A low-curb shower is both an accessible and functional shower option. It can be a good option for a bathroom remodel, even if you don’t necessarily need it for accessibility. Is a low-curb shower right for your bathroom remodel? Here’s what to know and what to consider about low-curb showers:

What is a Low-Curb Shower?

A low-curb shower, or low-profile shower, is a walk-in shower with a very low threshold for entry. Typically, the threshold on a low-curb shower is either a couple of inches high or lower for easier entry, even for people who use mobility aids.

These showers bridge the gap between traditional showers with higher thresholds to entry and curbless showers with no elevated barrier to entry. Although the threshold to step over for entry is minimal in a low-curb shower, they are not considered a curbless shower.

12 Benefits of Low-Curb Showers

Low-curb showers can improve the overall design and function of a bathroom. Here are some benefits of low-curb showers:

1. Increases Accessibility
2. Improves Safety
3. Provides Easy Entry and Exit
4. Reduces Risk of Falls
5. Facilitates Aging in Place
6. Makes the Shower Easier to Clean
7. Helps Provide Better Water Drainage
8. Makes the Bathroom Look More Open and Spacious
9. Allows For More Customization Options
10. Showcases Interesting Features
11. Enhances a Modern or Minimalist Design
12. Increases Comfort and Home Value

Accessibility and Safety

Some of the biggest benefits of walk-in showers are that they are more accessible and are easier to use, and low-curb showers offer those benefits as well. A low-profile threshold that does not require a high step for entry helps reduce the risk of trips and falls.

You can also consider some bathroom grab bars next to and inside the shower to provide other points of stability when moving in, around, and out of the shower. Depending on the height of the barrier, it can still be easily accessible for people who use mobility aids, like canes, walkers, or wheelchairs.

This is why low-curb showers can be a good option for an accessible bathroom remodel and for designing a bathroom for aging in place, especially in cases where a true curbless shower might not be the best option. Low-curb showers are also sometimes considered kid-friendly bathroom design ideas because of the easier entry and reduced risk of tripping when entering.

Practicality and Functionality

Like curbless showers, low-curb showers are both practical and functional when designed well. This can also make them attractive features that increase comfort, convenience, and home value. These are key benefits of a bathroom remodel that a low-curb shower can help provide, if it is right for your bathroom remodel.

Because they have a small threshold, there is still a barrier to keep water from splashing out or running out of the shower. Not only are these showers easier to access and clean, but they also often drain water better and help reduce moisture in bathrooms, provided they are installed correctly.

Paired with good bathroom ventilation, a low-curb shower with proper drainage can reduce moisture and humidity in your bathroom. This can also help reduce pooling water and slippery surfaces, which means less to clean up and less chance of slipping and falling.

Bathroom Design and Aesthetics

Low-curb showers also offer more options for customization and for showcasing those design features. The design of these showers tends to provide a sleek and modern aesthetic to a bathroom. They can enhance a modern or minimalistic look, and can still fit well in a variety of other styles, depending on the style of the features you choose.

The low-curb look also maximizes space in the bathroom and helps create a more open and spacious look and feel. This can make a larger bathroom look brighter and more open, and can help a smaller bathroom look and feel bigger and more comfortable.

Plus, a low-curb shower can allow you to have a shower without a curtain or door, which allows you to get creative with the shower design and showcase those interesting details and features. Built-in seating and storage, custom tile accents, upgraded fixtures, and more are shower remodeling ideas that you can incorporate for your own comfort and convenience, and then highlight and showcase with an open, low-curb shower.

What to Consider With Low-Curb Showers

A low-curb shower can work well in a variety of bathroom designs and layouts, but it still has to be in line with what you are looking for in your new bathroom. Here’s what to consider with low-curb showers as you consider whether it’s the right option for your bathroom remodel:

1. Threshold
2. Waterproofing
3. Floor Slope
4. Drain Placement
5. Showerhead Placement
6. Ventilation
7. Privacy
8. Lighting
9. Aesthetics

1. Threshold

The threshold of a low-curb shower can be variable and customized. It can be a small bump or a little step that is an inch or a couple of inches in height. In addition to the barrier around the floor of the shower, also consider the rest of the shower opening.

