When you imagine your brand new bathroom, what do you see?
If you love the idea of a large, open showering space, you may already be weighing up two popular options: a walk-in shower or a wet room.
So, what’s the difference? And which one should you go for?
At first glance, they can look very similar.
Both can give your bathroom a clean, contemporary feel.
Both can make a smaller space feel much more open.
And both can be designed to offer easier access than a traditional shower enclosure or bath.
But there are some important differences.
Of course, the best choice for your home will depend on everything from the size and layout of your bathroom to your budget, lifestyle and how you may need to use the space in years to come.
At Bathco Home, we design and install bathrooms across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, and we know there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer.
So, if you’re wondering whether a walk-in shower or wet room would work best for you, here’s what you need to know.
What Is a Walk-In Shower?
A walk-in shower creates a spacious showering area without the fully enclosed cubicle and doors you would usually expect to find on a traditional shower.
Typically, it uses a low-level or slim shower tray with one or more glass screens to contain the water.
There is no door to open and close, so you simply walk into the showering area.
This can create a much cleaner, more open look than a standard enclosure and can also make the shower easier to access.
Walk-in showers can work particularly well if you want:
- A contemporary, uncluttered bathroom
- A larger showering area
- Easier access
- Less glass and fewer moving parts to clean
- A shower that can replace an existing bath
- A practical option for a busy family bathroom
And because there are so many different trays, screens and layouts available, a walk-in shower can be tailored to suit bathrooms of all shapes and sizes.
What Is a Wet Room and How Does It Work?
A wet room takes the open-plan idea one step further.
Instead of containing the water within a conventional shower tray, the showering area is built into the bathroom floor itself.
The room is carefully waterproofed, or ‘tanked’ and the floor is carefully designed so water flows towards a fitted drain.
A glass screen can still be used to reduce splashing, but you don’t have to have a raised shower tray or enclosed cubicle.
The result can be a beautifully seamless bathroom where the shower feels like part of the whole room rather than a separate feature.
Wet rooms are particularly popular in contemporary and luxury bathrooms, but they’re also an excellent option for accessible bathroom design because they can offer completely level access.
Walk-In Shower vs Wet Room: What’s the Difference?
So, let’s get down to it. What is the main difference between a walk-in shower and a wet room?
The secret lies in how the showering area is laid out.
A walk-in shower will usually sit on a shallow shower tray, with a glass screen separating it from the rest of the bathroom.
A wet room is waterproofed across a much larger area, with the shower drain built directly into the floor.
That main difference affects everything from installation and cost to accessibility and maintenance.
Walk-in showers can offer:
- A simpler installation
- Lower installation costs in many bathrooms
- A wide choice of shower trays and screens
- Easier replacement of existing baths or shower cubicles
- Excellent accessibility with a low-level tray
Wet rooms can offer:
- Completely level access
- A seamless, high-end appearance
- Greater flexibility in awkward spaces
- A feeling of more space
- Excellent future-proofing for changing mobility needs
Neither option is automatically better than the other.
It’s about finding the one that works best for your bathroom.
Wet Room or Walk-In Shower for a Small Bathroom?
You might assume a walk-in shower needs a huge bathroom.
But, in reality, both walk-in showers and wet rooms can be brilliant ways to make a smaller bathroom feel bigger.
If space is tight, take a look at our bathtub ideas for small bathrooms for more ways to make the most of a compact bathroom.
Removing bulky enclosures and shower doors means there are fewer visual barriers in the room.
Clear glass screens also let in lots of light, helping the bathroom feel brighter and more open.
A wet room can work particularly well in a very compact or awkwardly shaped bathroom because you’re not restricted by the size and shape of a standard shower tray.
But that doesn’t mean it’s always the best option.
Sometimes a carefully positioned walk-in shower gives you the same feeling of space with a simpler installation.
That’s why our designers look at the whole room, including plumbing, drainage, doors, windows and storage, before recommending the layout that will make the best use of the space available.
