5 Classic Shower Design Plans

5 Classic Shower Design Plans - roomfortuesday.comAs most of you already know, I’ve had bathroom design on my mind lately. We’re smack dab in the middle of our basement bathroom renovation and I just wrapped up a bathroom design for Emmett’s place of employment (I’ll share their office reveal on here soon- it’s pretty cool)! Anyway, after putting together some bathroom and shower combinations for our own home, I thought it might be helpful to share them for those of you in the same boat… if you’re planning to renovate or update your bathroom in the future. I’ve put together five shower design plans that include wall tile, floor tile, and plumbing fixtures. Feel free to use them, implement them, or share your thoughts on each. The one we’re using for our basement bath is in the mix too. Hopefully these will be helpful if you’re not as confident when it comes to bathroom design or don’t feel like spending a ton of time searching for products. Maybe these readymade shower design plans will give you a good starting place, at the very least! Click through to see what I came up with…

*This post is sponsored by Lowe’s. All content, ideas, and words are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that allow us to create unique content while featuring products we actually use & enjoy!

5 Classic Shower Design Plans - roomfortuesday.comFirst I’m going to share some really fast, basic tips (that may or may not be common knowledge)

5 QUICK SHOWER DESIGN TIPS
  • Shower floor tile should have adequate traction- opt for a mosaic tile or a smaller tile with lots of grout lines for anti-slipping and better traction. A smaller tile on the shower floor is also easier to install when it comes to sloping your drain.
  • Consider additional plumbing fixtures for a more luxurious shower experience… think of adding a handheld spray, a large rain head, or even a steam shower. I’d like to do this in our master someday!
  • Instead of a bulky fan, I prefer this recessed can light that is also an exhaust fan. I’ll never use anything else in a bathroom again! Ventilation is super important and this looks clean & minimal.
  • Use products that save time and extend the life / durability of your tile. For example, we’re using this Schluter shower kit that includes the drain and everything we’ll need to get started tiling.
  • Check out my best bathroom renovation tips at the bottom of this blog post… I crammed a bunch in there!

5 Classic Shower Design Plans - roomfortuesday.comEven though I have the following design plans / moodboards set up with a frameless glass shower door, these combinations work for any shower or bath configuration! This was just the easiest way to show the materials working together in a realistic way. I think visuals are always helpful, then you can apply it to your own space and floor plan. Ready to see the options? All of the products can be found at Lowe’s, so they’re accessible to everyone!


5 Classic Shower Design Plans - roomfortuesday.comshower trim: moen weymouth nickel shower trim // wall tile: anatolia tile bianco glacier marble // floor tile: anatolia tile nero marble hex

Obviously the first one is the exact shower we’ll be installing in our basement bathroom. I paired a nero marble hex tile on the floor (for lots of traction) with classic carrara wall tile. In terms of finish, any plumbing fixture color would’ve looked great with this neutral palette, but I opted for polished nickel. We already have brass fixtures in our guest bath, so I wanted to switch things up downstairs. All of these materials & finishes are very timeless, so I know I’ll love this look for years to come.


5 Classic Shower Design Plans - roomfortuesday.comshower trim: kohler hydrorail with handheld // wall tile: anatolia tile 3×6 marble wall tile // floor tile: anatolia bianco herringbone marble tile

Next up, more marble! I’m all about using all marble in a shower setting, but mixing up the shape. On the walls, I inserted a classic subway tile (installed vertically for a modern spin on things- like in our previous bath) and herringbone mosaic tile on the floor. Again- this provides lots of grout lines to ensure you won’t slip. For the plumbing fixture, I went with a matte black Kohler Hydrorail, that features both a shower head and a handheld spray.


5 Classic Shower Design Plans - roomfortuesday.comshower trim: delta vero champagne bronze + delta vero handheld // wall tile: bedrosians cloe white wall tile // floor tile: anatolia carrara basketweave pinwheel tile

Next up, a shower that feels a bit more feminine. Did you know the backsplash tile in our kitchen comes in all sizes, shapes, and colors? The Bedrosians Cloe tile is one of my all-time favorites. I used it in a white, square shape on the shower walls here. For the floor tile, I kept it traditional with a timeless basketweave pattern. Modern brass plumbing fixtures look very chic in this light and bright shower!


