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As Gen Z continues to make their mark on the world, their exciting and new design preferences are evolving as well. In the realm of interior design, luxury is taking on a new form with the rise of aesthetic home spas and walk-in showers. With an emphasis on self-care, relaxation, anti-ageing and beauty, these features are becoming must-haves for young homeowners and renters who prioritise wellness in their daily routines.
As part of this trend, aesthetic home spas and walk-in showers are having a huge moment right now. But what’s driving this and how can we better understand Gen Z’s motivations right now? Prepare to witness the best walk in shower ideas you've seen in a minute!
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Why are home spas and walk-in showers a trend?
They are oases of self-care in a sea of stress
When considering this upsurge in interest, the first thing to consider is the rising interest in self-care and wellness. Gen Z has grown up in a world where stress and burnout are commonplace, and the acquisition of relaxation and beauty is more of a luxury than a right. Home spas and walk-in showers offer a convenient and private way to unwind and relax after a long day; they're an oasis in the middle of the home, providing a space to escape from the demands of work and everyday life. To be able to have a room dedicated to wellness is a marker of status and devotion to the cult of the self – a trending interest in this generation.
Wealth is about self-care
Another factor driving this trend is the desire for luxury in the home. For Gen Z, luxury doesn't necessarily mean ostentatious displays of wealth that everyone can gawk at. Instead, it's about creating an environment that's beautiful, functional, and comfortable. A home spa and walk-in shower fit this definition perfectly, providing a luxurious experience that's both practical and aesthetically pleasing.
Walk in showers are versatile
Another reason why home spas and walk-in showers are trending is that they're incredibly versatile. They can be designed to fit any space, from a small bathroom to a large master suite. A home spa might include a sauna, steam room, or hot tub, while a walk-in shower can be customised with features like multiple shower heads, a bench, and a built-in sound system.
The pandemic changed everything
Finally, we can’t underestimate the effects of the pandemic, and how it has played a role in the popularity of home spas and walk-in showers. With more people spending time at home in 2020 and 2021, homeowners started looking for ways to create a spa-like experience without leaving their house. These features offered a convenient and safe way to indulge in some self-care without the need to go out in public. And even to this day, we’re seeing the overspill of this trend.
So… we know why the home spa and walk-in shower look is everywhere right now. But how can interior designers design and build upon it in 2023’s designs? Let’s go through some examples and ideas.
How can you create a spa-like atmosphere in your walk-in shower?
TLDR: To create a spa-like atmosphere in your walk-in shower, consider incorporating elements such as soothing colors, natural materials like stone or wood, soft lighting, and aromatherapy. Install rainfall showerheads, add built-in seating or a bench, and use high-quality bath products for an indulgent experience.
Here are some of our favourite walk in shower ideas for 2023 and beyond.
Say goodbye to the tub
Showers are the epicentre of spa-like bathrooms. Unlike a bathtub, a walk-in shower promotes accessibility, elegance, and an overall great way to organise a primary bathroom. Think about it. A good shower bench can help you relax, enjoy the steam, do your skincare and bodycare calmly. The shower wall is a point of visual interest, helping you relax and enjoy the experience. With a skylight, your skin is bathed in natural light, creating an enclosure that makes the space feel freeing and accessible. The glass doors allow your vision to move far, rested... Are you sold for your next design?
Focus on sleek and sensory flooring
We're talking a lot about the feeling of being in a walk in shower, and the inevitably luxurious feeling it evokes. This extends to the architectural materials chosen, and how these interact with our senses (as in touch and vision). There are many options around, such as porcelain, ceramic, terrazzo, mosaic or a beautiful subway tile, but whichever you choose for your client, make sure to ask them what sensory elements they value, and how you can incorporate them into the bathroom design.
Create a multifunctional layout
Organising a space, from the plumbing facilities to where the toiletries go, is a total artform. When you're designing a layout, the easiest way to think about it is by activities. Then, you can think about how you can put those elements together in a way that a space or shower floor can serve more than one purpose. For example, with a big shower floor, the area can serve as a shower, a makeshift baby bath with a moveable basin, and a place to grow high humidity plants. The opportunities are endless!
Bamboo, greenery, stone: embrace nature
For a bathroom to feel like a spa, we suggest incorporating natural elements into the bathroom. This can be done through a nature-inspired artwork, wall paper or shower curtains, or by choosing a sea shell vanity. Whatever it means to you, a touch of the outside will be incredibly helpful.
Who are the best bathroom designers?
Flack Studio, Véronique Cotrel, Luis Laplace, Marcante Testa and Studio Duggan are great designers, who create experiential, luxury bathrooms in different ways. Their skill set lies in utilising existing structures to create visual interest and a sensory experience.
Pink walls, white marble and minimal lines by Flack Studio
This beautiful bathroom is decked out in what appears to be white and grey Calacatta marble, which envelopes the room and walk-in shower in a minimal but totally luxurious vibe. The walk-in shower itself has two extra functions; the shelf to hold treasured beauty items, and a hook to place a towel, so the inhabitant of the home doesn’t have to go one moment uncomfortably cold. The pastel tiles add a touch of playfulness to the space, which is overall softly feminine and hotel-like in its layout. Love!
Commercial lights for a real spa experience by Véronique Cotrel
Sometimes, all it takes is a stroke of genius lighting to take a space from a simple bathroom to a home spa. In this case, Véronique Cotrel combined a pastoral wall paper with some expertly chosen shelf lights to give the illusion of a spa within a hotel. The products displayed on the shelves suddenly appear professional, as if a knowledgeable aesthetician had placed them there for onlookers. We love smart choices, and this is one of them!
Yellow walk-in shower in Menorca by Luis Laplace
This renovation of a 19th century farmhouse in Menorca, Spain could have gone many ways – and all could have been incredible – but we’re totally in love with this eclectic walk-in shower with yellow plexiglass. The contrast between the old wooden furnishings and the white beams and yellow pop is just out of this world. The effect is shocking yet relaxing, a playful synergy between the modern and the old.
Geometric pastel bathroom by Marcante Testa
Marcante Testa's project in Trieste, inside an early 20th-century building in the historic centre of the city, hides an incredible bathroom that you need to see. While it might seem like a simple basin arrangement, the details are what make it truly incredible. Zoom in and you’ll notice pastel yellowy orange shelves for products, custom matching sockets and switches, a commercial style sconce, deep basins for perfect face washing… Every single thing is thought about and purposeful. And because of that, the space boasts of a tranquil spa-like feel that we love.
Watercolour blue tiles in a walk-in shower by Studio Duggan
In a petite but beautifully structured Chelsea home filled with playful colour, pattern and joy you will be able to find the walk-in shower of your dreams. Despite its small stature and width, this shower has all the makings of a home spa experience: recessed shelves, decorated ceilings, gold bathroom fixtures, a half wall that can also act as a showroom for products, unique blue and striped tiles… Simply perfect.
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