Which Is Easier to Clean: a Wet Room or Walk-In Shower?
The good news is both options can be easier to clean than a traditional enclosed shower.
A walk-in shower usually has fewer hinges, runners and seals where soap and limescale can build up.
And with a wet room, the clean lines and open layout can make wiping down surfaces relatively straightforward.
However, wet rooms do need to be designed and installed correctly.
Good drainage is essential. The falls in the floor need to guide water towards the drain rather than allowing it to spread across the room.
That’s one of the reasons professional installation can make all the difference.
The waterproofing, drainage and tiling all need to work together if your wet room is going to look good and perform properly for years to come.
Is a Wet Room More Expensive Than a Walk-In Shower?
In many cases, yes.
A wet room normally involves more preparation because the floor and surrounding area need to be properly waterproofed and drainage may need to be altered.
Depending on your property, there could also be extra building or flooring work involved.
But that doesn’t mean a wet room is prohibitively expensive.
It simply means there can be more work involved in creating one.
A walk-in shower can often be installed using a low-level shower tray within the existing bathroom layout.
This may make it a more straightforward choice if budget is an important consideration.
But we would always recommend looking at the whole project rather than choosing purely on initial cost.
If a wet room makes your bathroom easier to use, works better with the space you have or helps you stay comfortable and independent at home, it could be well worth considering.
Walk-In Showers and Wet Rooms for Accessible Bathrooms
For anyone thinking about mobility either now or in the future, both options can make every day showering easier.
A traditional bath or raised shower tray can become difficult to step over as mobility changes.
A low-level walk-in shower reduces that barrier considerably, while a properly designed wet room can remove it altogether.
Other accessible features can also be included, such as:
- Fold-down shower seating
- Grab rails
- Slip-resistant flooring
- Easy-to-use thermostatic controls
- Wider showering areas
- Carefully positioned storage
And an accessible bathroom certainly doesn’t need to look clinical.
Modern shower screens, contemporary tiles, stylish brassware and beautifully designed furniture mean safety and accessibility can be built into a bathroom without compromising on how it looks.
The important thing is designing the room around the person who will actually use it.
Is a Wet Room Right for Your Home?
Wet rooms can be installed in many different types of homes, but it’s important to plan carefully.
Before recommending one, we would consider:
- The size and shape of your bathroom
- The existing floor construction
- Drainage
- Plumbing
- Ventilation
- How the room is used
- Your budget
- Any current or future accessibility requirements
That’s why it’s worth speaking to a bathroom designer before deciding.
A wet room you’ve seen online may look stunning, but every home is different.
Sometimes a wet room will transform the space.
Sometimes a walk-in shower will deliver everything you want with less work and expense.
Our job is to help you work out which option makes the most sense for you.
See a Bathco Home Wet Room in Action
Our Contemporary Wet Room with Integrated Sauna project is a great example of just how much a wet room can transform an outdated bathroom.
The homeowners wanted to create a warm, luxurious space with a spacious low-level walk-in wet room and an integrated infrared sauna.
Because the project involved changing the layout, adapting the drainage and installing some specialist features, getting the planning right from the start was really important.
We worked closely with the customer to create a bathroom that was practical and comfortable, while still looking stylish and contemporary.
It’s exactly the kind of project that shows how professional design makes a difference.
Not simply by choosing attractive products but making sure every element of the bathroom works together.
Can You Replace a Bath with a Walk-In Shower?
This is something we regularly help homeowners with.
If your bath is rarely used, replacing it with a generous walk-in shower can completely change the way the room feels.
Our Modern Bathroom Refurbishment in Norwich is a good example.
The existing bath was no longer needed, so we redesigned the room around a spacious shower, moving the basin and toilet to make much better use of the available space.
The result was a brighter, more contemporary bathroom that worked better for everyday life.
It’s also a useful reminder that sometimes the biggest improvement isn’t simply swapping one product for another.
