Bathroom Remodels Including A Walk In Shower
Remodeling your bathroom and adding a walk in shower can affect you on many levels. First, there’s the emotional level. Many people want to remodel their bathrooms because they are tired of looking at them. They are plain and drab and they want something modern, maybe with a spa tub in addition to the walk in shower. If you are considering it then what you have doesn’t feel very good. Perhaps your bathroom is cramped or you are tired of it not being as useful as needed. Maybe the current layout doesn’t have room for a walk in shower, or there isn’t enough storage. If you do remodel, imagine how good you will feel in your new space. You will feel relaxed and refreshed overall. With a new spa tub and a beautiful walk in shower you’ll be able to feel the muscle tension fade away after a stressful day at work or even just working around the yard.
Take a moment to imagine having a big bathroom with a large walk in shower. You may think that you don’t have the room, but what if you took out a walk in closet or an unused second bedroom? By knocking down a wall or two, you can transform your bathroom into the large, relaxing space you dream it can be. But, even if you don’t have a large bathroom, or the space to expand, there are ways to make the bathroom look bigger through creative design of the walk in shower.
Walk in shower designs run the gamut from a simple stall with a glass door to a frame-less “wet room.” Glass blocks or stone walls provide a semi-framed solution while full panes of glass provide a fully framed solution. The shower can be tucked into a corner of the bathroom or it can become a main focal point. But, just because you have a fully enclosed walk in shower with standard glass panels doesn’t mean that you have to go with a traditional shape. Even traditional construction can have a unique style. For example, sheets of glass can provide a reflective surface to bounce light around an interior bathroom without any natural light. A great way to give the illusion of a larger bathroom is by including a full glass enclosed walk in shower with clean lines that contribute to a contemporary, minimalist feel. If it’s is designed to minimize the appearance of the seams and brackets, then faucets and other fixtures can stand out as show pieces on their own – making the shower look less like an enclosure and more like an open space.
From a practical standpoint, adding a walk in shower to your bathroom renovation presents lots of opportunities. If you have a cramped bathroom, you can open it up by installing the shower without a door. This makes it feel like a continuation of the rest of the bathroom and makes the whole space feel open. A walk in shower remodel can also raise the safety of using the bathroom or lead to needed repairs. For instance, a walk in shower is easier to get in and out of than a bathtub. If you have someone disabled or elderly in your home, this feature may be a necessity. As you remodel, and configure your plumbing for the shower’s drain, you can fix a leak or replace broken tile. A vanity with a harsh corner can be traded out for a rounded sink that makes matches the freedom of the walk in shower by helping to make the bathroom look bigger.
On a financial level, remodeling can be a big task. There can be a large expense and the more you do, the more it will cost. That can’t be avoided. However, including a walk in shower in your remodel will raise the value of your home. Everyone loves a beautiful bathroom, especially new home buyers. Aside from the kitchen, the bathrooms are a big factor in whether a home sells well or not. In order to boost the value as much as possible, make sure to consider a modern design for your walk in shower. If you have the room for it, also put in a soaker or spa tub. If you can fit both, they will make the bathroom very upscale and will be a big feature to play up if you decide to sell. Even if you are planning on staying awhile (and most who undergo a remodel are!) then you will know that you have increased the value of your investment for the future.
You will see a big return on your investment whether you remodel is large or small. You may be considering a complete overhaul with a new toilet, new sink, and a large walk in shower. Or, you may be considering just a face lift with new floor and fixtures, maybe tucking a smaller walk in shower into a corner. Either way, your return on your investment can be close to 100%, the higher return coming with the more of a remodel that you do. Remodeling Online’s 2002 report found that adding a bathroom can recoup around 94% of your investment while updating an existing one can recoup around 88%.
A walk in shower isn’t only about design, however. It’s also about luxury. At one time, lounging in a hot bath was an ultimate in luxury. If your bathroom is large enough, a spa tub can be included in the design along with the shower. But even if your bathroom doesn’t have room for a spa tub and a walk in shower, you can still get the benefits of a long hot soak with just the shower. Be sure to design a walk in shower that traps the steam and you can build your own mini sauna in your bathroom. Relaxation and peace can come even at the expense of a large jetted tub.
Finally, you can also get spiritual value out of remodeling your bathroom with a walk in shower. From including soothing colors to zen like teak benches in the shower, there are little touches you can add to increase your inner peace. If you like to meditate, creating a spa themed bathroom with an open design walk in shower will provide a wonderful place to relax and meditate.
Bathrooms have come a long way since the invention of indoor plumbing. At one time it was unusual to find a shower in a bathroom at all. Now it is pretty much standard to have a bath and shower combination. While a separate walk in shower may seem like a trendy new innovation, they not only evolve the bathroom, they also provide the option for a shower where you don’t also have room for a tub. Separating the shower from the tub opens up a variety of designs. Whether the shower is at the center of a bathroom design, either literally in the center of the room, or the focal point that the rest of the design works around, the walk in shower has become a major part of all modern bathroom renovations.