Is A Curbless Shower The Right Choice For Your Bathroom? Here's How To Know

Modern bathrooms with a standard sink, toilet, and bathtub only became standard for American homes in the late 1800s. Portable bathtub basins were found around the early 19th century, designed to be used anywhere before indoor plumbing became commonplace, and of course, civilizations like the Roman Empire were renowned for building bathhouses. However, just because one style of bathtub has become the standard doesn't mean it's the be-all and end-all of home designs. There are numerous chic bathtub alternatives — for example, it's worth considering a bathroom design that ditches the tub entirely, going with a curbless shower that's both easier to customize and more friendly to those with accessibility needs.

Model home builders tend to avoid curbless showers because of their association with accessibility; people don't like to imagine themselves getting older or becoming debilitated. But of course, aging is inevitable. Older generations will double in size by the end of the century, and soon over half of all people on Earth will live in cities. Urban design trends need to start changing to accommodate these shifting demographics, and curbless showers are a great choice for more than just older folks. Disabled individuals with limited mobility have an easier time using these facilities, and curbless showers are also easier to use with young children if you're a new parent. However, you don't need to fit into any pre-existing boxes to appreciate the ease of a curbless shower, especially given their affordable cost and wide range of styles.

One might imagine a design will cost more money if it aims to incorporate "extra" accessibility features, but this often isn't the case. If you're redesigning a bathroom from scratch, curbless showers will cost less because they use fewer materials in their construction. They're also highly customizable in terms of utility and aesthetic. Different sizes and styles of doors can be installed, and the lack of a hard line between your bathroom and shower also means you can more readily extend your bathroom's aesthetic across the entire room, making even smaller spaces feel more expansive and cozy.

Curbless showers also dovetail well with additional home improvement and accessibility augments like bathroom grab bars that can help people move in and out of the shower space on their own. You can use a wide shower door to accommodate wheelchairs, and the threshold can be slight enough not to stumble over. The idea of "aging in place," making sure you can live in your current residence as long as possible, is both comforting to imagine and often involves remodeling projects that are less expensive than assisted living situations. With that in mind, it's no wonder that the National Association of Home Builders said 63% of professional remodelers reported adding "aging in place" modifications in 2023, including curbless showers and toilets with higher seats. It helps that wheelchair accessible bathrooms can be just as stunning as they are practical, providing extra incentive to try out new designs.

A few cons of using curbless showers may come to mind. For one, the lack of a substantial threshold between your bathroom and shower might make it easier for water to spill out into the rest of the room when you open the door, which could be problematic if the main bathroom tile is less slip-resistant. If no proper benches are installed, a walk-in shower might also have less utility for those who aren't able to stand for long. It's also a lacking design for those who enjoy relaxing via long soaks in traditional bathtubs.

Of course, proper consideration during the building phase can fix most of these concerns. Your curbless shower can have enough of a threshold lip to hold back water, or a drain outside to help keep the floor dry. A separate tub enclosure can also be installed as part of the curbless shower, and if circumstances change, you can always buy a mobile shower bench to place wherever it's easiest to access the water. Walk-in showers can get some pretty deluxe upgrades too, with smart tech that could make the space even easier for anyone to access. Ultimately, a curbless shower might be the right choice for your bathroom regardless of your life's circumstances. If you're interested, the first step is to get a consultation with a pro on how you might have one installed.