Buying a complete bathroom suite, as opposed to purchasing individual pieces of bathroom furniture, is the sensible and economical way to revamp your bathroom.  This approach is especially suited for households with more than one bathroom, as the savings can be significant.  Whether you use your bathroom as a basic place to wash or as a pampering spa area, a bathroom suite is an excellent place to start.  Generally consisting of a bath, toilet and sink, bathroom suites can also include a cabinet and other bathroom furniture. 

A fully fitted bathroom will usually include designer shower enclosures complete with shower tray and shower enclosure.  However, many people now opt for the shower to be located in a totally separate space, or even revamped into a modern wet room, which is a tiled area with an open plan shower and self-contained drainage which generally does not incorporate a sink or toilet.

Whether you choose a classic Victorian style bathroom suite or sleek and modern bathroom furniture reminiscent of a luxury hotel, always bear in mind that it will appeal to the widest range of people as long as you choose it in white.

A shower cubicle is just three walls and when the tiling is complete, you can add the fixtures and fittings such as soap and shampoo shelves.

It is important to remember that all tiled areas must be sealed off to prevent water seeping through into the surrounding area.  The type of sealant usually used with tiling is silicone rubber, which is especially prepared with this waterproofing role in mind.  If you use another type you will just have to do it all again, as water is absorbed and the wall starts to rot.

Silicone sealant comes in tubes and guns for ease of use and simply squeezes into place and is smoothed off with a finger.

Fixtures come with all necessary fittings like plugs and screws.  Simply drill the holes, using a piece of masking tape to stop the drill sliding on the enamel.  Mark the drilling point on the masking tape with a pencil point and then drill the hole at perfect right angles to the wall.  The masking tape will also help prevent the tile cracking or chipping.

Typically, shower cubicles are made of fibreglass or acrylic.  They can be found in a variety of shapes, including both the standard square or rectangle design or a more unique angled shape to fit into corners.  Specially shaped designs may come as multi-piece configurations.  Still, installing such prefabricated designs is an easier do-it-yourself project than assembling a custom shower cubicle piece by piece.

If shower accessories are a concern, many options are available amongst the range of prefabricated designs.  A bigger shower stall allows for more luxuries, from shower trays to grip bars to shower seats.  Some even offer deeper bases, providing space for a foot massage.

Shower stalls are often a smart choice for safety reasons as well.  Traditional shower/bath combinations can be dangerous, thanks to slippery porcelain bases and curved edges.  A stand-alone shower enclosure offers flat flooring for more stable showering, sometimes grip bars to help support and maintain balance, and often a seat for those who are shaky on their feet.  Unlike shower curtains, shower doors also offer a more stable environment for washing.  Stalls that are wider also make bending to clean your legs and feet an easier chore.

By design, a prefabricated shower might be the perfect addition to your bathroom.

As the name would suggest, there are no frames on these shower enclosures. Instead they have panes of toughened glass, which are attached to the walls by strong brackets. Hinges of a similar style to the brackets are used for the door, giving the whole structure a sense of simplicity.

Frameless shower enclosures are definitely advisable if you have a small bathroom. If you want to make the most of the space you have, but your shower has a framed enclosure, it can make the room feel smaller than it already is. With sensible placement and a nice understated frameless enclosure, you can almost make the shower fade into the background.

The good news is that these shower enclosures come in a range of different sizes and there are also options for the trays and shower accessories. Whatever kind of bathroom style you are going for, you can get just the right look and feel by choosing a suitable tray.

As you can see, frameless shower enclosures can be the perfect way to make the most of the space you have, while not appearing to make your bathroom look too crowded.

Wall-less showers require some waterproofing in the bathroom.  In this style of shower cubicle, the shower valve, showerhead, and drain are affixed in one corner of the bathroom.  The rest of the bathroom must be waterproofed with a special membrane to prevent mildewing of the walls, countertops, and other items. The floor needs to be sloped toward the drain as well, and sometimes a radiantly heated slab can help to dry the floor more quickly. This option is great for those who need wheelchair access to the shower, since it eliminates the need to manoeuvre around tight corners.  A wall-less shower cubicle might also be a smart choice if you are limited on space in your bathroom.

When going wall-less isn’t possible, many people are opting for a door-less shower enclosure to help eliminate some of the clutter in a small space.  The shower area should be a bit larger, to allow enough space for the water to stream from the showerhead into the shower tray without leaking elsewhere.  Oversplash can cause problems if the shower is not designed correctly.  Angling the shower can help with this problem, as can a built-in lip between the shower and the flooring.  This is an ideal choice for the elderly, the handicapped, or for anyone looking for a clean, modern look.

