Low ceiling shower ideas
Shower design for a small bathroom: 6 space-boosting tricks
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(Image credit: Future)
Shower design for a small bathroom need not compromise on style and comfort.
A small shower room or bathroom can feel cramped and unwelcoming, particularly if it has low ceilings. But there are many ways to make it feel more spacious, according to Yousef Mansuri, head of design at bathroom experts CP Hart.
So, if you are considering walk-in shower ideas that take over the whole space or simply a cubicle you want to feel spacious, this is what to consider.
These clever tricks will help with shower design for a small bathroom, particularly if you are in the planning stages and looking for small bathroom ideas.
1. Fit a flush shower head and tray to boost headroom
(Image credit: C. P. Hart/ Paul Craig)
'A low ceiling requires careful showerhead positioning,' Yousef Mansuri explains. 'A flush-to-ceiling shower can help gain extra headroom, as will a low-level shower tray.'
A ceiling-mounted shower head – also known as a rain shower – is the perfect shower design for a small bathroom or walk-in shower and very desirable because it gives the bather a more immersive and often more luxurious experience.
While it may need more extensive plumbing work compared to standard shower head, it is a great solution for low ceilings and comes in a range of models, including ones with adjustable nozzles and changeable colored lighting.
2. Enhance space with a glass shower screen
(Image credit: C. P. Hart)
Another trick to help maximize space in a small shower room is using a glass screen. This will help trick the eye into thinking the room is bigger, and also creates a smart, streamlined look.
3. Pick wall-hung fittings to make a small space look bigger
(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)
Choosing the right sanitaryware is key in any shower design, but in a small bathroom you need to think particularly carefully about how to choose a shower.
Wall-hung fittings allow you to see right to the walls beneath them, giving a better sense of space, adds Yousef.
'A stud wall is built out by at least 12-20cm to hide cistern and pipes, but if you have a partition wall already, for example it’s a newly created en-suite, you can utilise the interior voids.'
4. Create more wall space with niches
(Image credit: Future / Jonathan Gooch)
Floating shelves are great for having essentials to hand without taking too much space. Other clever small bathroom storage ideas include creating a niche or ledge above the sink if you don’t have room for a vanity.
Building large niches into the shower walls also means you have an easy and clever spot to hold all your bathing needs.
5. Swap a shower room for a wet room for tiny spaces
(Image credit: West One)
If you are short of space, wet room ideas can be a game-changer, although there has to be consideration given to ensuring the room is completely waterproof.
'Wet room floors give the illusion of extra space, as there is no break in the floor type. Underfloor heating can free up wall space for other fittings,' says Yousef.
6. Hang a large mirror
(Image credit: Future / Jonathan Gooch)
Hanging a large mirror is another way to get the illusion of space. Clever mirror ideas can bounce light around in a room, making it look brighter and larger.
With clever tricks like these, any shower design for a small bathroom can be as stylish as one that is twice the size.
As the Deputy Editor of Livingetc's print version, Busola Evans works across both the physical magazine and digital and specializes in kitchens, bathrooms and projects. She is an expert at explaining how to improve, extend and convert your home. Prior to her current role, she was Associate Editor on both Livingetc and Homes & Gardens, where she authored kitchen and bathroom articles. Busola has also written for The Guardian, The Sunday Times Magazine and Grazia, and was an interiors columnist for the London Evening Standard's ES Magazine.
Low Ceiling Shower: Ideas & Solutions
Having a low ceiling can be incredibly annoying. The taller you are, the more likely your head will be hitting the ceiling. Nobody wants to take a shower in an uncomfortable hunched-over position.
Is there anything that can be done with a lower than average bathroom ceiling? Do building codes require a minimum height for a shower’s ceiling? What can be done about this issue if you are very tall or just have an incredibly low ceiling?
This article will answer these questions while pointing to the obvious and not so apparent drawbacks of a shower with a low ceiling. Hopefully, the ideas and solutions presented here will help you get rid of this problem or at least make it easier to deal with.
What Is the Minimum Ceiling Height for a Shower?
