Lather, rinse, refresh—in style.
Whether you're a first-time renovator or you count remodels as one of your love languages, undertaking a bathroom renovation requires a fair amount of patience. A walk-in shower is a smart design move that will optimize square footage while creating that at-home spa feel. What’s more, these steamy spaces offer unending design possibilities. For a playful vibe, combine colorful floor tiles with chrome fittings. Or pair a matte black showerhead with white marble for a high-contrast, glamorous feel. Trends like built-in seating and shelving are also catching on for homeowners in their walk-in showers, says Anna Karp, the CEO of design-build company Bolster. “It has become quite common if people are staying in their home for a very long time,” she tells us. rolling series
Drawing inspiration from saunas and spas is de rigueur too, though it’s important to figure out exactly which self-care rituals you want to prioritize. “You usually can’t do everything,” says ELLE DECOR A-List designer Pamela Shamshiri. With that in mind, we’ve curated the best walk-in shower ideas from the pages of ELLE DECOR to suit every taste. Here’s to making self-care a priority in the year ahead.
When the standing shower is this chic, who needs a bathtub? In this Paris-inspired apartment designed by Omar Aqeel, the 1854 bathroom was brought into the 21st century with total elegance. The room was completely gutted and the ceilings were raised to 11 feet, ready to be clad in Zia Earth tiles. The marble and hand-hammered brass sink, Bower Studio mirror, and Astep sconce by Gino Sarfatti are lovely finishing touches.
In the bathroom of a recent Montecito, California project, design power couple Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent brought in bold, veined stone that creates a striking visual impact. These electric Calacatta Viola Rose marble slabs, broken up by a stunning large swivel window, make for a walk-in shower that is as as luxurious as it is eye-catching.
Big on shower performances? Take notes from ELLE DECOR A-List designer Pierre Yovanovitch’s bathroom, which offers plenty of staging space for your next loofah-mic gig. Whether you, too, inhabit a 17th-century château in Provence, or perhaps something more modest, plenty of inspiration can be gleaned from this stunningly stark space.
Opt for a fresh take on couple’s bathing with dual rainfall showerheads. That's just what ELLE DECOR A-Lister Mark Grattan did in the primary bathroom of this lush New York apartment, salaciously flanking the space in floor-to-ceiling windows and glass tile walls.
The Lisbon apartment of jewelry designer Matthew Harris features hand-painted Portuguese tiles that depict a man in 18th-century garb, just in case you have a particular phobia of showering alone. The bathtub, rain shower, and fittings are by Roca, and the vintage footstool is a practical addition for a stack of extra fluffy towels.
The design studio Husband Wife outfitted this petite bathroom with mirrors to create a grander sense of scale, while the striped marble pattern and touches of brass add to the Art Deco vibes.
In the outré Paris pad of fashion designer Marc Valeanu, the primary bath features a substantial tub alongside a discreet walk-in shower, framed by a narrow archway. The pendant is by Fortuny, the tiles are by Mauricio Scianna, and the wall paint is Dove Tale by Farrow & Ball.
Why settle for one walk-in shower when you can have two? The primary bath in this Austin project by interior designer Paul Lamb has two of almost everything, from sinks to showerheads. Think Texas ranch vibes...but make it chic.
Sometimes it pays to take the minimalist route and let the architecture speak for itself. In this Capri home by architect Giuliano Andrea dell’Uva, the sweeping arches create a sculptural, less-is-more walk-in shower unlike any other.
We love a primary bathroom that’s just as glam–if not more so–than the rest of the house. In this Florida abode, ELLE DECOR A-Lister Rodney Lawrence created drama by adding a chandelier that frames both the walk-in shower and the Waterworks tub.
In the primary bathroom of a Michelle Gerson project in New York City, the shower is enclosed by doors that mimic those seen in the home’s dining room. The high-contrast trim and hexagonal tile flooring provide geometric appeal.
The primary bathroom of a Connecticut beach house was designed by the firm Jesse Parris-Lamb, which clad the walls in two sets of Waterworks tile for an industrial feel with a modern edge. The shower partition is custom, and the fittings are also by Waterworks.
Why settle for just one stone surface when you can have all of them? In this art-filled San Francisco home by ELLE DECOR A-Lister Nicole Hollis, the bathroom is swathed in a gorgeous veined marble—from the tub and counters to the shower and flooring. Want to get the look? Everything you see here is Arabescato Corchia marble by Vaselli for Elementi.
Colorful glass tiles? Sign us up! Interior design firm White Webb brought an array of sea-foam green and turquoise to this walk-in shower, creating an effect similar to fish (or mermaid) scales. This out-of-nature look pairs well with the rest of the home, which draws inspiration from the surrounding Woodstock, New York, flora and fauna.
The primary bathroom of this New York apartment features a walk-in shower with tile by Bisazza and sink fittings by California Faucet. The walls are painted in Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball to make the diminutive space feel all the more nestlike and to provide a flattering backdrop for the artwork by Nan Goldin.
ELLE DECOR A-Lister Ken Fulk designed this Sonoma Valley lake house, the primary bathroom of which features sinks and fittings by Waterworks, lighting by Visual Comfort, and wall and floor tiles by ASN Natural Stone. Dual sinks and an alcove shower make this an especially practical setup with trad bona fides.
In the main bathroom of designers Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent’s Montauk, New York, beach house, a holly olive tree in an Indonesian limestone planter takes center stage, while the pebble-floored shower creates a supremely relaxing space.
There’s a sense of Art Deco razzle-dazzle to this walk-in shower by Cochineal Design, which is part of an equally chic New York City apartment. The pairing of Clé tiles with gold hardware and marble is inspired; the light pink walls bring a bit of softness to the space.
Designer Zoe Feldman outfitted this primary bathroom in a Washington, D.C., residence with navy blue floor and wall tiles from Waterworks; the wall-mounted fittings are also from Waterworks. The half-height wall makes this design all the more private and a bit easier to clean.
Designer Shannon McLaren Wilkins used contrasting tile patterns to add visual interest to the walk-in shower in this bathroom, with black fittings and blond wood millwork for contrast. Taking the shower tiling to the ceiling further wet-proofs the area and adds a nice sense of scale.
Rachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publication’s feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 16 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.
These 25 Shower Niche Ideas Are Dripping in Style
37 Powder Rooms That Pack a Punch
The 15 Best Small Bathroom Vanities
12 Ways to Work Wood into Your Bathroom
65 Modern Bathroom Ideas That Are Awash in Luxury
20 Bathroom Cabinet Ideas You Have to Try
Meet the New Tricked-Out Bathroom
This Editor’s Bathroom Makeover Is a Must-See
A Part of Hearst Digital Media
We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.
custom shower enclosures for small bathrooms ©2025 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.