There is a range of different shaped shower trays on the market, which makes it easy for you to select one that will suit your own particular bathroom. You can choose from the traditional square shaped models all the way up to large rectangular models that give you much more space to move in.

If space is at a premium in your bathroom you will probably be restricted to a square model, but you might also consider getting one with one corner angled off. This makes a huge difference to the look and feel of the bathroom, while not affecting the actual size of the shower in any fundamental way. You can also buy walk in shower trays that are really at the top end of what’s available. They tend to be of a P shaped design to ensure that you can get in easily and have plenty of room to move around in. 

As you can see, the shower trays you can choose from are many and varied and of course you have different materials to consider. Whatever design you ultimately choose, the most important thing is to decide what will work best in your own bathroom.

Corner stall shower enclosures are available in a wide variety and come with glass doors that have been etched, pebbled or set with wavy blocks for added privacy. The shower enclosures also come frameless, with very trendy right now look, or framed in materials like chrome, steel and aluminium for an updated look.

The corner stall shower enclosure gives a cosy look to a modern bathroom and can be installed as a home renovation project. However, you will need to purchase the shower pan, flooring and door. If you choose to build it from parts, you have the ability to add design features such as seating, shower trays, and other shower accessories such as built-in nooks or ledges designed to hold shampoos, soaps and the like. Another choice is the custom kit, which is a prefabricated piece that needs only the right place for installation. It comes as one solid piece, and the biggest issue will be ensuring proper drainage.

However, the method is secondary. The fact that you have chosen a corner stall shower enclosure for your bathroom demonstrates you are not only design conscious but budget savvy too. Corner stall shower enclosures can be a very economical choice.

Obviously, the first thing that needs to be considered before choosing a form of shower enclosure for your bathroom is the size of the bathroom in question. There are numerous kinds of shower enclosures, available in almost any size, so it is vital to choose one which will both fit nicely into your bathroom – while still leaving plenty of space – and which suits the plumbing in your bathroom.

Another thing to consider is the length of time you can expect the shower enclosure you choose to last for. Shower enclosures are generally quite expensive, so durability is a very important consideration – with a life span of at least ten years being the usual expectation for such an investment.

 The shower door needs to be assessed for the same consideration, as well as its efficiency in preventing water leakage; a rubber seal on shower doors is considered to be the best way to prevent water leaving shower enclosures and spilling out into the bathroom itself, while a metal door handle is always going to be more durable and long lasting than one made out of plastic. Thick frosted glass for the doors is the best option, for both durability and safety reasons.

Large rooms with high ceilings can carry off vintage style suites, freestanding roll top baths that have tiny feet, and toilets with a high cistern and a long chain flush will certainly look the part in an older style house. Bathroom tiles on the walls and floor, and jardinières with flowing greenery help to finish off the look.

Larger modern style bathrooms are likely to have a Jacuzzi style bath and a separate shower cubicle.  Larger bathrooms can also carry off the ‘his and hers’ style basins. There are many styles to choose from including round glass bowls and square porcelain styles. Good quality taps are also important to complete the look.

If you have a smaller bathroom in an older home you may find that opting for a shower enclosure instead of a bath provides more free room. Enclosures are available in all styles so there will always be something to suit the period of the home.

Small bathrooms in modern homes are easy to shop for, a standard shower enclosure with simple shower doors, possibly with plain glass to give the illusion of a bigger room, and smaller basins in a simple design helps to keep the room unfussy. Minimalism is almost essential in smaller rooms as too much clutter makes the room feel claustrophobic.

A Shower cubicle will comprise a tray, enclosure walls, door and the shower itself.  They are designed to last the user many years, without the need to replace it and they are often excellent value for money.  They can be designed to match the rest of your bathroom suite and come in a range of styles.

Those who have a larger bathroom may prefer to have a corner shower enclosure, with a curved door which slides back.  For smaller spaces there are the square shower enclosures which take up a little less room.  They are also available in a D-shape, with bi-fold doors or pivot doors.

There are several advantages to a shower cubicle as opposed to using a shower over a bath.  They are solid enclosures which can keep the water contained, they are easily cleaned and maintained, and there is no need to deal with shower curtains that quickly become dirty and torn.  They also take up much less space than a bath, making them ideal for smaller areas. 

The latest shower enclosures are designed as a combined shower/steam cabinet.  They come in a range of sizes and with all the gadgetry required to offer a complete shower experience.