What bathroom shower options
exist in 2026?
When it comes to designing a new bathroom, you’ll quickly discover that a shower isn’t just a shower – there are many styles and features to choose from. From classic combinations to sleek modern designs, understanding the options available can help you create a bathroom that suits both your space and lifestyle.
To help you navigate the choices, let’s explore some popular shower options and design trends seen in Sydney homes today.
The bath and shower combo
Space doesn’t always have to limit your design options; there are many ways to enjoy both a shower and a bath in one beautifully designed space. Take the owners of this Pymble bathroom – they didn’t want a ‘bulky’ fixed shower screen in their relatively small bathroom, and they also wanted a feature, free-standing bath. Add in a recessed shelf and a motorised splash-panel, and this bathroom is swoon-worthy!
Many homeowners choose to retain both the bath and shower for practicality, especially for families with young children or for improving resale value, while simply updating the overall look to match modern trends.
Frameless vs semi-frameless showers
Frameless and semi-frameless shower screens continue to be popular choices for modern bathrooms, offering a clean, sophisticated appearance.
A frameless screen has absolutely no frame and is built with toughened glass that is thicker than its semi-framed and framed counterparts. A semi-framed screen meets in the middle with both framed and frameless edges and offers more visual appeal than the traditional framed style. Both are durable and much easier to clean than a framed screen (though the frameless does win in the cleaning department thanks to not having nooks and crannies where the glass and frame meet, often capturing dirt and growing mould).
Walk-in showers
Walk-in showers are a favourite for homeowners seeking a modern, open feel. Some of the benefits include:
- They cut back on cleaning time (no more scrubbing glass).
- They can be more hygienic without little nooks for dirt to hide and mould to grow.
- With no frames to look tired over time and glass to get cloudy, there is less chance of the shower looking dated.
- They can visually open up a room.
- It can often be the safest option for those with mobility impairments.
As amazing as all of that sounds, there are two questions on everyone’s mind when it comes to the walk-in shower – water mess and privacy. Water pooling and splashing can be easily diminished by using a qualified designer who will design a sloped floor and align the shower walls to prevent splashing. A fixed panel, such as a glass, will catch water spray, and we recommend always using appropriate shower heads for the space.
When it comes to privacy, a walk-in shower is not too different from a beautiful crystal-clear glass screen. However, depending on room size, the shower can be hidden behind a privacy screen for anyone who may open the door unexpectedly. Take this double walk-in shower that is hidden beautifully behind the vanity, equipped with double showerheads and an overhead rain shower. This ensuite redesign was also on the top floor of the grand, 1920s home in the Sydney suburb of Turramurra – another common concern for people wondering if a walk-in shower is possible on a second story or higher.
Double showers
If space permits, save the shower quarrelling and invest in a double shower. They look modern and luxurious in the master ensuite and are always a talking point for new buyers when it comes to future resale.
If your significant other’s daily schedule aligns quite closely with your own, then a double shower will cut down the morning and night routine drastically, with no more turn-taking. Make the whole ensuite/bathroom a ‘his and hers’ room with dual sinks and separate seating areas, and you’ll create so much more time in your day. Ensure that each shower head has its own recess or place for items like shampoo, etc., and you will never have to share the glorious downpour of water ever again.
Our hot tip – If you want to up the ante on your double shower game, install a third shower head – a ceiling-mounted rain shower head in the middle of the shower for a truly indulgent experience.
Choosing the Right Shower Style and Design
Once we know what style of shower you would like, we can start to get down to (the super fun) business. The influencing factors of deciding what trend the bathroom will be based on your personal taste, the rest of the home and possibly future resale, depending on whether moving is on your horizon.
While keeping with the same aesthetics of the home is a quite common choice and maintains continuity, there is no rule that your bathroom can’t have its own individual identity.
In fact, if you are planning on renovating other areas in your home, such as the laundry and kitchen, it would make sense to incorporate your ideas for those rooms into your bathroom decision rather than what’s currently in your home. Popular bathroom design trends often include:
- Bright and bold – both through subtle pops of an accent colour and bright and cheerful bathrooms
- Consistent floors and walls in the same materials
- Timber accents
- Hotel and spa luxury vibes
The style you choose will influence the smaller details you settle on when designing your shower, such as the tapware, shower head, tiles and colours. At Brindabella, we are with you for every single step along the journey – from brainstorming and planning, to construction and those last final touches when it’s ready for its new loving owner.
Our experienced team of designers love to design custom bathrooms that perfectly align with your personal taste and lifestyle. While space can be a deciding factor in how big your shower can be, or what style will suit the room best, rest assured that the multi-award-winning team will work with you to create your dream bathroom.
