27 Stunning Custom Shower Ideas For A Luxury Feel

ByEllen Siloy - Architect, Design Consultant Showers

Who doesn’t dream of starting each day soaking in a luxurious spa-like environment? With the right custom shower ideas you can transform your daily routine and enjoy a soothing private bathing retreat right in your own home. Using high-end materials and features like rainfall showerheads, body sprayers, and steam you can soothe sore muscles and start each day with a luxe experience you’ll love.

Carefully chosen surfaces ranging from sleek glass to natural stone lend beauty while being easy to clean. Even better, a custom shower adds significant value, with bathroom remodels offering 60-80% ROI. Before your next renovation or new build, explore how a spa-worthy shower can turn your bathroom into a relaxing haven.

With the right materials and features tailored to your lifestyle, you can upgrade your whole self-care experience. Just a few minutes under a infinitely adjustable warm stream provides mental clarity to face anything the day brings. Begin and end each day enveloped in serenity with your own at-home spa. There are many ways to design a custom shower. Below, we share some creative ways to inspire your own bathroom ideas.

Shower with Body Spray Jets

This beautiful bathroom shower design features a frameless glass enclosure with multiple showerheads and jet sprayers. Marble mosaic floor tile and marble vanity contrast well against the darker central square feature tile. An extra large freestanding pedestal tub with a view offers a great spot to luxuriate.

Pro Tip: When planning body sprays, consider water pressure requirements. Most systems need at least 50-80 PSI for optimal performance.

Walk-in Shower with Bench

There are several great reasons to install a bench in your walk in shower designs. Not only does it look stylish, a built-in bench offers convenience, relaxation, storage, and accessibility for those unsteady on their feet.

Design Consideration: Allow at least 24″ width for a comfortable bench and maintain a minimum 36″ clearance in front for easy movement.

Carrara Marble Shower

Carrara marble is a popular choice for bath space designs, with costs ranging from $125 to $300 a foot. Since marble is porous, it is highly recommended to use a high-quality sealer to help prevent discoloration of the natural stone.

Maintenance Tip: Reseal marble surfaces annually and avoid acidic cleaners to maintain its beauty.

Quartz Shower

Quartz is a great choice for the bathroom because it is a non-porous stone that will not absorb water and help make things easier while cleaning. Homeowners also find quartz walls to be a very durable surface with a material that has a wide range of colors and graining to choose from.

Durability Factor: Quartz rates 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it extremely resistant to scratches and chips.

Steam Shower

If you’ve ever been to a health spa you might have run across a steam shower. This type contains a moisture-sealed enclosure so that one can command it to steam via digital controls to relax sore muscles and clear the skin and sinuses. Steam showers can be custom-built or can be purchased as stand-alone units.

Construction Tip: Install proper vapor barriers and ensure adequate ventilation with a dedicated exhaust fan rated at 100+ CFM, while maintaining minimum ceiling height of 8 feet and ideal room dimensions of 3’x4′ to 4’x6′ for optimal steam distribution and comfort.

Glass Shower with Half Wall

A bathroom enclosure with a half wall provides some privacy for the bather. This type is a good option for couples who want more modesty or have a bathroom design open to the master bedroom.

Construction Tip: Build the half wall at 36-48 inches height with a 15-degree slope on top to prevent water pooling, and ensure proper glass panel thickness of at least 3/8 inch with anchoring every 18-24 inches for stability.

Shower with Natural Light

This gorgeous bathroom design provides abundant natural light for anyone enjoying the large glass enclosure. The room’s cathedral ceiling is installed with multiple glass panes to let in light and keep the room feeling like a natural outdoor oasis.

Outdoor Shower

An outdoor wash area is ideal for those who live near the beach to spray off sand before entering the house. It also works well in a warm environment or for the more adventurous who like the idea of bathing under the sun or stars. The addition of teak wood and lava rock helps to reinforce that natural feel throughout the space.

Construction Tip: Use freeze-resistant plumbing, ensure proper drainage (1/4 inch slope per foot away from house), and use weather-resistant materials like cedar, teak, and marine-grade stainless fixtures for durability in outside conditions.

Indoor/Outdoor Shower

This impressive indoor/outdoor showering space leaves nothing to the imagination. This custom design features a large glass window overlooking the private backyard garden. Multiple rain sprayer heads and spouts provide ample room for a couple to bathe like they were standing outdoors.

