What is a Wet Room?

If you are wondering just what is a wet room, you’ve come to the right place. A wet room is essentially a bathroom with an open shower (or one that is behind some type of wall) with a shower floor that is flush with the rest of the bathroom. These rooms are generally completely tiled and water is handled through a drainage system that serves the entire space.

Wet rooms are a great choice for someone who is remodeling their bathroom or building a new home for aging in place. The shower in a wet room is completely barrier-free, allowing access by wheelchair or walker, which reduces the chance of an accident since there is no lip at the shower. They typically make better use of the entire space in the bathroom, while providing an open and inviting environment.

Essentially, a smaller bathroom area that is turned into a wet room looks larger, since the typical blocked off shower area has been removed.

What is a wet room? – Details

The biggest difference between a wet room and a standard bathroom is that bathrooms typically has a built-in or enclosed shower area. In a wet room, the whole area is waterproof, so enclosing the shower is unnecessary. In a regular bathroom, the shower has a drain, yet in a wet room, the floor is designed to draw all the water from the floor.

In wet rooms you will often see the entire floor and walls tiled. In some suite wet rooms, you will find some type of tiling throughout the area that might get water on it.

Why are they popular?

Wet rooms save space. Smaller spaces that are opened up by omitting a walled enclosure for the shower area look bigger. Due to the openness, wet rooms are also more accessible.

In terms of accessibility, one of the big features of a wet room is a no-barrier shower area. This means there is not any type of threshold into the shower area. There can certainly be a free-standing wall or glass wall to separate the shower area from the main bathroom area (an option we see a lot), but there is still no lip at the shower.

For people who use a walker or wheelchair, or might require a no-step entry due to age or a physical condition, the wet room shower are is perfectly accessible. That is one reason they are a good choice for people aging in place.

Wet rooms are stylish and contemporary. They also are portrayed as being very fashionable in the design world.

Wet room features

There are as many features for wet rooms as there are for standard bathrooms. From our research, we’ve found a few common themes you might enjoy to know.

Tubs are optional – Many people choose not to install a tub at all, or perhaps a smaller, use-specific tub, to free up even more space.

Focus on the experience – Large or multiple shower heads, soft lighting and calming colors make the shower an enjoyable, relaxing place.

Color it up – A more open space is a canvas waiting to be filled. Create a wet room that is all about your personality and likes.

Easier cleaning – Many people say wet rooms are easier to clean, due it being mostly tile and the lower number of nooks and crannies.

Things you should know about wet rooms

Choose furniture wisely – A wet room is just that; wet. Any furniture you put in the room will have to be able to stand moisture. Also, consider the placement of other fixtures and accessories to keep them away from the shower area.

Stones aren’t waterproof – Stones look amazing in many wet rooms, but the truth is they are porous and absorb water. So, unless you want to re-seal them often, you should stick with tile.

Waterproof means no leaks – If you’re considering a wet room for your home, please make sure that you only have the work completed by a contractor that has experience properly sealing a room to make it waterproof. If it is not done correctly, your room will leak.