our Picturesque Kentucky Home 20 of 32 More Decor Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Liz Strong Some may be under the illusion that showers are a simple, uninspired space, but you know better. Don't let the decorating stop right outside the shower doors. Instead, take a cue from this pristine shower which is full of personality, evident in its French doors and decorative embellishments. 21 of 32 Colorful Tile Photo: Rick Lew; Stylist: Loren Simons If you're ready and willing to explore beyond the world of neutrals, experiment with a colorful hue. Here, blue shower tiles stun as a focal point for the bathroom. 22 of 32 Retro Inspiration Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Lizzie Cullen Cox This renovated bathroom is full of old-school influence and original pieces, just like the rest of the mountain cabin. The home's original pink tub is complemented by white subway tiles in the shower and lots of retro colors. This 1950s Mountain Cabin Gets a Dreamy Makeover 23 of 32 Wall-to-Wall Colleen Scott Photography Create a luxerious bathroom experience by spanning a zero-entry shower across the entirety of one wall. 24 of 32 Glass Doors Laurey W. Glenn Interior designer Missy Steffens says that when it comes to glass shower doors, the less hardware, the more modern it will look. For this reason, she prefers a frameless glass door over a sliding one which requires review hardware. 25 of 32 Small Space Shower Laurey W. Glenn If space is a concern, keep it simple. Elongate your bathroom by sticking to the same color so that your shower tiles blend in with the paint on the wall, ceiling, and floor. 26 of 32 Door-less Glass Panel Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller If your bathroom is lacking widows and natural light, consider using a three-quarter glass panel in lieu of a shower curtain or sliding door. Here, designer Becky Nielsen also selected a cheerful blue wallpaper from Lulie Wallace to keep it bright. 27 of 32 Bold Tile Laura Sumrak There's few other rooms in the house with such jewel-box potential as the bathroom. While shower-less powder rooms tend to get this special treatment, we think that bathrooms with showers deserve bold colors and patterns, too. 28 of 32 Curtains Hector Manuel Sanchez If curtains are your barrier of choice, the options don't start and end with a simple curtain hung from a shower hook. Rather, give your shower the full treatment like you would a window. 29 of 32 Polished Nickel Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling These days, designers are adamant that living finishes are the way to go. Gone are the days of chrome and brushed brass in the bathroom. Instead, polished nickel and unlacquered brass may be the way to go for long-lasting finishes that will stay in style. 30 of 32 Mixed Materials Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Page Mullins While matchy-matchy can be pleasing, don't be afraid of mixing it up. Here, asymmetrical design and a half wall add visual interest, but smaller details like mixed metals can have a similar effect. 31 of 32 Standalone Shower Helen Norman Showers are often placed in the corner of a bathroom, but depending on the layout and spatial needs of your home, this may not always be possible. Get creative with a central tub-shower with wrap-around curtains. 32 of 32 Same Stone Photo: John Ellis; Stylist: Sunday Hendrickson Here, blue-green Esmeralda onyx graces both the shower walls and the bathroom vanity. This mesmerizing stone acts as a line of continuity that brings the room together. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit