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Choose a shower with a zoomy, free-standing European surround or a custom built-in with decorative glass doors or, if there’s space, one with no doors at all. We’ve seen showers recessed into a wall, tucked under a steep roof, or nestled into an out-of-the-way corner. We’ve also seen showers that serve as an architectural centerpiece around which an entire bath revolves.

Most people prefer an open, light shower environment. Seamless glass doors and surrounds are popular. Glass block can let in soft light while maintaining privacy. And how about a skylight above, with decorative accent lighting taking over at night?

Your basic choices
You can select a prefabricated shower stall, match separate manufactured components, or build completely from scratch. Think about amenities you might enjoy: a comfortable bench or fold-down seat; adjustable or hand-held shower heads; room for appliances and shaving equipment; sturdy grab bars.

Prefabricated shower stalls. If you have oversize doors in your house, you may be able to use a one-piece molded shower or tub/shower surround in a remodel. However, these units are designed for new houses or additions. Popular units are available in fiberglass-reinforced plastic, acrylic, plastic laminate, and synthetic marble. Some have ceilings. For comfort, choose a shower that’s at least 3 feet square.

The term “shower stall” needn’t mean something boxy and boring or even economical. The high-end Euro style units are doing away with all that. Circular, corner, and angular wraparounds are available with enough spray heads and accessories to please the most demanding shower connoisseur. Circular showers often have clear or tinted acrylic doors that double as walls.

Build your own. You can also mix and match surround, base, and doors to create the shower of your choice.

Custom shower surrounds require solid framing for support. You can add prefabricated wall panels or use a custom wall treatment such as ceramic tiles, natural or synthetic marble, or a solid-surface material. Molded fiberglass wall panels may include molded soap dishes, ledges, grab bars, and other accessories.

A shower base can be purchased separately or in a kit that includes the shower surround. Most bases are made of fiberglass, acrylic, or terrazzo and come in standard sizes in rectangular, square, or corner configurations with a predrilled hole for the drain. It’s easy to find a base that matches a tub or other fixtures, as many manufacturers make both in many colors. Of course, you can also have a professional float a custom mortar base and line it with tile.

Doors for showers come in a variety of styles: swinging, sliding, folding, and pivoting. For tub /showers, choose sliding or folding doors. Doors and enclosures are commonly made of tempered safety glass with aluminum frames. These frames come in many finishes; you can select one to match your fittings. The glazing can be clear, hammered, pebbled, tinted, or striped. The seamless look is popular, though expensive. Glass designs require more maintenance; some homeowners keep a squeegee nearby for daily cleaning.

Swinging, folding, or pivoting doors can be installed with right or left openings. Folding doors are constructed of rigid plastic panels or flexible plastic sheeting.

Shower heads & hardware
Multiple, adjustable, and low-flow are the bywords for today’s shower fittings. Large walk-in showers often have two or more shower heads: fixed heads at different levels, or hand units on adjustable vertical bars. Massage units often supplement the basic head or heads. The “surround” designs combine one or more fixed heads with wall-mounted auxiliary jets or adjustable multijet vertical bars. How do you control all these jets? New diverters may have three or more settings for orchestrating multiple water sources.

Safety plays a part in new designs, too. If you’ve ever experienced a pressure drop when someone flushes a toilet or starts the washer, you’ll appreciate single-control shower fittings with pressure balancing that prevent scalding rises in temperature. Several companies also make designs that incorporate adjustable temperature limiters. You can buy quick-reacting thermostatic valves with or without digital readouts.

Low-flow heads are required in much new construction, and many cities are making sure that less-efficient heads are replaced in remodels.

You’ll probably find that low-flow retrofits splash more and are slightly noisier than standard heads. Less expensive models deliver fine droplets that won’t wet your body as quickly and might even feel a little cool by the time they get down to your knees. On/off valves are built into many low-flow heads (make sure levers are shutoffs, not just spray adjustments).

For safety and convenience, it’s best to place shower controls to the front and /or side of the enclosure not directly below the shower head.