When planning a new home, you’ll need to anticipate future needs to design a bathroom that will work today and in the years to come. If you want to age in place, a shower is often more practical than a bathtub, plus it saves water. To make the most of this bathroom fixture, keep the following tips in mind for its design.

How to Design an Effective Shower for Your New Home

1. Keep Water Inside

Showers are soothing in how they pour over your head; however, you don’t want that water to escape the enclosure and splash on the floor, which can raise a slipping hazard. Aim the shower head at a wall, not the door. The splash radius of an angled head is easier to control than that of one that points at the floor. Also, the floor should slope slightly inward to bring water toward the drain. If you have seniors in the home, eliminate the shower curb for easier entry and exiting. Otherwise, incline the curb inward as well to let water drip back inside.

2. Install an Easy-to-Use Door

Building codes dictate that a hinged shower door cannot only open inward; it should either go both ways or open outward. Allow for at least 30 inches of space to open the door, and ensure no fixtures or walls outside interfere with the door’s clearance. A sliding door is another option, and the handle can double as a towel bar.

3. Let It Make an Impression

When you first walk in the bathroom, being greeted by a bright shower, especially one with eye-catching tiles, is much more pleasant than a toilet, so try to line it up with the door. The shower should have overhead lights to illuminate it for safety and aesthetics, though you may want to look into high windows or skylights to let in natural light as well.

Seek professional assistance for your shower and bathroom design from Homeworks Construction in Honolulu, HI. They’ve provided general contracting services for over 20 years, including new home construction and remodeling. They also offer free monthly seminars on building topics. Check out their previous projects on their website, and call (808) 955-2777 to schedule a free consultation.