Walk-In Shower Ideas: Benches, Niches and Curbless Entries

A walk-in shower is one of the most popular bathroom upgrades for good reason: it opens up the room, it is easier to get in and out of, and it can be designed around exactly how you use it. Here are the features worth thinking about, and the decisions to make before work begins.

Built-in benches

A bench is one of the most-used features in a walk-in shower. It is a place to sit, to prop a foot while shaving, or to set things down, and it makes the shower more comfortable for anyone with balance or mobility concerns.

• Full-width benches span one end of the shower and feel the most built-in
• Corner benches take up less floor space in smaller showers
• Floating benches are mounted to the wall with open space underneath, which looks lighter and is easier to clean
• Benches should slope slightly so water runs off instead of sitting on top

Niches for storage

A recessed niche keeps bottles off the floor and gets rid of the caddy hanging from the shower head. A few details make the difference between a niche that looks planned and one that looks like an afterthought:

• Size it for what you actually use. Measure your tallest bottles before framing.
• Line it up with the grout joints so the top and bottom edges land on full tiles
• Put it on a wall that is not exterior and not where the plumbing runs
• Consider a contrasting tile or mosaic inside the niche as a small feature
• Make sure it is waterproofed inside, not just tiled

Curb or curbless?

A low curb, a small step-over at the entrance, is the simplest way to keep water inside the shower. A curbless or zero-entry shower has no step at all, so the bathroom floor flows straight into the shower. Curbless showers look clean and modern and are the easiest to walk into, which makes them a favorite for aging in place.

Whether curbless is possible depends on your floor structure. The shower floor has to slope to the drain while the entrance stays flush with the bathroom floor, which often means recessing the subfloor or using a linear drain. It is very doable in many homes, but it is a decision to make early because it affects framing and plumbing.

Tile layout and materials

• Large-format porcelain on the walls means fewer grout lines and less cleaning
• Marble and natural stone give a high-end look but need sealing and gentler cleaners
• Zellige and handmade tile add texture and variation for a warm, artisan feel
• Small mosaics or hexagons on the floor give better grip and follow the slope to the drain
• A single feature wall in a bold tile can anchor the whole design

Glass: door, panel or open

A fixed glass panel with an open entry works well in larger walk-ins and has no door to clean around. Hinged frameless doors keep more water in and suit smaller showers. Truly open showers with no glass need enough length that water stays inside, usually with the shower head aimed away from the entry.

Decide these before construction starts

• Curb or curbless
• Bench and niche locations and sizes
• Where the valve and shower heads go, including any handheld
• Drain type and location, standard or linear
• Tile for walls, floor and any feature areas
• Glass style, so the tile can be finished to suit it

Ready to talk about your project? Learn more about our custom showers services, or call (706) 671-5786 for a free in-home estimate. Palacios Installation is based in Chatsworth, GA and works in homes across Chattanooga, Hixson, Signal Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Dalton and North Georgia.