Wet room bathroom renovations are something that can be taken in a few different ways. The way I would describe wet room bathroom renovations is when one element of a bathroom is also in the shower area. This can be the bath, vanity, or toilet that shares the shower area.

Traditionally these wet rooms can be taken as different meanings such as no shower screen rooms or rooms that have dry areas and wet areas. Below we will cover the pros and cons of Australian wet room setups.

Below we will cover

• Different Wet Rooms Depending On County
• Sizing Options To Make The Room Work
• Pros and Cons
• Bricked Shelving That Works On Wet Rooms
• Different Types Of Wet Rooms

What is an Australian wet room?

Let me start with what is an Australian wet with room in the modern sense.

Generally, most traditional Australian wet rooms are wet rooms where all items are in a row with a bath and shower in the same area but with an open shower.

Below is the perfect example of your more traditional Australian wet room.

Another example is the Japanese Wet Room which is similar but often you will shower before using the bath and for a Japanese wet room you might have a more wooden bath framing instead of stone or acrylic

American Wet Rooms are more of an enclosed shower area where the screen runs wall to wall making it two separate rooms almost always having a bricked hob separating the two spaces.

Below is an example of the enclosed Australian open room by the amazing team at Just In Place

Why I love a wet room is it usually allows two items in the room to be big! and often that is not always the case when you have a small bathroom.

The spacing required for a wet room

The minimum size you need for this wet room is ideally 2500mm Long (Vanity Wall) x 1550mm (Often Window Wall)

Depending on which way your wet room runs will change the sizing space this is based on the most traditional wet room.

For a full break down CLICK HERE

Why You Should and Should Not Have This Room

Importantly you should always understand the pros and cons of any type of renovation or layout you are installing in your home so below I list them for you.

PROS:

• The wet room will feel so expansive with that frameless glass
•  Allows for more efficient use of the space which is often more visually appealing
• Wet rooms can make small bathrooms appear larger and we all know large bathrooms tend to look more luxurious
• Great for anyone trying to create space in their bathroom

CONS:

• A wet room design is generally a lot more ‘open plan’ so yes, splashes and steam can go everywhere
• Waterproofing is a lot more costly and labour-intensive
• Drainage and tiling of the falls is crucial and something you want to be done by a professional
• There are some restrictions on where electrical can go i.e. power points / heated towel rails.
• Wet room renovations are not for  everyone with water often the biggest factor
• It is not the easiest to tile and you need a lot of experience to complete them

Best Shelving For The Wet Room Layout

Unfortunately, the shower niche is often not possible for the wet room layout with the recess often placed above the bath like in the example below

Undoubtedly the number one shelving for a wet room bathroom is the half wall.

Half walls are exactly as they sound and can be installed in three different ways as I will cover below

Wall To Wall Shower Shelf

As the title suggests the wall-to-wall shelf run from one side of the bathroom to the other. This wet room shelving affects everything in the room including a more costly screen and vanity heights.

Half Wall To Wall Shelf

Additionally, the variation of this screen is the half-half wall which finishes short of the vanity area.

Nib Wall With Half Shelf

Lastly, we have the nib wall with the half wall which is the most aggressive of all three options but still great for someone who likes storage

 The most important part of any room renovations

• The fall on the floor is crucial to drainage and pooling.
• Clearly, gradients need to be spot on to ensure the fall is correct and the water is channeled from the shower and you have the ability to drain the entire room effectively.
• Consider installing wall-hung fixtures (basin /toilet) to add to the spacious feel and free up the floor. Not only will  this look more visually appealing but will make cleaning even easier

Type Of Baths and Different Layouts

Wet rooms like all renovations come in different styles and sizes. You do not have to always use a freestanding bath or have them all in a row.

Below are some examples of wet rooms that use a bricked bath and variations of the layout which can be bath across from the shower screen instead of running horizontally with it like many of the images above.

Bricked bath shower rooms are great for the more traditional homeowner who likes the idea of a sturdy bath or an easier-to-keep-clean wet room.

Along with traditional wet rooms you have across wet rooms for owners with deeper rooms and less width. 

Additionally below is an example of a wet room where the vanity in the shower spacing instead of the bath.

Last but not least you have the four-part wet room which often has a toilet on the same wall as those bigger bathrooms.

Baths-in-the-shower renovations are booming

I love them and when we first did them it was a client who had the guts to do it 10 years ago.

Furthermore, it takes years of experience to understand not only how to tile it but to put it together with the right drainage and get the fall.

Subsequently, you should really only do these types of renovations with experienced renovators or you will have bigger issues down the track.

For a full breakdown of other articles about wet rooms just click the images below 🙂

It’s important to note that all our advice is general in nature so always speak to your local qualified tradesman for the best advice.

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Leave a comment below about your experiences with wet rooms in the shower area or are thinking about.