Shower cabin in a small bathroom: choice and design options

It's no secret that apartments in standard high-rise buildings often provide for tight bathrooms. It happens that square meters are so small that it seems unrealistic to put all the basic plumbing and engineering pipes there. An ergonomic shower can be a good solution for a cramped bathroom.

The shower booth has both its pros and cons.

Let's start with the virtues.

• Using this design, significant water savings can be achieved, which will greatly reduce the amount paid for housing and communal services.
• The room of the bathroom will always remain dry, because the doors of the cabins are hermetically closed.
• Nowadays, there is a wide range of various modifications of shower cabins for sale, equipped with additional options - if you wish, you can always buy a design with hydromassage, as well as the "tropical shower" or aromatherapy function.
• If there are children in the apartment, then a shower cabin with an overestimated tray will become a very practical solution - the child will be able to not only wash there, but also swim and play with his favorite toys.
• In the pallet, you can always wash those items that do not fit in the drum of the washing machine due to too much volume.

Not without flaws:

• in the cockpit, you are unlikely to be able to stretch out to your full height and completely relax;
• if the water pressure is too weak, then the cabin functionality will significantly decrease;
• the shower cabin needs to be washed often to get rid of a raid on a surface.

Cabins are open and closed.

• Open constructions represent the most ordinary blocks without any "bells and whistles", they include only the pallet and partitions. The main advantage of such models is their compactness, ergonomics and low cost.

• Closed models represent a tight design. In addition to the pallet and walls, it also has a lid that not only prevents water from splashing out of the cab, but also protects the bathroom from steam and condensate.

As a rule, such models are preferred by lovers of swimming in a supine position. Hydroboxing is characterized by the same advantages as a closed capsule. In addition, here you can place a telephone, a radio and even a small TV, and equip the wall with small shelves for household supplies.

A wide variety of materials are used for the production of pallets.

Acrylic is a fairly popular material. Such pallets warm up quickly and stay warm for a long time. They do not slip, therefore they are safe for users. In addition, under jets of water they do not make harsh sounds, which makes the reception of hygiene procedures doubly comfortable. The surface of acrylic pallets is very simple and quick to clean and retains a fresh look for 15-20 years.

There is only one drawback of such pallets - they must be strengthened with plates, otherwise they begin to bend, and then completely break.

Cast iron is one of the most durable and practical materials.. In order to deform it and render it unusable, you will have to seriously “try”. The main advantages of cast iron:

• long term of use - pallets can last several decades;
• cast iron retains heat well;
• the cost of such pallets is quite affordable.

The disadvantages of the models include:

• long time for warming up;
• a cast iron tray weighs a lot;
• the lineup has practically no diversity in the choice of configuration; only a few standard products can be found on sale;
• cast iron quite noisily reflects the blows of water;
• if the pallet is covered with enamel, chips may appear on it over time, so users will have to update the coating from time to time.

Steel is much stronger and more durable than acrylic. Other advantages of steel products include light weight and low price. However, there are some disadvantages here:

• steel shower trays are rather slippery - if you intend to stay on such a model, then it is better to give preference to products with a corrugated bottom or additionally purchase a rubber mat;
• steel retains heat very poorly and warms up rather slowly;
• the sound insulation of the material is much worse than that of cast iron.

Ceramics deserves attention too. The main advantages of ceramic pallets:

• aesthetic appeal;
• long term of use;
• ease of care;
• increased sound insulation;
• Ceramics quickly heat up and hold heat much longer than cast iron and steel.

The disadvantages of ceramic pallets include:

• massiveness, impressive weight;
• quite high cost;
• fragility.

Stone pallets usually pallets are made of marble. Such products have their undoubted advantages:

• they look stylish;
• warm up quickly and retain heat well; the surface of the stone pallet is rough, it is more comfortable and safer for users.

Wherein natural stone is very expensive. However, you can always pick up a pallet of synthetic materials.For example, porcelain tiles in their quality characteristics are similar to marble, but at the same time they are much cheaper.

The following varieties of shower partitions are distinguished.