Rethinking the entire layout can make a huge difference.
You can explore more of our bathroom projects to see how we’ve helped homeowners make the most of bathrooms of all shapes and sizes.
Why Professional Bathroom Design Matters
Choosing between a walk-in shower and wet room involves more than deciding which look you prefer.
Drainage, waterproofing, plumbing, room dimensions, ventilation and everyday practicality all need to be considered before installation begins.
That’s why every fully fitted Bathco Home bathroom includes our free design service.
Our experienced bathroom designers will visit your home, talk through how you use the space and create a layout tailored around your needs.
You’ll also be able to see your proposed bathroom through realistic 3D visualisations before any work begins.
That gives you the confidence to make decisions about layout, products and finishes before committing to the installation.
One Team From Design to Installation
For many homeowners, the most daunting part of renovating a bathroom isn’t choosing a shower.
It’s everything that comes afterwards.
Finding plumbers. Organising tilers. Coordinating electricians. Chasing deliveries.
Making sure every thing turns up in the right order.
That’s why Bathco Home manages the whole process for you.
From the initial design and product selection through to supply, installation and finishing touches, you’ll have one team responsible for getting your bathroom completed.
That can be particularly reassuring with wet rooms, where good coordination between different trades is essential.
Rather than trying to manage the project yourself, you can sit back, relax and leave the details to us.
Can You Spread the Cost of a Walk-In Shower or Wet Room?
We know a bathroom renovation is a significant investment, especially if you’re changing the layout or creating a fully waterproofed wet room.
If you’d rather spread the cost, Bathco Home also offers flexible bathroom finance options, subject to status.
This can give you more flexibility when choosing the layout, products and finishes that are right for your home rather than feeling you have to compromise simply to meet the upfront cost.
Our team can explain the options available and help you understand what may work best for your project. Get started by trying our online finance calculator.
So, is a Walk-In Shower or Wet Room Better?
Helpfully, there’s no right answer.
Choose a walk-in shower if you want a spacious, contemporary shower that’s relatively straightforward to install and can often work within your existing bathroom layout.
Consider a wet room if completely level access, a seamless appearance or maximum flexibility within the room is particularly important.
But don’t feel you need to make that decision alone.
At Bathco Home, we’ll look at your bathroom and listen to what you need from it.
We’ll then help you explore the different options before recommending the design that works best for your home, lifestyle and budget.
Whether you’re updating a family bathroom, creating a luxury ensuite or planning ahead with a more accessible showering space, we’re here to make the whole process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
Book your free bathroom design appointment today and let us help you decide whether a walk-in shower or wet room is right for your home.
Walk-In Shower and Wet Room FAQs
What is the main difference between a walk-in shower and a wet room?
A walk-in shower normally uses a low-level shower tray and glass screen. A wet room is waterproofed so the shower can be built directly into the bathroom floor, often allowing completely level access.
Is a wet room suitable for a small bathroom?
Yes. Wet rooms can work extremely well in smaller or awkwardly shaped bathrooms because they reduce the need for bulky shower screens and can make the space feel more open.
Are walk-in showers good for older people?
They can be. A low-level walk-in shower removes much of the step associated with a traditional bath or shower enclosure. They can also be combined with features such as seating, grab rails and slip-resistant flooring.
Do wet rooms leak?
A properly designed and professionally installed wet room should be fully waterproof. That’s why correct tanking, drainage and installation are essential.
Is a wet room more expensive than a walk-in shower?
It can be because wet rooms usually require more waterproofing, drainage and preparation. The final cost will depend on your bathroom and the complexity of the installation.
Can I replace my bath with a walk-in shower?
In many bathrooms, yes. Replacing an unused bath with a walk-in shower can create a larger showering area and make the bathroom feel more spacious.
Can Bathco Home design and install a wet room?
Yes. Bathco Home provides a fully managed bathroom service covering design, product supply and installation, including walk-in showers, wet rooms and accessible bathrooms.
