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With an open-concept design, a wet room blurs the line between the shower and the rest of the bathroom. While standard American bathrooms separate the shower with an enclosure, tray, and curb to keep water contained, a wet room forgoes these features. Opting instead for an open, airy layout, wet rooms exude minimalist appeal from look to feel to flow.
So does everything in the bathroom get wet? In essence, that’s exactly what a wet room is designed to do. But through careful waterproofing, drainage, and layout, this will be kept to a minimum—and the elements that do get wet will be designed to handle it.
Read on to discover the benefits, elements, & considerations for creating the perfect wet bathroom.
A selling point in homes across the world that’s growing in popularity, people are turning to this nontraditional layout to meet their style dreams and functionality needs.
Wet rooms are an excellent option for maximizing your bathroom’s square footage. With no separation between each fixture, this not only makes the room appear larger, but actually frees up space—often allowing for larger or additional fixtures that otherwise wouldn’t fit, such as tubs.
Without obstructive features like enclosures or curbs, getting into your shower is a seamless process. This makes wet rooms a reliable, comfortable solution for people with limited mobility and those using wheelchairs or other accessibility aids. This also greatly reduces the risk of tripping—ideal for anyone seeking a safe home.
Having all bathroom components in one open area greatly reduces the number of corners and crevices, making it easier to wipe things down. Proper wet rooms are tightly waterproofed and sealed to protect against mold and mildew, making maintenance relatively simple as well.
Thanks to a wet room’s inherently open concept, moisture isn’t trapped in enclosures and, therefore, creates better air circulation. This results in less potential for mold and mildew, improving the hygiene of your bathroom.
Its impressive functionality and practicality aside, a wet room’s free flowing layout imparts a striking, spa-like atmosphere. Leaving the design opportunities wide open, they are perfect for creating a truly customized look.
A smart investment as you and your family age, a wet room can easily become an ADA-compliant bathroom with the addition of fixtures like grab bars. And should you ever choose to sell, this is known to increase the value of your home.
When outfitting each zone of your wet room, clever fixtures and placements will ensure you get the most out of the design. In this minimalist-inspired space, your fixtures are your decor, so be intentional with every style, finish, and feature—using each piece to achieve a look fully unique to you.
A combination of durability and practicality is key for your wet room shower. As this zone will naturally endure the most moisture, use tough materials that can withstand temperature and moisture fluctuations from shower system to shower drain.
Shower Heads: You’ll want to keep the stream of water as contained to the shower area as possible. Easily achieved with a rainfall shower head, these offer a luxurious rain-like stream directed straight down. Depending on your bathroom’s plumbing and your desired look, both ceiling-mount and wall-mount options are available in this style.
Hand Showers: A must-have accessory for any wet room, be sure to include a hand shower in your setup. Not only convenient for rinsing yourself, hand showers make cleaning up a breeze. Simply spray down your walls and floor using the hand shower and the mess will flow right down the drain for simple, efficient cleanup.
Whether you’re customizing your shower area with a coordinated shower system or selecting your pieces one-by-one, hand showers are available in a variety of styles to best suit your space.
Tip: For a unified look across your bathroom fixtures, opt for a cohesive collection. Designed with complementary silhouettes and perfectly matched finishes, the open environment of a wet room quickly comes together with these all-encompassing selections.
Shower Drains: When selecting your wet room drain, coordinate them with the layout of the room. If you have the curbless shower positioned in the center of the wet room for instance, a linear drain may be your best option. If your shower is in the corner of the room, a square shower drain paired with a triangular or L-shaped linear drain could be the most effective.
Type:
To protect your non-shower fixtures from as much moisture as possible, it is recommended to keep them off the floor. Luckily, wall-mount vanities are available in a variety of styles to complement your desired look.
One of our favorite wet room ideas, these vanities create a stunning floating look that allows your watertight floors to get wet as they are designed to, all while providing hidden storage for toiletries. Wall-mount sinks are another wet-room-friendly option, with the key difference being the omission of storage space.
