In your wildest dreams, you’d knock down a few walls and expand the footprint of your bathroom. In reality, you only have the budget to make a few space-maximizing upgrades. Is converting that old soaking tub to a walk in shower the best way to get the most bang for your buck? Will it really help you to save space?
At ZINTEX Remodeling Group, we’ve completed thousands of tub to shower conversions and walk in shower remodels. We’ve helped homeowners take a smart, creative approach to maximizing space in their small bathrooms, and now we’re here to share what we’ve learned. Read on so that you can tap into our top space-saving secrets and walk in shower design tips.
Table of Contents
- Signs You Aren’t Maximizing Space in Your Small Bathroom
- Why Walk In Showers Are Great for Small Bathrooms
- What to Know About Designing Your Walk In Shower
- Dive Deeper Into Walk In Shower Costs
Signs You Aren’t Maximizing Space in Your Small Bathroom
It’s easy to assume that all hope is lost for your small bathroom. As far as you can tell, no amount of remodeling or organization could make up for the lack of square footage. Is that really true? Here are a few signs that you aren’t maximizing the space and that a few key changes could help:
➡️ You have large appliances or fixtures, like a double vanity or soaking tub, that you don’t use
➡️ Your towels, toiletries, and other bathroom supplies end up piled on the floor or vanity because they don’t have a better home
➡️ You struggle to keep your bathroom clean because of hard-to-clean surfaces and/or overcrowding
A walk in shower may not solve every problem on this list, but it can make a huge difference.
Why Walk In Showers Are Great for Small Bathrooms
If you can only invest in one major change to improve your small bathroom, a tub to shower conversion may just be the right choice. Walk in showers are great for small bathrooms because they:
✅ Don’t require as much space as a soaking tub, especially if you convert to a stall shower with a footprint of 30-32” x 30-32”
✅ Don’t have a large and obtrusive ledge that creates a physical and visual separation between your shower and the rest of the bathroom
✅ Are easy to customize with built-in storage features like corner shelves and soap niches
✅ Have a sleek, modern appearance that can make your bathroom look and feel less stuffy
✅ Can be very easy to clean, even without a ton of space to move around in
What to Know About Designing Your Walk In Shower
There are a few things you should know about designing a walk in shower, especially when your goal is to maximize space in a small bathroom. Let’s take a quick look at the information you’ll need to get started.
Walk In Shower Materials
In a small bathroom, you need a shower that is easy to clean and completely waterproof, especially if your bathroom doesn’t have great ventilation. This can prevent mold growth and cut down on the time and elbow grease needed to ensure your shower is spotless. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different walk in shower materials and how they compare when it comes to maintenance.
| Materials | Maintenance Pros | Maintenance Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylic | ✅ Easy to clean with no specialty supplies needed ✅ 100% waterproof ✅ No resealing or regrouting necessary ✅ Difficult to crack or damage |
❌ Caustic chemicals or abrasive cleaners could cause mild surface damage or discoloration ❌ Will require full panel replacement if the acrylic cracks or otherwise breaks |
| Tile | ✅Easy to clean individual tiles ✅Easy to replace damaged tiles as needed |
❌ Grout requires a lot of elbow grease to clean and frequent resealing ❌ Grout and tile are not a 100% waterproof system and can cause water damage and mold growth |
| Solid surface | ✅ Easy to wipe down ✅ Waterproof with proper care ✅ Difficult to crack or damage |
❌ Cleaning supplies not designed for natural stone can cause permanent damage ❌ Natural stone is porous and requires resealing to ensure a waterproof shower |
Some homeowners may gravitate towards tile or solid surface for design reasons, especially if they’re looking for a lot of versatility (tile has the most styles, finishes, and configurations to choose from) or luxury (solid surface has several natural stone options, like marble and quartz). That said, acrylic tends to be the best option for small bathrooms because it is 100% waterproof and easy to clean.
Walk In Shower Footprint
There’s one very obvious reason why a walk in shower may be better for your small bathroom, and it’s one that we’ve hinted at already: a walk in shower can be much smaller than a tub and shower combination.
The average bathtub footprint starts at 30” x 60”, although some soaking tubs get up to 60” x 70” and larger. If you’re not using the bath feature of your tub and shower combination, that tub is taking up a lot of space for no good reason.
What if you don’t want to convert your tub into a stall shower? A 30” x 60” walk in shower can still maximize space by eliminating that obtrusive ledge, replacing a hanging shower curtain with a sleek glass enclosure, and offering more built-in storage options for your toiletries. Even if all you gain is the illusion of more space, you might find that a walk in shower makes your small bathroom a little more inviting.
Walk In Shower Storage Options
We’ve mentioned built-in storage a few times, but what does that entail? Let’s start with the accessories you can select, which include:
- Corner shelves and caddies, which are perfect for storing things like tall shampoo bottles
- Shower niches, which come in varying sizes that can store small items, like bar soap and razors, up to larger items like shampoo and conditioner
- Safety features like grab bars and seats
Built-in storage can improve organization by eliminating that cluster of toiletries on the ledge of your bathtub and providing a designated spot for every shower item. It can also free up counter space if you tend to keep those items on the vanity (and ensure that you never climb into the shower only to realize your soap or shampoo is just out of reach).
Dive Deeper Into Walk In Shower Costs
There’s no need to throw in the towel and accept a bathroom that’s too small to function. A few targeted changes can make a huge difference, and now you know the right walk in shower design can help. What’s next?
At ZINTEX, we know that cost is one of the most important factors homeowners take into consideration when finding bathroom remodeling solutions. Take a look at our guide to the walk in shower materials that can fit your budget.
FAQs About Walk In Showers
Q: Do walk in showers impact property value?
Bathroom upgrades can yield an ROI of up to about 73%. That said, there’s some speculation about whether or not it’s a good idea to convert an existing tub into a walk in shower. If the tub in question is the only tub in your house, you’ll need to consider who your target buyer will be before committing to a tub to shower conversion. Families with young children, in particular, are typically looking for properties with at least one tub. That said, young professionals and some seniors may prefer a walk in shower over a tub, even if it’s the only option in the house.
Q: Are walk in showers a good choice for seniors?
Seniors looking to create accessibility will typically want to choose between a walk in bathtub and a walk in shower. Both eliminate the need to step over a tall ledge, which is a major slip and fall hazard (not to mention prohibitive for any senior using a mobility aid). With safety features like grab bars and seats, a walk in shower can be a great (and more affordable) alternative to a walk in bathtub.
Q: Can I DIY my walk in shower?
Some home remodeling stores do sell walk in shower insert kits, and it can be tempting to purchase one and save on labor costs. The reality is that you may need plumbing and electrical upgrades, water damage remediation, and structural repairs before you can actually install your new shower. Your best bet is to hire a professional who can get your shower remodel done correctly the first time.
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