How to incorporate a wet room into your home

The newest kid on the UK bathroom block? The wet room. Its practical and low maintenance design have seen it surge in popularity amongst UK households. If you’re not certain what a wet room is, it is, in essence, a room in which all the walls and floors are sealed with a waterproof membrane. The result is a 100% watertight space that can be completely doused in water.

Most wet rooms contain a fully tiled shower area without glass panelling, coupled with a slightly slanting floor which guides water into the drain. There’s no risk of the water draining into other parts of the property and causing damage. Wonderfully practical and efficient, wet rooms also open up more design options that you might not have had with a regular bathroom.

The advantages are endless. Here are few worth considering.

Accessibility friendly

Barrier free and completely streamlined, wet rooms are perfect for older people or anyone with mobility issues. There’s no shower enclosure to navigate and no need to step in and out of a shower unit. The design removes all the problematic obstacles with which many people struggle.

A great space-saving option

Wet rooms are a popular choice for smaller houses, commercial buildings or apartments. This is because there’s usually no space taken up by a bath, meaning that the toilet can be placed much closer to the shower, thus saving space.

Many households are doing without baths regardless of mobility issues. Many find that showers are more practical and use less water. Families with young children, especially, are going without the luxury. And with less space, there’s less to clean which is, let’s be honest, always a plus!

Unleash your style on its simple set-up

With less to think about, wet rooms can often be more stylish than the traditional bathroom. Minimalist trends and streamlined aesthetics are easily adaptable for wet rooms which tend to be contemporary in design anyway.

Focus your attention on your tiles, as these will effectively decide the warmth, mood and texture of your wet room. With so many colours and patterns to choose from, this is the perfect opportunity to show off your personal style. Then, install a new toilet to complement the design of your shower and unify the design of your wet room for a beautiful overall aesthetic.

There’s little to no chance of mould or damp

Finally, and perhaps most attractive of all, is the reduced possibility of mould and damp. Due to its watertight nature and it being covered top to toe in tiles, it’s virtually impossible for mould spots to form. For anyone who’s been plagued with a mouldy bathroom, this is the only information they need to make an informed decision.

Get their look: Mustard-styled bathroom

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This mustard-styled bathroom makes really good, practical use of the compact and awkward area you get under a flight of stairs. The negative space created by the lower stairs is where the toilet has been installed; a place where – for want of a better way of explaining it – a considerable amount of time there is spent sitting down.

A few stairs higher is where the hand basin is positioned; again, a spot where you’d probably be bent over brushing your teeth or washing your face.

Lastly, where the stairs end and there’s maximum headroom, the shower is situated; giving you all the vertical space needed to wash hair – and in this family’s case… Cheddar, the golden retriever’s muddy paws!

Get their look

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Luxury candle jar

Jet black hexagon mirror

TIGI Bed Head colour goddess

Black wire storage basket

Open wire wall rack

3L yellow pedal bin

Bath towels

Luxury candle jar

Jet black hexagon mirror

TIGI Bed Head colour goddess

Black wire storage basket

Open wire wall rack

3L yellow pedal bin

Bath towels

Should you invest in a wetroom?

When it comes to redesigning your bathroom, there are many options. These can include traditional designs, but you could also opt to splash out on a wetroom instead. We’re here to take you through the advantages and disadvantages of these areas of the home.

The look

Wetrooms can be a real statement for your home, as they create a modern, futuristic feel. These can be designed in using colours and textures – just like any traditional bathroom. Where they differ is that they look cleaner, as there are few steps or segments.

The average bathroom will have a shower tray and glass, which can take away from the appeal of the room. With a wetroom, there are fewer barriers and areas, which creates a more complete look. You can also have single colours or styles of tiles, as they cover all areas of the room.

There’s a lot of flexibility involved when you’re creating a wetroom. You can choose to use different colours to emphasise the areas of the room, or just stick with one. Accessories and other elements can still be used to show your personal style too – like fittings and controls. It’s up to you whether you want it to be filled with bling or more muted.

It’s a good idea to view any tiles that you plan to buy in person to get a real feel for what they look like. While there are many online retailers out there, it can be difficult to get an accurate depiction of these online. Smaller tiles will generally require more work to fit, as they take longer to line up and grout into place.

Lighting can also be used to great effect in these rooms, as they attract attention. Backlights and spotlights are very popular in bathroom design at the moment as they add an extra touch of class. They’re also able to withstand the steam and water that will be created in the room.

Functionality

Wetrooms aren’t just form over function, as you can enjoy both with the right design in place. These can serve many more functions than the average bathroom, as there are fewer barriers. This could mean you go for a rainfall or spa shower, because you don’t have to worry about housing them.

For individuals that perhaps have a disability or accessibility needs, these can also be more appropriate. With the right bathing and showering areas, they can use these much more easily. For example, access level bathing can present fewer risks as there are fewer ledges on which they could potentially trip or fall.

Getting into and out of a bath can be challenging for some people, so you may also want to invest in walk-in bathing facilities too. You can read more about the more straightforward access that these can offer in this handy blog post: https://www.bathingsolutions.co.uk/blog/elderly-showers/ease-difficulty-wet-rooms/

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Value

Creating a wetroom that really looks great will also add value to your home. This can potentially create more demand on the market, which also adds to the sale price. This can be a stand out area of your home that makes it much more lucrative for buyers. For more ideas on how to make your home more appealing to buyers, take a look at this article: https://www.idealhome.co.uk/news/best-ways-to-add-value-to-your-home-177509

With buyers checking out so many houses before they opt to purchase, this can help your home stick in their mind. This can have them coming back for further viewings and potentially putting in an offer on your home.

Wetrooms do have a lot of advantages, although they can initially be more costly. This can be worth the investment to have a great room in which you can relax.

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Is a wet room right for you?

So – is a wet room right for you? There’s certainly no shortage of reasons to consider installing one. For starters they look great! The selection of photos we’ve chosen to accompany this post testify to that. A well-designed wet room should be clean and minimalist. You can luxe it up with added extras – glass panels, power showers, underfloor heating, anti-fog mirrors, heated towel rails and sun tunnels. Bella Bathrooms has a huge selection of quality bathroom, wet room and shower accessories.

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They’re easy to clean & very hygienic. Consider installing downstairs off the rear entrance or in a garage/boot room for washing dirty people and dogs before entering the house! Having said that, wet room technology has moved on tremendously and they’re certainly not limited to the ground floor.

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Wet rooms are ideal for people with mobility or accessibility problems – no climbing in & out of baths or fighting with conventional shower cubicles.

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They add value to your property – installation can be from as little as £1,500 but can add £10,000 upwards to the value of your house…

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… and they’re a great option for an awkward/restricted shaped or sized room – suitable for studio flats, loft conversions… even the space under the stairs!

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Having listed all the potential benefits, it can all be undone by poor execution. Install with care & caution. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Great haste makes great waste”. Preparatory planning & works are essential in installing a wet room. Properly waterproof the space, provide adequate ventilation, install non-slip flooring such as rubber or natural stone tile and you don’t need to be reminded about the dangers of mixing water and electricity! If you follow a few simple rules then there’s great scope for design expression. You’ll be left with a beautiful space that will enhance the quality of your life & home.