An Alternate Trend in Bathroom Design
Wet rooms are gaining in popularity, especially in high-end bathrooms, thanks to their sleek use of materials and ease of use. But they're not a good fit for every home or every person. A wet room is a space fully constructed with materials designed to get wet. Sometimes this means outfitting an entire bathroom in water-friendly materials. Many new wet rooms include a shower space and freestanding tub in their own glass enclosure separate from the sink and toilet areas.
Wet Room Advantages
- Wet rooms are super-stylish and perfect for creating a contemporary look.
- As a second bathroom, a wet room can easily increase the value of your home.
- Great for small bathrooms – removing the bath creates loads more space.
- Wet rooms are, in general, easier to clean. There’s no shower screen or tray to worry about and if you go for a wall-hung sink and toilet, it’s easier still.
- If it’s done properly, your floor (the bit under the tiles) is better protected than it would be in a standard bathroom.
- In small bathrooms, watch out for wet towels and toilet paper caused by spray from the shower.
Wet Room Disadvantages
- You’ll need a professional fitter to waterproof the room – if it’s not done properly, leaking water can cause damage.
- Wet rooms should be tiled from floor to ceiling – and that’s expensive. And if you go for porous stone tiles, they may need to be resealed every few months, which is hard work.
- Swapping a main bathroom for a wet room could make your home less saleable – buyers want at least one bath.