Relaxing at home is more important now than ever before.

The world we live in is beset with problems, and our lives are being restricted beyond all comprehension. That means when you do steal some time to yourself, it is important to relax and unwind at your own pace, perhaps even with a little pampering.

We explored how you could turn your home into a spa in a recent article How to Create Your Own at Home Spa for the Ultimate Relaxation, but perhaps you do not have the time for an hour of bathing and pampering. Maybe you need an opulent shower to relax in, perfect for a quick cleanse at the beginning of the day, or a good soak at the end of it. In this instance, a walk-in shower would be perfect as your next project.

Installing a walk-in shower is not quite as straightforward as you might think, so before you start thinking about the design and aesthetic, it is worth putting some firm plans in place. One aspect of the install you may not have considered is how the new shower will affect your plumbing and drainage. If upgrading an old shower (or bathroom for that matter) with the latest walk-in shower, your plumbing may not be able to handle the new demands of the more advanced model. The pipes could start leaking or your water supply may be affected, which is why it might be wise to explore some insurance cover. The <a href="https://www.homeserve.com/uk/insurance-cover/plumbing-and-drainage-comparison">plumbing and drainage cover featured on HomeServe</a> not only covers leaks and the water supply, it can also be upgraded to include electrical coverage. With modern walk-in showers now featuring high tech smart features this will give you complete peace of mind should something go wrong either while installing or after. Peace of mind is what you desire after all, so before perusing our ideas, make sure you have the fundamentals in place to alleviate the worry of malfunction.

Once you have considered that it is time to jump into the design aspects. We have four great ideas for your walk-in shower project, which will help you relax to the max as we enter 2021.

Go Bold

You can make a bold statement with your walk-in shower, by using statement tiles. Often, you will find designers looking to understate the shower, making it part of a flowing room and almost invisible to the eye. That is one approach, but Reader’s Digest suggest you can make a sweeping statement with bold colours and patterns. Try thinking about a single feature wall; clearly defining the shower area to anyone that enters your bathroom.

Work Your Space

In most conventional homes, installing a walk-in shower may seem like a logistical challenge. Smaller bathrooms may not lend themselves to a shower area, but clever use of space can make it a possibility. If your current bathroom is on the smaller side, perhaps think about making the whole room into a shower area, much like a wet room. If you have sufficient space and want to make a bold choice, create a room within a room, by using partitions and completely different tiles in the shower from the rest of the bathroom, so it appears to be a separate entity altogether. You can maintain the illusion of space by using glass partitions too.

Match It Up

Another interesting concept is to mask your shower and make it almost invisible. A great way to do this is to match up the wall tiles and floor tiles, so the whole room feels seamless and solid. Terrazzo is a strong material for doing this as it creates a coherent journey through wall and floor spaces, according to architect Billy Mavropoulos. By using glass panelling too, you can create a striking effect, especially in smaller spaces.

Use the Window

If you are pushed for space, think about incorporating the window into the design. Often, an awkwardly placed window can hinder your designs, with most people working around such an intrusion. By including it within the design, you create a unique feature around one of the functional aspects of your bathroom. Do make sure the window is frosted though!