Will you have it open to the ceiling? How wide will it be? If your low-curb shower will need to be accessible for walkers and wheelchairs, make sure the shower opening is wide enough to accommodate your needs.

2. Waterproofing

As high-moisture, high-humidity rooms, it’s important to consider waterproofing in bathrooms. With low-profile showers and curbless showers, waterproofing is even more important. The materials you choose for walls, floors, and other areas need to be durable, waterproof, and suitable for this environment.

3. Floor Slope

A low-curb shower still has a barrier to keep water contained in the shower. However, because it is a lower threshold, it is even more important for the floor slope to be the right angle for ease of use and convenience, and proper water drainage. This only becomes more important if you’re considering a no-door, open shower design.

4. Drain Placement

Drain placement and type are key considerations for a low-curb shower. It’s not just for aesthetics, but also ensures proper water drainage to keep water from pooling and spilling over onto the floor around the shower.

A linear drain at the entrance of the shower tends to be a popular option for low-curb showers, but the right drain type, shape, and placement will be specific to your bathroom design. An experienced contractor will be able to determine what the best options for your desired bathroom design are for proper water drainage.

5. Showerhead Placement

In addition to the types of showerheads and other shower design options, showerhead placement is another key consideration for a low-curb shower. Showerheads should be placed conveniently for your use and to help minimize splashing and spray outside of the shower area.

6. Ventilation

Good ventilation is paramount in a bathroom, and making sure you consider it is an essential bathroom remodeling tip. In addition to good ventilation throughout the rest of your bathroom, you also need to consider ventilation for a low-curb shower.

Proper water drainage will go a long way in reducing moisture in the bathroom, and good ventilation will take care of the rest. Fans, windows, and more can all be incorporated into your bathroom design to provide airflow and ventilation. Regardless of the right mix of options for your bathroom, good ventilation provides more than one way to dry out your bathroom.

7. Privacy

Privacy is another consideration for low-curb showers. If you’re including a window in the shower and in the bathroom, you can add privacy to your windows with privacy glass or textured glass. Additionally, think about your low-curb shower and whether you will have a door, a shower curtain, or nothing.

Some low-curb showers are designed to be open, but this might not be the best option for a bathroom that is shared or for people who don’t prefer that open-concept look and feel for their shower. And, if you’re opting for a shower door, consider what types of shower glass will provide the level of privacy you want.

8. Lighting

Between natural light from windows, sun tunnels, or skylights and lighting options, there are several shower lighting ideas to help you get the light you want and need in every part of your bathroom. With a low-curb shower, especially one with a glass door or no door, you can take more advantage of light in the rest of the bathroom.

Good lighting is a bathroom must-have, and it’s important to consider it during a bathroom remodel. Depending on your bathroom design and layout, you will still want to consider what light you need in the shower itself. But, you will have more flexibility and options to play with.

9. Aesthetics

In addition to all of the practical and functional considerations of a low-curb shower, you also want to consider the design, the aesthetics, and how it fits with the overall bathroom design. This can have an effect on the fixtures and finishes you choose, tile accents or focal points, shower niches and built-in storage, and more.

You can even get creative with the design of the low-profile curb on the shower itself. One idea is to match or complement the color of the countertop on the vanity. If you’ll be featuring waterfall tile in the shower or interesting tile in the shower wall options, bathroom floors, or bathroom walls of the bathroom, you can go for a matching color from a detail to tie these elements together and subtly enhance them.

Remodel Your Bathroom With Zephyr Thomas

Is a low-curb shower right for your bathroom remodel? It can be. The type of shower is just one of the things to consider when remodeling your bathroom. No matter what options you prefer, Zephyr Thomas can help you design and remodel your bathroom to help you get what you want and need from your new bathroom.

If your bathroom just isn’t working for you anymore, things are outdated or broken, and more, these are often signs it’s time to remodel your bathroom. If you’re thinking about renovating your bathroom or adding one to your home, we can help! Contact us at 717-399-4708 to schedule a free estimate.

Check out the time-lapse video below to see the Zephyr Thomas team carving out space in this bedroom to add a master bathroom for this homeowner!