According to the building standards of the International Residental Code (IRC R305.1), the minimum ceiling height for a shower is 6 feet 8 inches.
If you are building or renovating your bathroom, you should stick to this height or make your ceiling even higher if possible.
It’s better to go over the minimum height to accommodate any family, friends, or guests to your home that happen to be taller than 6 feet 8 inches.
If you built your home with a ceiling height shorter than the minimum requirement or happen to buy a home with a short bathroom ceiling, you may get into trouble with code enforcement in the future.
Drawbacks of a Low Ceiling Shower
Uncomfortable Showers
A low bathroom ceiling will result in some uncomfortable showering. You will likely bang your head against the ceiling at first. Later once you have adjusted to the ceiling’s low height, you will likely crane your neck downward while showering. All this craning downward and hunching over can cause back and neck issues over time.
Splashing Water
The closer your showerhead is to the ground, the more likely your water will splash all over your shower and end up on your bathroom floor. All of this splashing water can become a tripping hazard and will become a hassle with all the extra clean-up and drying you’ll have to do after each shower.
Higher Chance of Mold
A low ceiling comes with a lesser-known side effect, a greater chance for mold to grow. There will be less space above the shower curtain with a short ceiling, which gives your ceiling and walls less space to ventilate and dry. Add that with the extra water splashing everywhere, and you give mold a great environment to thrive in.
Issues with Code Enforcement
Building inspectors tend to have an eye for certain things. If you go to renovate your bathroom and a code enforcement official comes to greenlight your work, your short ceiling will be obvious. The code enforcement official will tell you to fix your ceiling, costing you money, and you will be forced to pay additional costs through fines if you do not comply.
Ideas and Solutions for a Low Ceiling Shower
Using a Different Showerhead
Certain showerheads, such as a rain showerhead, are more vertical, giving you a few extra inches of headroom over a traditional showerhead.
You can also use a handheld shower unit to gain every available inch of valuable headroom.
If your ceiling is lower than your height then you will still struggle with hunching over, but you will have more options such as showering while sitting down with a handheld unit.
Installing a Smaller Shower Enclosure
Your shower enclosure may be taking up some pivotal inches of space that could mean the difference between a comfortable shower and neck or back pain. You can easily measure your enclosure to see how much space it is taking up, then shop around to find one that takes up less space.
Be mindful that while removing and installing a shower enclosure is not outside the realm of skill for your average DIY enthusiast, it is still not an easy job and could take a weekend or at least a day to complete.
Take a Bath Instead
If changing your showerhead or enclosure does not solve your problem and raising your ceiling is out of your budget, you may be best off giving up on your shower and taking baths instead.
If you already have a bath installed, you can use it or buy a freestanding tub that can be placed in your shower right under your faucet. This way, you will only have to watch your head when entering and exiting the tub, but at least you will be able to bathe in peace and comfort.
Raising Your Ceiling or Lowering Your Floor
The most effective solution to this problem is also the most expensive. Raising your ceiling or lowering your floor is by no means a DIY job.
Depending on the job’s difficulty and how many square feet your bathroom floor or ceiling has, a professional contractor may quote you anywhere between $6000 to $10000 to complete this job, which is a lot of money.
But if you are planning on renovating your bathroom or are already in the process, that would be the best time to take on this monumental task.
5 life hacks for interiors with low ceilings - MOSSEBO
On the pages of overseas publications, interiors with ceilings so high that one glance at them takes your breath away flicker.
Domestic realities in most cases do not have such a scope. In our progressive age, there are objects with ceilings below 2.7 m on the Russian real estate market. This is not only a relic of the Soviet era in the form of Khrushchev apartments, but also some representatives of the new building. Interior designers suggest considering the low ceiling not as a disadvantage, but as a feature of the room that can be competently beaten. The ceiling in the interior will seem higher than it actually is and will not put moral pressure on you if you follow simple rules. nine0003
Nothing superfluous
If the height of the walls in the apartment is below 2.7 meters, stretch and suspended ceilings should be abandoned. The same applies to stucco and complex ceiling structures. The latter safely went out of fashion, giving way to modern minimalism, and stucco is much more appropriate on the ceilings in ballrooms than in Khrushchev. If you gravitate toward complex structures in the interior, you can always win back on the walls by decorating them with moldings or arranging beautiful and functional niches (necessarily vertical ones).
