Looking for some striking wet room ideas? One of the best ways to fashion a spa feel in the bathroom is with a wet room – a fully tiled showering space free from a shower tray or enclosure. Wet rooms are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, and with their spa-like looks they’re also a great way to add value to your home. We’ve sifted through our archives to find the most striking wet rooms that have graced the pages of Livingetc, and these ones below are the stand-out ideas that have left a lasting impression.
Installing a wet room can create a spa-like showering experience . Wet rooms are bathroom spaces designed with a large walk-in shower, where the whole room – including walls and floors – is watertight. Spacious, versatile and luxurious, wet rooms offer a contemporary look that can be easily personalised and styled with patterned tiles and sleek brassware.
See Also: Stylish Shower Room Ideas
As you’ll see from the examples below, there are many roads you can go down when it comes to installing or creating a wet room. You could go for a spa-inspired steam room space with built-in bench seating, or a more utilitarian look with concrete surfaces. Tiles, mosaic, terrazzo and marble are all popular options – but you’ll need to consider anti-slip properties. Or, for something with a bit of drama, how about an outdoor wet room built into a light-well that connects to the rest of the bathroom with just a shower door? Scroll down to the gallery and you’ll see what we mean.
You don’t need a lot of space, either. You could transform a box room or even a storage room into a compact shower space, as the room will still be larger than most shower enclosures. Wet room systems are not limited to incremental sizing, like shower trays often are, so they are a great solution for awkward or tight spaces. In small rooms it’s possible to turn the whole area into a walk-in shower, however, it’s good to be mindful of the items in the bathroom that need to be kept dry, such as towels and toilet rolls.
See Also: Super chic ideas for small bathrooms
Not ready to give up your bath? You don’t need to! Some of the spa-like wet room ideas below actually manage to incorporate baths too. Our favourite is the slatted wood bath tub in the spa-like wetroom, although we’re also big fans of that arched bathroom space which features a bath as well as three shower heads in an open space. Dreamy.
So how do you create a wet room? We spoke to C.P.Hart’s designer Rebecca Milnes for her tips and advice.
1. LAYOUT
One of the first things to consider when planning a wet room is where to position the drain. Ideally the drain should be as far away from the bathroom door as possible, to minimise any risk of water escaping the room. If you have a wooden sub-floor, the way your joists run is crucial to where your drain can be positioned. A gentle slope or gradient in the main a shower area will help ensure that water flows away easily into the waste.
In a wet room, the shower area is flush with the floor level and the drain is fitted into the fully tiled floor. Originally wet rooms were completely open without any glass partition, however, a simple fixed glass panel creating a walk-in shower area is a much more practical choice and has become the most popular trend.
See Also: Beautiful Bathroom Tile Ideas
2. SURFACES
In order to create a wet room, you’ll need to create a watertight environment, for example by tanking both the floor and walls of the room to protect it from any leaks. Once a watertight membrane is laid, the room can then be tiled.
When deciding which wet room system to go for, think about what your sub-floor is made of. There are systems for both solid and wooden floors. If you have a concrete floor, it can be quite invasive to channel in a waste and create the gradient fall required for drainage.
Forgoing a shower tray in favour of a wet room allows the floor tiles to run through to the shower area, which adds visual space to a room. However, not all surfaces are safe to use in a wet room setting and it is crucial to know what the slip rating of the material is. Rebecca Milnes recommends using a material with a structured, textured finish to give extra grip in wet areas. Mosaics are also a great choice for wet areas, as the grout lines between the tiles give appropriate grip.
See Also: Chic Marble Bathroom Ideas and Modern Concrete Bathroom Ideas
3. TANKING
Tanking is essential in a wet room . This is a multi-step process which entails several layers of waterproofing to ensure an excellent seal – much like a swimming pool. The two main approaches for tanking a wet room are using a self-adhesive bitumen-based waterproof membrane or applying a paint-on liquid wall membrane. It is always best to speak to your supplier about the best system for your project.
4. SANITARYWARE
If you are embracing the full wet room look and omitting any sort of enclosure or screen, it is fundamental to think about your choice of sanitaryware, as it is likely that it will get wet from the spray of the shower or the condensation in the room. Opt for ceramics that are flush to the wall and are ideally wall-mounted. A wall-hung toilet is a brilliant choice in a wet room, as there are no areas for water to pool and makes cleaning easier.
Get inspired by our striking wet room ideas below…
Terrazzo
This home owner worked with the smaller dimensions of this spa and shower room by covering it floor-to-ceiling in terrazzo slabs, which give the space a sense of luxury. Integrated seating is raised above the floor, making these heavier details appear lighter.
Get the look: The tap and shower head are from the Davinci collection at AF New York. These ceiling lights are from Delta Light. The towels are from ABC Carpet & Home. The terrazzo slabs are from Miami and were ordered through Stone Source.
Wood Contrast
Who wouldn’t want to be a guest at this house when you have a shower room this gorgeous? The warm woods, graphic tiles and sleek fittings are beautifully combined. We love that this wet room has managed to incorporate a bath, too. Even better that it's a deep tub that will cocoon you up to the shoulders.
Get the look: The Tara shower fitting is by Dornbracht. The floor tiles are by Mosaic Del Sur. The wall is covered in Venetian plaster by Loggia.
Slatted Floor
The waterproof tadelakt finish on the walls is a traditional Moroccan polished plaster used in riads. The slatted floor adds grip so you don't slip, and allows water to easily drain away.
