Wet Rooms Are a Luxurious Alternative to Traditional Bathrooms—Here's Why Designers Say You Should Add One to Your Home

American homeowners have been gravitating toward ever more luxurious bathrooms in recent years, with more people wanting to recreate a spa-like experience in their own homes. The latest iteration of this spa experience is the wet room, where the shower and other fixtures coexist in the same tiled room, with very little separation between them. We asked experts to explain what a wet room is, how it's different from the more common walk-in shower, and the pros and cons of having one in your home.

What Is a Wet Room?

A wet room is a style of bathroom where all of the surfaces can get soaked with water—there is no separation between areas that should stay dry and areas that can get wet. Wet rooms are a staple in European households but are less common in the United States.

"All of the materials can get wet; there’s a tub and shower, and floor drain in the middle," says Gladys Schanstra, owner, CEO, and creative director for Drury Design. "Outside of the U.S., you’ll usually see the sink in there, too. So, think of a walk-in shower with no dedicated shower door (or maybe just a glass partition), but everything else is also included."

In the U.S., wet rooms typically combine the bathtub and the shower, says Schanstra. "That combo space is perhaps separated by a full glass pane with doors or just glass that is wrapped around. The wet room area is fully tiled, and water can go anywhere, thus the name 'wet room,'" she says.

The Difference Between a Wet Room and a Walk-In Shower

While it sounds like a wet room and a walk-in shower are the same, there are a few differences.

• The glass partition, if there is one, is the only separation between the tub and shower in a wet room.
• The tub is not typically hidden away in an alcove.
• The shower isn’t separated in its own "stall."
• There's a floor drain in the middle of the room as opposed to isolating it in the shower area.

A wet room is designed as one large waterproof room that can be hosed down after every use.

Pros and Cons of Having a Wet Room

There are both good and bad aspects that come with having a wet room in your home.

Benefits

• Accessibility. For older adults or those with mobility challenges, a wet room is all on one plane. There are no transoms or divisions, and the shower itself is curbless.
• Ease of cleaning. Some say a wet room is easier to clean—but that depends on how it’s designed. If the toilet and sink get spritzed at every shower, you might find yourself wiping them down more rather than less. Meanwhile, others like that everything can get wet.
• Relaxing experience. And then there's the beautiful look and the blissful bathing experience of a wet room. "If you have the space, and your budget allows, having the opportunity to put in a stunning primary bath is a wonderful and luxurious experience," says Michael Sauri, co-owner and president of design and build firm TriVistaUSA. "When well-designed and functional, wet room spaces offer a respite from a very busy existence, and the opportunity to close the door on your wet room and relax is certainly a delight."
  
• Increased home value. Finally, both experts agree that a wet room designed with quality fixtures may increase the value of the home.

Drawbacks

• Lack of privacy. Wet rooms are fairly open, so having your toilet out in the open might feel jarring. One remedy to this is installing a toilet closet, which is just what it sounds like—a toilet within its own small room to aid in privacy. Toilet closets are very popular, and some homeowners wouldn’t think of having a primary suite without one. In some regions of the country, especially in the south, the toilet closet is a home-builder requirement.
• Use of more space. By the time you add all the bells and whistles, a wet room can take up a lot more space than the typical primary bath. "U.S. wet rooms tend to require more space, which might involve enlarging the bathroom, which comes with an added cost," says Schanstra.
• High up-front cost. All that gorgeous large-format tile, custom glasswork, larger fixtures, and extra waterproofing can certainly add up. "Everything in the wet room area must be waterproof," says Schanstra. "That means a lot more tile and an extra-large shower pan kit."
  

Tips for Installing a Wet Room

Designing a wet room is a real process. "We first need to understand the lifestyle of our clients, whose bathroom dreams are the spark of our inspiration to plan for styles of tile, wood, and plumbing and lighting fixtures," says Sauri. "When we are space-constrained, my preference is to make sure that the flooring (often tile) is consistent throughout, thereby blurring the lines between the wet room section of the bath and the rest of the bathroom areas."

Having said that, both of these bathroom designers truly relish the challenge. "Since a wet room is its own space, I love the opportunity to play up the separate-ness of the rooms," says Sauri. "Being able to incorporate different lighting and tile treatments within each space can make the wet room feel even larger than it is."

If you're planning a wet room for your home, Schanstra offers these design tips.

Consider How You Will Use the Room

What will be the purpose of your wet room, and how will you use it? Do you just want something bigger and wet room-like, or do you want to be able to achieve different functions in the space?

Create a Good Layout and Plan

Ensure the layout is good, then zero in on preferences for plumbing fixtures according to your needs. That can include a range of shower heads, body sprays, and more.

Include Plants in Your Design

Many people approach wet rooms with biophilic design in mind. If plants will be added, the size and location of the plant space and considerations for natural light, watering, and evaporation come into play. "I love this—we all want nature brought back into our interiors, but to do it right, you have to prioritize the needs of the plants," says Schanstra.

Pay Attention to the Walls

The cladding of the walls is also important as it involves waterproofing and thermal considerations. "The wall material is a very big consideration. Is it going to be tile? Large format porcelain? Stunning natural stone slabs?" says Schanstra. Schanstra has seen some stunning examples made with crushed stones of different materials. "There are a lot of choices, fortunately. So, I focus on the purpose and then the direction of the design aesthetics the client wants to create. That gives me the direction on where to go," she says.