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The best option for apartments with low ceilings is water-based paint.
Khrushchev kitchen with painted white ceiling.
If the soul does not categorically lie to the ceiling minimalism, you can decorate the ceilings with caissons. This design in our time is experiencing a rebirth and is returning to modern interiors as a design element. The coffered ceiling is decorated with beams that form recesses. In fact, this design will make the ceiling a few centimeters lower, but visually it will appear higher and more voluminous. nine0003
The right light
Museum chandelier with pendants, known worldwide as the "pendant chandelier" - a taboo for rooms with low ceilings. Even if all this luxury does not hang down to the middle of the room, massive lighting fixtures have every chance to visually overload the interior. Any fixtures on a low suspension will have to say no. Preference should be given to lighting fixtures that fit snugly against the ceiling.
Such lamps will provide soft diffused light. In addition, the darkness in an apartment with a low ceiling can be dispelled with the help of sconces, table lamps and floor lamps with lampshades directed upwards. nine0003
If you have not spared precious centimeters and decided on a suspended or tension structure, you can safely include laconic ceiling spots in the lighting scenario. An interesting solution for a modern interior will be spots or LED lighting, launched around the perimeter of the room. Such a lighting scheme will create an optical illusion and visually raise the ceiling.
In addition, spots and LED strips can serve as an alternative to traditional lighting fixtures - they can be used to illuminate wall niches, floors, and storage systems. An interesting way to visually raise the ceiling is to equip the top of the hanging cabinets with spotlights pointing upwards. nine0003
Minimum horizontal, maximum vertical
All girls know that a horizontal stripe on clothes can visually expand the figure and make it more squat.
The same rule applies to apartments with low ceilings. In such interiors, we say a categorical no to curbs, long hanging shelves and other unnecessary horizontal lines. But the vertical lines opposite are welcome guests. Everything in such apartments should strive upwards: floor lamps, cabinets, shelving, decor elements and print on the wallpaper. A classic design technique that allows you to make the ceiling visually higher - wallpaper in a vertical stripe. nine0003
In addition, living space parameters can be deceived by increasing the height of interior doors. Doors can be "built up" to the ceiling with the help of a false transom. In small apartments with low ceilings, it is recommended to give up interior doors to the maximum, opting for a high arched opening.
Floor-length curtains will also add verticality to the interior. If short curtains "cut" the room and create a forbidden horizontal, long curtains opposite will help to "stretch" it. nine0003
Working with color
You can immediately forget about design experiments with bright ceilings.
A bright low ceiling will put even more visual pressure on you. In our case, the color of the ceiling in the interior is traditionally white or categorically black. The black ceiling in the interior will not only declare your original personality, but also help the ceiling to "get lost". The true height of a black ceiling is not easy to establish by eye, especially in small rooms. Another way to "lose" the ceiling is to paint it the same color as the walls. nine0003
The color of furniture in such interiors is better to choose neutral. A long sofa in a bright shade will create that very cutting horizontal, while its neutral counterpart will not attract too much attention. If you want to add color, place bright accents with decorative pillows.
The Power of Reflection: Mirrors and Gloss
Mirrors again, a truly magical artifact in the arsenal of interior designers. The first thing that comes to mind is a mirror ceiling. He will do his job and will seem taller, but the idea is so ambitious that few dare to bring it to life.
Mirrored ceilings in modern interiors are usually found only in bathrooms. In residential areas, mirror surfaces rarely appear on the ceilings, but no one will stop them from reclaiming the walls. The wall can be decorated with vertical mirror panels resting on the ceiling. And if you do not tolerate half measures - make the wall completely mirrored
Reflective properties in the interior have not only mirrors, but also glossy surfaces. Light gloss scatters light throughout the room and visually expands the footage. The glossy ceiling will make the room visually higher and lighter.
How much higher?
