What Are the Different Types of Wet Room Designs?

The addition or remodeling of a wet room can add an exciting interior space for contemporary properties. Unlike the cramped spaces of traditional bathrooms, where independent showers, tubs, and vanities occupy much of the available area, modern wet room designs create a more open and airy use of limited space. These rooms are essentially designed to eliminate the need for prefabricated units like shower or tub stalls, essentially turning the entire room into the wet area. Wet rooms typically employ contemporary features such as glass shower enclosures and floating sinks in order to open up the space as well as permit direct water sprays to simplify cleaning over the entire interior surface. Design possibilities include conventional bathroom styles and more contemporary use of space-efficient fixtures designed expressly for these interior spaces.

Primarily, wet room designs must be oriented toward waterproofing and the efficient placement of drains. Rooms are often covered with waterproof tile surfaces, and the fixtures themselves are typically water resistant. Extensive use of large and small tiling permits a wide range of colors, textures, and moods, from utilitarian to chic. Tiles also permit solid colors, or simple or complex patterns, that can be continued from floor to ceiling or varied to break up the visual space.

Depending on the tastes of the homeowner, wet room designs can be as simple or as complex as desired. Existing bathrooms can be revitalized with utilitarian wet room designs for lower renovation costs, while other spaces might be arranged in modernistic interior decor or fashioned with luxury fixtures. Styles from the familiar to the exotic are regularly planned and installed. Sleek wall-mounted sinks and faucet fixtures add a clean, elegant minimalism that characterizes these open spaces.

Often in these spa-like rooms, the shower floor sits lower than the main floor in order to permit drainage. Beneath the surface of the tiles, waterproof walls and floor boards, such as those made from extruded polystyrene, help ensure no damage from water. Clear shower enclosures, sometimes with frameless glass, preserve a feeling of openness while preventing unintended splashing elsewhere. Showers are often fitted with multiple jets or handheld showerheads, which also permit spraying against other surfaces when cleaning.

Wet room designs include gradient flooring of numerous materials, such as timber or concrete. These can be finished with porcelains, ceramics, vinyl, or tiling to create stunning atmospheres in these highly functional rooms. Nonporous tiles suit floor installations, while porous styles such as slate or marble require resealing and may be better used as decorative elements. Fixtures and accesses can be arranged to accommodate wheelchairs, as well as any desired additions of guards and rails.

The functional requirements of wet room designs call for professional installations. Construction requires compliance with building codes and reliable waterproofing measures. Fitted out with creative use of cabinets, toilets, and other accessories, a wet room can add value to a home and a luxurious new experience for a once-familiar space.