• Water-repellent curtains. You can’t swim in the open cabin, as the spray will fly in all directions. A good solution is a waterproof curtain, which will protect the bathroom from flooding. Typically, such accessories are made of plastic film, oilcloth or dense rubberized fabric.

• Partitions made of polymer. For shower cabins, such polymer composites as plexiglass, acrylic or PMMA are used. Such materials are in great demand due to ease of maintenance and enhanced aesthetic characteristics. Outwardly, such partitions resemble glass, but they weigh much less.

• Plastic screens. This is a rather cheap material for arranging partitions, which is subject to any processing methods, therefore it allows you to equip the box of any configuration.

• Strained glass. The shutters of the shower cabin made of tempered glass are almost impossible to damage - due to the special heat treatment the material acquires exceptionally high strength characteristics, therefore the design can be safely used in rooms with high humidity.

Modern hydroboxes are complemented by a set of useful options.

• Hydromassage, which allows the user to relax in the evening, and in the morning, on the contrary, cheer up.

• Steam generator. Owners of such a function can always create the effect of a Turkish bath in a booth.

• Aromatherapy In this case, you can arrange spa treatments without leaving your home. Aromatic oil not only has a pleasant smell, but also has a general healing effect.

• Ozonation Ozone is able to neutralize mold, as well as bacteria and other pathogenic microflora. Such designs are ideal for people struggling with allergic diseases, chronic asthma and pathologies of the respiratory system.

• Infrared radiation. This option allows you to warm up the box, which significantly increases the degree of convenience during the washing procedures. IR rays have the most beneficial effect on human health: they accelerate metabolism, promote the elimination of harmful substances from the body, and promote increased blood circulation.

Choosing showers for bathrooms with a footage of 2.4 and 3 square meters. m, most users believe that they can significantly save the useful area of ​​bathrooms.

However, often the bath has the same dimensions as the cabin, while the latter, due to its high height, may look too massive and too bulky, therefore when buying a shower cabin you should be guided by the following recommendations.

• When installing the booth, it is necessary to take into account the amount of free space for hygienic procedures before or after washing (removing clothes and wiping with a towel). A space of 70-75 cm should remain unoccupied by furniture and other equipment near the cabin

• The most affordable solution will be the installation of a wall shower, however, this model is not suitable for elongated and narrow bathrooms. The optimal solution for such rooms would be the installation of a corner cabin.

• Significantly save usable area will help designs with sliding sashes and rounded edges.

• When buying a shower stall for a small room, it is best to choose a product with light or transparent doors - such models will visually increase the free space.

• If you plan to achieve a feeling of isolation (this is especially important in combined bathrooms), it is worth using options with “frosty” glass, which involves light tinting.

It is very important to test your favorite model before making a purchase. To do this, go into it and perform several actions: raise both hands, then turn, bend and pick something up from the floor. During the execution of the above manipulations, the movements should be as comfortable and familiar as possible, you should not bump into anything. This simple test will protect you from the wrong choice and the associated discomfort when taking hygiene procedures.

It should be noted that there are not so many ways to place showers in small bathrooms. The most popular option is the installation of equipment in the corner of the bathroom. This method is good for rooms of the correct form, as close to square as possible.

The shower stall should not block users' access to the washing machine, it cannot prevent the opening of cabinets and cabinets.

When planning the location of the shower cabin, one must take into account the layout of the bathroom and the location of the door:

• if the door is located in the center of the bathroom - the cabin can be placed in any corner of the bathroom space;
• if the room has a rectangular configuration - it is best to install a shower near one of the long walls;
• if the door is in the corner of the bathroom - it makes sense to install the hydrobox in the opposite corner;
• if the door in the bathroom is slightly pushed sideways from the center - The cubicles placed near the far wall will look best.

When arranging a bathroom, attention should be paid to the color palette, since it directly affects the creation of a comfortable space. Most often, users prefer designs of white or milky colors, ivory or light blue tones - they visually expand the boundaries of the room, especially if all the other equipment is selected in the same color.

When choosing a bathroom interior design, it is best to use minimalism. We invite you to get acquainted with a small photo selection, which will allow you to make the room ergonomic, comfortable and aesthetic.

In the next video you will learn how to choose the right shower.