Get the look: The wood floor is made from exterior decking. Try thedecktileco.co.uk for a stylish selection. The Palermo light fittings are from Sparks Electrical. The mirror was made to measure. Any good glazier will be able to cut a shape to your design or try Dominic Schuster. The hammam towel is from Future and Found.
tall dark and handsome
Tactile tadelakt and lava stone tiles wrap around this bathing space that’s both efficient and indulgent.
Get the look: These are Made a Mano lavastone tiles. The handshower and brassware are Gessi at CP Hart.
straight talking
Simple white metro tiles with dark grout give a smart utilitarian feel.
Get the look: Metro tiles, Topps Tiles. Savoy sink and pedestal, Bathstore.
All Marble
A green marble sits snugly in the shower, and can be used as a shelf or a seat.
Get the look: Bathroom plumbing by Crosswater London
Dark Grout
The wall tiles of this wet room are actually enamel medallions found by one of the owners in a warehouse in Providence when he was a student. Dark grout makes the circular patterns stand out.
Get the look: Topps Tiles’ Shapes circle matt white mosaic tiles have this look.
Mosaic Tiles
Black and white small mosaic tiles add interest to this wet room, while the large walk-in shower makes this space feel luxurious.
Minimalist
This minimalistic wet room design features rain showers and wall-mounted taps.
Monochrome
The Carrara marble mixed with the black brassware gives a slice of drama to this classic and beautiful design.
Get the look: The brassware matt black fittings are from Dornbracht.
Family Size
This is actually a pool bathroom for a home with a swimming pool. It has a planked stall in addition to an oversized double shower, for hosing down kids after a swim. The tiled partition wall doubles up as a shelf for products. The metro tiles make this feel like more of a utilitarian, functional space.
Skylight
This bathroom is fully clad in large slabs of terrazzo. A large skylight in the bathroom keeps this space feeling light and airy.
Transom Window
This small but stylish wet room was brightened up by adding transom windows that borrow light from the bedroom. Clever.
Glass Box
This walk-in shower enclosure is framed in white marble. A subtle step-down in the marble floor keeps the rest of the bathroom dry. Alcoves in the marble wall create a space for toiletries.
Get the look: Bespoke shower: designed by Studio Indigo with Calacatta marble – Bespoke shower enclosure by Spa Glazing (020 79989320)
Glass Panel
A true wet room is completely open, although these savvy homeowners installed a minimalist panel so the rest of their bathroom doesn’t get wet. A black industrial-style shower provides the focus for the bathroom, striking a graphic contrast to the white-tiled walls. A monochrome palette can often have more impact when you introduce an accent colour. In this case, grey softens the scheme.
Get the look: The tiles are from Tons of Tiles. The taps are from homary.com. The bath mat is from Urban Outfitters.
mixed materials
Vertical tiles accentuate height in the bathroom and a basin with an integrated towel rack helps keep the walls clutter-free.
Get the look The white glazed ceramic wall tiles are from Signorino Tile Gallery in Melbourne. Fired Earth does similar tiles. This is the Pressed Glass wall light by Tom Dixon. The washbasin is by Pozzi-Ginori. CP Hart has a good range of washbasins with towel rails. The bath is by Duravit. For a shower like this, try John Lewis.
Marble Seat Ledge
This wet room features marble walls and floors, with a recessed alcove for toiletries, and a built-in seat ledge.
Get the look: This is Blue De Savoie stone. Fixtures are from Waterworks. Shower product is Byredo. Natural sponge is from Waterworks.
Curved Glass
This walk-in shower has a curved glass partition to keep most of the water contained. There are separate rain shower heads for joint showering.
Wow Factor
These mosaic tiles give real wow-factor to this wet room shower space.
Get the look This is the Endimione tile mosaic by Bisazza. The shower is by Kohler. Fired Earth does similar black slate bathroom floor tiles.
Raised Divide
A raised divide in the bathroom separates the wet space from the vanity basin area, allowing for a cosy rug.
Get the look: Photograph by Max Steven Grossman
Outdoors
This shower is outside in a light-well, with bathroom tiling that reaches all the way up to the top of this outdoor wall.
Masculine
This chic shower space has a more masculine look, with a darker palette and a cool freestanding basin.
Get the look: This is the Vieques pedestal basin by Patricia Urquiola for Agape. Tap, Vola. Shower head, Hansgrohe.
Double Act
Interior designer Leanne Ford has packed plenty into this contained wet room. The freestanding bath fits snugly below the window, with wall-mounted taps that save space. And there’s enough room for showers too, with sweeping curves that echo the ceiling’s shape.
Get the look: This is the Aegean freestanding bath, from £4,003, by The Albion Bath Company. Find metro tiles at Topps Tiles, £19.50sq m. For similar showers, try the Edwardian rigid riser with a traditional 150mm dart head and white handset in antique gold from Imperial Bathrooms, £1,090.
Throw Some Shapes
Personalisation, quirks and all, has become the hallmark of bathroom design. Enter Geometrica floor tiles by Domus, giving you total freedom to create your own design using its glazed porcelain tiles. Team them with dark walls to create a cocooning effect that invites the user to linger and relax. The collection has five solid colours, along with patterns, including this circular design.
Get the look:These are Domus’s Geometrica glazed wall tiles, from £119.10sq m; and Drop patterned floor tiles, from £130.30sq m.