Frosted Glass Privacy Shower

Adding a frosted glass privacy door and window to your bathroom is suited for those who want a little more concealment. This Asian-style bathroom with natural wood flooring is complimented by its large rounded tub and frosted window enclosure.

Design Tip: Choose between acid-etched (most durable), film application (cost-effective), sandblasted (customizable), or smart glass (switchable) options, and maintain with non-abrasive cleaners to prevent scratching.

Wood Style Porcelain Tile Shower

This wood style bath space is made from porcelain tile and creates an amazing-looking wood design without all of the maintenance issues of wood in a wet environment. The light wood tones of the wood look porcelain tile above evoke a feeling of a rustic farmhouse, while the other finishes bring in a more contemporary style.

Rainfall Showerhead

An oversized rainfall showerhead can be a completely relaxing experience after a hard day at work. This spa sanctuary retreat bathroom goes for a natural look with plenty of green plants and wood finishes to provide a place for total rejuvenation.

Design Tip: Ensure ceiling support blocking for heavy fixtures and 3/4 inch water supply line with minimum 45-55 PSI water pressure, positioning the head 24-30 inches from the wall at minimum 8-foot ceiling height for the best water coverage.

White Subway Tile Shower

White subway tile is a traditional design look still in style today. The bathroom featured here provides an extra large subway tile matched together with a dark granite floor tile and marble bathtub top.

Shower With Folding Bench

A folding bench can be a great addition for large families of those who have mobility issues. This luxury design features large format marble tiles on the walls and a basketweave pattern on the floor. Multiple sprayers give an abundance of options for showering further enhancing the luxe feel.

Install Tip: Place the bench with 16-inch on-center blocking for minimum 250-pound weight capacity, setting height at 17-19 inches and width at 24-36 inches, with non-slip surface and proper drainage holes to prevent water pooling.

Wet Room and Bathtub Combination

A wet room combination is the perfect way for bathers to go effortlessly from tub to the showering space without getting cold or dropping water all over the bathroom floor. This gorgeous design uses various finishes such as cultured marble for the vanity, porcelain tile floors & walls, glass tile backsplash, and beige stone for the floor.

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Build Considetrations: Install a full room tanking system with minimum 1:50 floor slope to multiple drain points, and consider underfloor heating and proper ventilation while ensuring all walls have waterproof membrane at least 6 inches high.

Private Spa Shower

An indoor spa can be achieved with the right ambiance. For a relaxing look, this plan utilizes a variety of natural stone surfaces combined with a wood shower bench and green tropical plants for a soothing effect.

Modern Bathroom Shower

This modern glass enclosure design showcases a wood grain porcelain tile with hinged door, a wall and a wand sprayer. Rather than having a wall cutout for soap and shampoo, this design opted for a small pedestal for necessary toiletries while bathing.

Multiple Showerhead Nozzles

A bathing space with multiple sprayers can be an advantage for those who like a variety of options. Some popular types include rainfall heads, pulsating sprayers, and wall jets. It’s also a great idea for couples who can’t agree on their favorite faucet style.

Doorless Walk-In Shower

A doorless walk-in wet room bathroom design can be a stylish addition to a home. Probably the best reason for a doorless design is there is no door to keep clean.

Design Tip: Design with minimum 36-inch wide entrance and proper splash zones using a curved or L-shaped wall entry, ensuring adequate slope (1/4 inch per foot) toward drains and considering heated flooring to help water evaporation and prevent cold drafts.

Shower with Contoured Wall Tiles

The 3D wavy tile found is the perfect complement to a contemporary designed bathroom space. The tile has a contoured look that stands out and creates a lot of visual interest.

Shower with Herringbone Pattern Tile

A herringbone pattern tile in the wall creates a stunning look that can really turn heads. This bathroom design features a rich brown porcelain tile with a frameless glass enclosure. Two types of sprayer heads are a bonus to give it a spa-like ambiance.

Bathroom with Gold Finishes

Gold finishes are making a comeback. This contemporary bathroom offers a variety of gold to match harmoniously with white marble surfaces and a blue ceramic subway tile for the walls.

Design Tip: Select gold finishes with PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating for durability and tarnish resistance, and maintain consistent undertones (warm or cool) across all fixtures while considering mixing with matte black or crystal accents for modern appeal.

Shower with Pattern Tile

The beautiful cement pattern tiles in this bathroom make a large statement. Since these types of tiles are porous, they do need to be sealed with a penetrating sealer to help prevent them from staining and maintain their looks.

