Designer debates: Shower enclosures vs wetrooms

There are pros and cons to both shower enclosures and wetrooms but it’s all about what works for you. If you’re updating your shower space and can’t make up your mind, our conversation with Ripples designers Richard and Dena will help you decide.

Shower enclosures - “Choose a practical and stylish shower enclosure which gives you a spa-like experience at home.”

-Richard, Senior Designer at Ripples Solihull

“There are many pros to shower enclosures, one of the key ones being that can be a more budget friendly option. With no complex installation and few materials required, shower trays can easily be incorporated within a bathroom with minimal hassle. Shower trays are also great because you can choose from a range of colours match the colour of your floor, creating an almost seamless finish. This means you can very easily create the look of a wetroom without having to allocate a large proportion of your budget to actually creating one.  

Another advantage of a shower enclosure is that you can contain the water a lot more easily than in an open wetroom. With a shower enclosure, you needn’t worry about where you place your soft furnishings, loo roll or accessories as the water will be confined to the shower enclosure walls and won’t splash throughout the rest of the space. There’s also less maintenance with a shower enclosure as you don’t need to worry about drying and cleaning the whole bathroom floor each time you take a shower. Just a quick squeegee down after each use and your shower enclosure will be clean and sparkling ready for its next use.  

An enclosure also works particularly well in small spaces such as loft en-suites or small family bathrooms and I usually recommend choosing a frameless shower screen to avoid any bold lines which might box off the space. If you utilise a space in the corner of a room and pick a corner shaped enclosure, you can create a fantastic showering area without impinging into the room too much.”

For those like me who love a warm steamy shower - an enclosure is the way to go. The warmth will really surround your body and give you that spa sensation as it contains the steam and creates the perfect place to relax and unwind.”

Wetrooms -

“A wetroom is the perfect choice for those looking to create a sleek, seamless space which is also future-proofed.”

-Dena, Designer Ripples Harpenden

“Wetrooms can be made completely bespoke to suit your bathroom and your Ripples designer can help advise you on how your space could look and function. The great thing about a wetroom floor is that it creates lots of options so don’t feel like your space restricts you - the sky’s the limit! It is important however to get your chosen installer to check you have the correct gradient for a wetroom floor before progressing with your project as you don’t want anything to prevent you from chasing your waste out.  

Once you have the go ahead from your installer, you can start thinking about how you want your wetroom to look. I love the look of a wetroom as it creates one continuous space with the same tiles used throughout the entire floor space, making the room look bigger than it actually is. When choosing your wetroom tiles, it’s important to pick something which is slip-resistant and suitable for the gradient of the floor. We have a stunning tile selection available, including a vast amount of non-porous tiles which will continue to look fresh and bright for many years to come.  

Another great advantage of a wetroom is that the drainage system can look very subtle. By creating just a small gap in the floor or a simple grate that can be removed or tiled into, the drain can look almost invisible and will blend seamlessly into the rest of the floor. You can also install an electric heat map under the waterproof membrane of your wetroom floor and behind your wall tiles which dries out the space quickly and creates a lovely warm feeling underfoot when you step out the shower.”

“As well as looking sleek and stylish, wetrooms are also a very practical option for those looking to futureproof their bathroom. A wetroom offers easy access without the need to climb over a step into an enclosure and its non-slip flooring is great for anyone young, old or with mobility issues.”

Take a look at one of our real Ripples bathrooms featuring a shower enclosure.

Take a look at one of our real Ripples bathrooms featuring a wetroom.