5 Classic Shower Design Plans - roomfortuesday.comshower trim: kohler purist shower trim in brushed gold // wall tile: anatolia polished nero brick wall tile // floor tile: bedrosians dove grey porcelain penny round

On the other end of the spectrum, I wanted to design a moody shower option. I love dark tile and this nero subway is no exception (ooh la la)! For the floor, I felt a traditional round penny tile in a neutral hue would be the perfect pairing. Brass plumbing fixtures made perfect sense for this one given the moody black backdrop.


5 Classic Shower Design Plans - roomfortuesday.comshower trim: delta cassidy champagne bronze shower trim // wall tile: american clean ice white subway tile + american olean bright black gloss pencil liner tile // floor tile: anatolia marble flower mosaic

Last, but certainly not least, I designed a beautiful white shower with carrara floor tile! Remember when I shared how to make plain white subway tile look classic, NOT basic? That little black contrasting pencil trim is a fun way to make your shower look more custom and tailored. I love the plumbing fixtures in our guest bath so much, I had to insert them in one of the designs. The Delta Cassidy collection is one of my all-time favorites.

That’s it! Which one was your favorite? I’m excited to hear in the comment section below. If anyone uses any of these design plans, please please tag me so I can share it… even if it’s just inspiration! That kind of stuff makes my day. I hope you’re all having a great week so far.

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26 Comments

  1. If only I had a house with 5 bathrooms! (JK. I hate cleaning bathrooms😩) I love how you got such different looks with readily available materials. If I had a bathroom reno fairy godmother, I would definitely be installing #3 in my own bathroom! I would love option #2 for my other bath. I really fear what our dreadfully hard water would do to marble, but since this is daydreaming I’m going with it!😀
    I hope your recovery is speeding along, and that you are still feeling the love from yesterday’s reveal! And, if I didn’t miss your story tour, I’d love to see your wall of drapes closed…is that weird?

    1. Haha! I also hate cleaning bathrooms. We have 4 and I lose my mind when I clean…. I went from 1 to 4. Phew! I just finished my story tour and shut the drapes for you :) not weird at all. Hope you’re having an awesome week so far! xo

  2. Thank you thank you for rounding up all of this juicy info!! Such a great blog post jam packed with useful info I lurv the nero floor in #1 and all of #3. This info is so helpful in planning to design 2 bathrooms for our new home. Thank you so much for this–it’s extremely useful!!!

    1. Do happy this was helpful, Beth! I’m super excited about the nero floor. I can’t wait to share it as we start install next week :)

  3. This post is one of the most helpful posts I’ve ever read anywhere! I hope you will do more of these type of roundups/combos/ or guide? For example, what about a backsplash tile, counter, floor guide (hint hint LOL).

    1. I absolutely LOVE hearing that, Camille! So glad it’s helpful. I’ll try to do more of these in the future :)

  4. I concur with everyone else; this was a SUPER helpful and inspirational post, Sarah!

    1. Yay!! This format must be a keeper. I’ll try to repeat and design some readymade combos for other areas in the home :) Thanks for letting me know, Mercedes!

  5. For me I think it’s gotta be option 2. But they are all wonderful.

    It’s still crazy to me to look at your guest bath reveal, which is SO gorgeous, and realize that this NOT your master, it is your guest bath!!!! I wanna work my way into the guest rotation!! Hee hee

    1. Option 2 is so classic! I also like that one. You should see our actual master bath- it’s a 90’s brass disaster. Haha! We honestly hardly ever use the guest bath (except when we have house guests, of course). We walk in there and think “WOW!!! This is amazing!” lol

  6. Rhonda Mackenzie says:

    I choose 3 and 5! I love marble but wonder about the upkeep and longevity of it. Here, where we live, marble is used everywhere and people seem to have no end of trouble with it. It seems it’s damaged with every little bump or spill. I think the quality of the marble and quality of the installation process might have something to do with that however. What (if anything) do you use to keep your marble looking good?