River Rock Shower Floor

A bathroom with a river rock floor feature can look alluring and bring some of the natural environment indoors. These mosaic tiles typically come in 12 x 12 sheets from the store. Be aware that using pebble river rock for the flooring can be challenging. When installing, the edges of the pieces are wavy, making it a time-consuming process to line up. In addition, river rock needs a lot of grout to install, and all of that grout needs a lot of maintenance to keep it clean and looking its best.

Install Tip: Install with extra mortar bed thickness for proper stone height variation and use high-quality epoxy grout to minimize maintenance, while ensuring proper slope of 1/4 inch per foot and sealing both stones and grout lines every 6-12 months.

Shower with TV

Who wouldn’t want to watch their favorite show from the bathtub? This contemporary bathing enclosure design offers white marble walls with various faucet heads for a true spa experience.

Purchasing Tip: Install a waterproof TV rated IP65 or higher with anti-fog screen and position it for optimal viewing from both standing and seated positions, while ensuring proper electrical installation with GFCI protection and waterproof housing.

His and Her Shower

What’s more luxurious than having his and her showers? This expansive master bathroom design showcases two identical twin enclosures with a central soaking tub. Each glass-walled space has a frameless enclosure and a sitting bench with large hinged glass doors.

Floor Plan Tip: Plan for minimum 40 square feet total space with separate temperature controls and multiple showerheads for each side, incorporating adequate drainage systems (minimum two drains) and proper ventilation to handle increased water usage and steam.

Extra Large Shower

This extra large walk in shower features glazed porcelain tile with a wood grain style. Some of the custom features of this luxury glass enclosure, besides how large it is, includes a built-in bench, shampoo niches, and a river rock floor.

Planning Your Custom Shower Project

Designing your dream custom shower? Get ready for an exciting planning journey where you determine your wants and design preferences.

Budgeting

Entry-level custom showers with basic upgrades like tile surrounds and glass doors average $3,000 to $5,000. This opens up simple customization like frameless glass, designer tile, or stone finishes.

Mid-range custom showers from $5,000 to $10,000 enable more deluxe options like intricate tile designs, rainfall showerheads, body sprays, and decorative niches. Go for multiple shower heads or a spacious corner seat in this budget range.

And luxury custom showers start at $10,000+, allowing you to indulge in steam generators, waterproof Bluetooth speakers, customizable lighting, and more first-class features. With expansive space for two or more people, these are true spa-inspired masterpieces.

Additionally, extras like steam generators typically add $2,000 to $5,000 depending on the unit size and power. And incorporating body sprays or additional shower heads can increase cost but also enhance the therapeutic value.

Remodel Timeline

First, spend 2-3 weeks thinking through your design dreams – browse through tons of tile and finish options to find your perfect style. Once you’ve landed on a vision, you’ll need another 2-4 weeks to order the materials and products to bring your design to life.

When everything arrives, it’s demolition day! Allow 1-2 whirlwind days to gut the existing shower down to the studs. Next, you’ll waterproof and prep the shower pan for 2-3 days – not the most glamorous step, but extremely important for durability.

The fun part comes when it’s tile time! Set aside 3-5 days for setting tile layouts and carefully laying each unique piece. You’ll start to see your design become reality. The finishing touches make all the difference. Install shower fixtures, glass doors, niches and shelves in 1-2 days. Lastly, spend 1-2 days on the satisfying final details like caulking and grout before stepping into your fully custom, spa-worthy shower!

Questions to Ask Your Contractor

Hiring a professional contractor is of the utmost importance for your own peace of mind throughout the construction process. When interviewing potentials, inquire about specific questions upfront to evaluate if they are qualified to do an excellent job.

Number one is to find out if they are licensed, bonded, and insured for bathroom remodeling work in your state. This will help protect you from hiring a worker who is not experienced and the bond protects you as a customer. Also discuss the waterproofing techniques they implement to prevent leaks behind walls or under floors. Proper ventilation to reduce moisture is essential too – find out how they handle meeting code requirements.

Additionally, understand what warranty policies they offer should defects arise with materials or workmanship. No project goes perfectly, so ask how they manage unexpected surprises like discovering mold or faulty plumbing to limit your liability. Taking the time to thoroughly vet contractors sets you up for a smooth, headache-free bathroom remodel.