Stylish and Space-Saving: 16 Small Bathroom Shower Ideas

Every decision counts when designing a small bathroom shower. Its location, materials, storage, and lighting can improve your bathroom’s overall appearance, flow, and functionality. Let’s walk through small shower ideas and design tips to help you make the most of the space you have. 

Space-Saving Small Shower Ideas

When planning your shower remodel, the right location and maintaining a clear sightline are essential. 

Mind Your Corners

A corner is a natural fit for a shower when bathroom floor space is limited. To conserve even more space, consider a stall shape outside of the traditional square or rectangle. Curved, rounded, or neo-angle shower designs reduce a shower’s footprint while imparting a distinctive look.

Tuck It in an Alcove

An alcove shower is a popular space-saving solution. A bathtub-to-shower conversion or a shower-bathtub combination are a couple of examples of this shower type. Because it is enclosed by three walls, an alcove shower may require additional lighting for illumination and safety. 

Reduce the Feature Footprint

In a smaller bathroom, or if you are installing a shower in a half bath, every inch of floor space counts. Bulkier vanities and furnishings can make it feel cramped. Instead, consider a wall-mounted vanity, slimline vanity, or pedestal sink. Floating shelves can replace a traditional storage cabinet. 

Open Up the Entry

A traditional hinged door can take up valuable floor space in a small bathroom layout. A compact shower solution is a space-saving pocket door that slides along a track and disappears into the wall when opened. 

Go for Glass

Ditch the shower curtain for an all-glass shower enclosure. Not only is it on-trend and timeless, but allows the eye to travel further in a bathroom and make the space appear larger. 

Enhancing Visual Appeal in a Small Shower

Having a small shower doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice aesthetics. Here are design tips for small showers that complement most interior styles. 

Pick a Lighter Palette

Lighter colors are calming and relaxing, and create the illusion of more space and volume. Whites, creams, light blues, and soft greens are a few examples of calming hues for a small shower and bathroom. Keep trim and moldings light in a shade of white or off-white.

Enhance Natural Light

Harness natural light for an open and airy feel. Instead of window blinds or shades that may block out the sun’s rays, consider frosted privacy glass or light-filtering shades for windows. 

Mind Your Patterns

Choose two different tile patterns to create visual interest and encourage the eye to move around the room. Get the right tile mix by selecting a large-scale pattern and a small-scale pattern for a balanced look.

Go Vertical

Add visual interest where the wall meets the ceiling to encourage your eye to travel upward to add volume to the room. For example, place subway tiles vertically instead of horizontally, or take install shower tile or slab from the floor to the ceiling.  

Reflect Light

Make use of the light you have in a small bathroom and shower space. Consider upsizing your bathroom mirror to reflect light and make your shower surroundings appear larger. 

Small Shower Ideas: Materials and Finishes  

A great shower is also about the details. Make your small shower feel spacious and open with these material and finish recommendations.

Get Glossy

Tiles with a glossy sheen are ideal for a smaller shower and bathroom. Their reflective surface moves light around the room, brightens it up, and gives the space a polished look. 

Glossy finishes extend to your paint selection, too. Semi-gloss or gloss paint is more moisture resistant than other sheens and encourage light to move around the room. And as a bonus, they are easier to clean and maintain.

Reduce Grout Lines 

Grout lines can break up visual continuity in a small space like a bathroom or shower. Opt for seamless tiles or minimize grout lines to create the illusion of more wall space. 

Layer Light Fixtures 

A lighting plan is essential. Think of lighting in terms of function or layers — you will need a source of ambient or general lighting that typically comes from overhead, task lighting like a vanity light fixture for personal grooming and accent lighting like uplights or downlights to brighten up certain areas.

Smart Storage Features

Space-saving features in a small shower are essential. Here are a few ways to maximize the space you have for convenience and comfort.

Install a Shower Niche

The shower niche is a recessed cubby for soaps, shampoo, and other hygiene products. A niche can be designed using the tile used on the shower walls or in a contrasting shape, color, or pattern for a unique look. Widths vary according to preference, but a minimum height of 12 inches is recommended for taller bottles. 

Add a Shower Ledge 

A shower ledge offers a surface that extends along the shower wall. For ease and comfort, ledge installation should be between elbow and shoulder height, and at least four inches in depth to accommodate various-sized bottles.

Create Corner Shelves

Make every inch of space count in a small shower with corner shelves. These space savers can be installed using the same shower material for a uniform look, glass, or a finish to match the shower faucet and handle. 

Turn Your Small Shower Ideas into Reality 

Modernize help you create a bathroom space you love. Use our bathroom remodel cost calculator and receive project quotes from professional contractors near you.