    1. Marble is actually a very durable material. In terms of longevity… think of marble used in Europe that dates back to the 15th century. It’s has crazy longevity and still looks amazing. I actually think marble and natural stone gets better over time during the natural patina process. In my opinion, to love natural stone (like marble), you have to be ok with the spills and imperfections- that’s what gives it character :) You can also seal the stone to keep it looking good. I’m partial to Polycor stone, and they have an awesome resource on how to care for marble. Check it out here: https://go.polycor.com/hubfs/2016/marble-care-guide-polycor.pdf?t=1495658897775

  7. This is good stuff! I wouldn’t copy any one exactly but totally use it as a “get the look” starting point. We are redoing one of two full baths this summer – total DIY/small budget style but gut level reno – so I am collecting info HARD since handy hubby blasts full speed ahead when he gets started and I basically need all my ducks in a row before that. Pinning from this and other bathroom posts of yours lately!

    1. Thanks, Julie! That’s exactly what I had hoped for this post… to have a good starting point and a design plan people could use or adapt to their like or personal aesthetic :) I definitely think it’s important to plan ahead, get everything organized, and everything ready to go before demo starts. It makes the process so much easier. xo

  8. Loving 1, 3 & 5 but they are all amazing!

    1. Thanks Alex! So happy you like a few of these :)

  9. Hey lady! I always love your round ups! This case at great timing because I’m searching for tile for our shower floor. One of the ones I was looking at was the bedrosians dove grey penny round but the listing on Lowe’s says it should not be used for shower floors?? I see penny round everywhere! Can you speak to that by chance?

    1. Great question, Jessica! Penny tile is used frequently for shower floors, and I’m thinking the specs are wrong. The waterproofing of a shower floor actually happens one layer UNDER the floor tile, so that wouldn’t be an issue. Based on the porcelain material, mosaic mesh, and the fact that is recommended for shower walls and pools, I would have no issue installing it on the floor. Perhaps it’s a liability thing because it’s gloss and they’re worried about slipping? I personally wouldn’t be worried about floor traction because of the size, shape, and grout lines of this tile. In my professional opinion- you’re good to go! If you’re hiring a contractor, I’d talk with them first to make sure they’re comfortable installing it, but if I were to DIY this in my own home… I’d feel confident with this choice. My friend just installed the same penny tile in her shower and it’s beautiful and functional (I showered in there, haha)! Hope this helps :)

  10. Sarah, thanks so much for this helpful article! I am building new construction in Philadelphia and designing two full baths and one powder room. It’s so much fun but also a lot of pressure to make sure the looks are classic and that they play well together/make sense all being in the same house. I think these are great starting points – classic, timeless looks that are all different, but still cohesive. Thanks for the inspo :)

    1. So happy to hear that, Marina! And so excited for your new build- I’m sure it will be amazing :)

  11. Megan Norman says:

    I love all the choices! We actually are currently DIYing a bathroom very similar to option #2. This is our only room in the house with black fixtures. Is it alright if the door hardware is a polished nickel? I’m always unsure of how to mix and match different metals.

    1. Thanks Megan! It’s definitely ok to mix and match metals. I like to narrow it down to two metals in a room. So maybe for this bath, you go with polished nickel and black. I’d bring in another item in the same polished nickel finish to make it feel cohesive. It doesn’t have to be big… just something: a robe hook on the back of the door, a nickel soap dish or toothbrush cup, etc. Hope this helps :)

  12. What program did you use for visualisations? Such a helpfull way to imagine thing before they’re done:) I like all options but the dark walls and penny tile gets me! Golden Kohler shower head looks just fab with the rest!

  13. T. Madsen says:

    In the picture at the beginning of this blog, What is the maker and model number for the round rainhead shower head with adjustable arm?