Designing a Wet Room – Key Considerations
If you’re considering a wet room instead of a traditional bathroom, this design offers a sleek, accessible, and future-proof space. Increasingly popular with self-builders and renovators, wet rooms create a luxurious, open-plan bathroom without a separate shower tray or enclosure. The entire space is made watertight, with water guided towards a drain via a gently sloping floor. A single shower screen is usually the only divider, maximising space while enhancing long-term accessibility.
From contemporary, industrial aesthetics to more traditional styling, wet rooms allow complete creative freedom without compromising comfort or practicality.
In this guide, we explore the essential elements for designing a successful wet room:
- Layout
- Drainage
- Materials
- Waterproofing & ventilation
Layout: Planning the Space
The layout is crucial, as wet rooms are open-plan environments where water flows across the floor. In smaller spaces, positioning the shower at the furthest point from the entrance helps maintain comfort. Larger wet rooms allow more creative freedom, which can be enhanced with partitions or half walls.
Lighting, safety, and storage also play a key role. Recessed background lighting, integrated niches, and built-in mirror cabinets provide a clean, functional design. For safety, ensure proper tanking, non-slip flooring, and a well-considered threshold. Position the door away from wet areas for accessibility and comfort.
Drainage: Controlling Water Flow
A wet room’s floor is the foundation of both function and aesthetics. Proper drainage starts with a stable sub-floor:
- Concrete floors allow the slope to be formed directly within the screed for a seamless finish.
- Timber floors require a strengthened structure to support a pre-formed tray with the correct slope.
“Start with a stable, sloped sub-base, then apply a full multi-layer waterproofing system before tiling,” says Alex Heslop, trend expert at Flooring Superstore.
High-quality stainless-steel drains with removable taps for cleaning maintain a hygienic and well-functioning space. Linear channel drains are preferred for aesthetics, as they sit flush with a wall or floor edge and can be tiled to match the flooring.