At the beginning of the article we mentioned overseas interiors with their endless ceilings. Looking at these, one might think that it is simply impossible to adapt them to Russian reality. In fact, an experienced interior designer will be able to transfer the main features and atmosphere from any reference you like to a real interior project.
An insufficiently high ceiling will definitely not become a hindrance. Moreover, some designers find rooms with low ceilings more cozy and interesting and willingly work with this feature. And in such rooms, sound insulation is better, the cost of finishing materials is less, and it is easier to change the light bulbs in the chandelier. nine0003
What if the apartment has a low ceiling?
The right lighting, wallpaper and even curtains will visually add space to your apartment and make the low ceiling appear higher.
Vera Ermakova
Freepik
If cramped rooms can be expanded with redevelopment, then this will not work with a low ceiling. But you can create the illusion of a more spacious and high room with the help of design tricks.
Contents of the article
A low ceiling in an apartment is not only inconvenient: it additionally visually reduces the space, creates the effect of constriction, and in the most difficult cases, it literally “falls” on the heads of residents and their guests.
The average ceiling height in standard apartments is already low - from two and a half meters to two meters and seventy centimeters - and in some cases we ourselves additionally “steal” space from ourselves. We tell you what simple tricks will allow you to visually "raise" the ceiling and add space. nine0003
Flat lamps
Beautiful large chandeliers, alas, are not suitable for apartments with low ceilings: even if it is attached to the ceiling itself, and does not go down, it still “eats off” part of the space - exactly to the height of the lamp itself. Our imagination is so arranged that we draw the upper boundary of the room along the lower edge of the lighting fixtures. And if your chandelier is, for example, 15 centimeters high, feel free to subtract them from the ceiling height.
The output can be either a built-in technical light, or plate lamps that are attached directly to the ceiling and seem to merge with it, or an LED pendant around the room's perimeter - in this case, by the way, you will also visually make the space larger, as if " pushing the walls apart.
More vertical lines
Remember the designer rule: a horizontal stripe adds volume and a vertical stripe heightens? It works not only with clothes, but also with ceilings. The more vertical lines your room has, the taller it will appear. The easiest way is to wallpaper the walls with vertical stripes, of course. But you can use other tricks: hang curtains made of flowing material that is easy to gather with vertical soft folds, use it to decorate items
Vertical designs (narrow paintings, tall thin figurines), additionally decorate the walls with upward slats, arrange collages of photographs or paintings, arranging them so that the overall pattern tends upward.
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No bulky furniture
The higher the furniture in the apartment, the more space it takes up, including visually. If your apartment has low ceilings, it is better to choose low furniture: if there are chairs, then with low backs, it is better to replace cabinets with low chests of drawers, and completely abandon wall shelves.
However, if this option does not seem very convenient to you, the other extreme will do: very high, but narrow furniture. Stretched up, at the same time it will “stretch” the space of the apartment, adding height and volume. nine0003
More highlights
Light is our important assistant in creating space and the illusion of volume. Even a very small room, but properly lit, will seem larger and more spacious. That is why designers advise owners of small apartments to give preference not to matte surfaces, but to glossy ones. Flooring, ceilings and even furniture surfaces - let it all reflect light, create glare and thereby create the illusion of additional space. After all, this is what we need? nine0003
...And mirrors
Another indispensable assistant in the visual increase in volume is mirrors. They help visually make cramped rooms bigger and are able to "stretch" those in which the ceiling seems low.
Just make sure that the mirrors are, firstly, vertical, and, secondly, rather narrow than wide.
Wide curbs and skirting boards
The most radical and effective way to visually raise a low ceiling is to lengthen the doorway. But such work requires a lot of effort and money, and therefore few dare to do it. But there is another option: to visually enlarge the door frame with the help of a decorative plinth: its wide voluminous strips protruding beyond the space of the door "stretch" both it and the room. By the way, if you don’t like the baseboard, you can use paint: for example, draw a false window above the door, and decorative borders on the sides of the box. nine0003
Dark-colored ceiling
Another, albeit unexpected, but effective method is to repaint the ceiling in a dark color. If you do everything right, then this man-made darkness will blur the boundaries between walls and ceiling, and the room will appear higher.