Material:
If installing a divider, the material of your vanity is a bit less important than the alternative. Without one, you’ll want to choose a non-porous material like porcelain that is resistant to moisture and is easily wiped dry.
For those seeking a natural look, materials like teak and bamboo make for excellent, durable vanity options. Naturally resistant to moisture, these materials carry unique properties that prevent warping, swelling, and other damage.
Note: Due to their exposure to the elements, these natural materials develop a patina over time. While admired by many, if you seek a consistent appearance throughout your vanity’s lifespan, you may want to consider a different material.
By nature, your toilet will likely be exposed to moisture in a wet room. You can greatly reduce this with a divider and use just about any toilet—though you’ll still want to consider condensation occurring.
To reduce the number of cracks and crevices for water to fall through (and thus, clean), you’ll want a toilet with as minimal pieces and edges as possible, achieved by both skirted toilets and one-piece toilets.
If you’re embracing the full wet room experience sans dividers, a perfect solution is a wall-mount toilet. Just like wall-mount vanities, this toilet style removes the potential for water to pool at the base, making the area below a breeze to clean.
Note: If opting for a floor-mounted toilet, be sure to caulk around the base entirely to keep water from getting underneath.
If adding a tub to your wet room design, the material you choose is of the utmost importance. Both solid surface tubs and acrylic tubs make excellent options for wet rooms, as they can withstand this type of environment. Alternatively, tubs made from cast iron and other metals will likely not maintain their appearance from continuous water exposure.
With a variety of freestanding tub styles available, this is the perfect way to show off some personality while increasing the functionality of your space.
Without a shower enclosure, you can expect water to end up in various places around the room. Ensure toiletries, linens, and any liquid-sensitive items are placed out of pathways that could get them wet with medicine cabinets, towel bars, robe hooks, and other elevated storage solutions.
A wet room gets its name because it can withstand lots of moisture without being damaged—and before fixtures can be installed, careful drainage and waterproofing must be implemented.
Note: Due to the specialized processes required in wet rooms, we recommend consulting a professional.
This first step to putting together a wet room is creating the proper drainage. If you’re updating, consider where your current drainage lies and if it is suitable for a wet room layout, and if not, if it can be relocated. A wet room drain often sits in the center of the floor or along the edge of the shower—as close to the shower stream as possible is key.
Once your drain location is determined, you’ll slope your flooring slightly towards the drain—similar to what we are familiar with from shower trays. With optimal drain placement and properly sloped flooring, water (along with dirt and debris) will quickly disappear.
Since the flooring and walls of your entire wet room are designed to get wet, this initial stage of the process will be more extensive than that of traditional bathrooms. Using a process called “tanking,” you’ll need to properly seal with special materials and use non-porous tile for a truly watertight room.
Tip: Since grout is a naturally non-slip material, the smaller the tile used for your flooring, the more grout needed and, thus, more slip-proof your floor will be.
Some homeowners opt for a divider between the shower area and the vanity to further protect it from moisture. Ranging from a tall glass partition to a pony wall, this option is less invasive than a true enclosure while containing splashes—and offering a touch of privacy if needed.
While the plumbing of your bathroom may affect the layout possibilities, any bathroom can be converted into a wet room with proper waterproofing and drainage.
Not to be confused with a walk-in shower, a wet room doesn’t have a fully enclosed shower area, and instead utilizes an open concept with slightly sloped flooring and careful drain placement.
If you’re looking to make your bathroom more sanitary, wet rooms are an excellent option. Their open bathroom concept prevents moisture from getting trapped, reducing the growth of mold and mildew. With all fixtures sharing a floor and drain, dirt and grime can easily be washed away, keeping your bathroom clean and safe with ease.
A wet room that accommodates a shower, toilet, and sink can be achieved with as little as 15 square feet.
Wet rooms include all bathroom fixtures within the same space, including toilets, which should be placed as far from the shower area as possible to minimize moisture. Some homeowners choose to place a divider to prevent splashing between fixtures.