Modern bathroom design has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, moving away from cramped, compartmentalised spaces toward sleek, open designs that prioritise functionality and aesthetics.
One of the most striking trends to emerge in recent years is the open-plan wet room, a bathroom design that creates a seamless, waterproofed space where the entire floor serves as the shower area. Switching up your bathroom to an open-plan layout offers several benefits, as we’ll explore here.
First, let’s explore what a wet room actually is. A wet room is a bathroom design that removes the typical shower enclosure or screen, with the entire room waterproofed and the floor slanted slightly so the water moves towards the drain. Depending on the size of your bathroom, you may also want to add a bathtub and close off this area with a glass screen, so it’s separate to the rest of the wet room.
One of the primary reasons for the surge in wet room popularity is the sense of spaciousness they create, especially in smaller bathrooms. Traditional bathrooms can feel cluttered and confined, with shower cubicles, bathtubs, and toilets all competing for limited square footage.
When you remove the physical barriers of shower screens and enclosures, wet rooms open up the entire space, making even modest bathrooms feel significantly larger and airier. It’s an optical illusion of expanded space that’s enhanced by the continuous flooring that flows throughout the room, creating an uninterrupted visual plane that tricks the eye into perceiving more room than actually exists.
Wet rooms embody modern bathroom designs perfectly, offering clean lines, uncluttered surfaces, and a sophisticated simplicity that feels both modern and timeless. Without the visual interruption of shower doors or curtains, wet rooms showcase beautiful floors, natural stone counters, or colourful tiling in their full glory.
The seamless design creates a cohesive space that transforms your daily routine into a more luxurious, spa-like experience. This flexibility also allows homeowners to express their personal style more freely, whether they prefer industrial concrete finishes, warm wood accents, or gleaming marble surfaces.
Accessibility has also contributed significantly to the wet room’s growing popularity. As populations age and awareness of inclusive design increases, more homeowners are thinking about long-term usability when renovating or building their bathrooms.
Open-plan bathrooms remove the need to step over bathtub edges or into enclosed shower cubicles, making them ideal for people with mobility challenges, wheelchair users, or anyone who may face physical limitations in the future. Parents of young children also appreciate the ease of bathing kids in a walk-in space without wrestling with shower doors or worrying about slippery tub surfaces.
This barrier-free design isn’t just practical for those with current accessibility needs. It’s a forward-thinking investment that allows people to age in place comfortably in their own homes.
Maintenance is another compelling advantage of open-plan wet rooms. Traditional shower enclosures with their metal tracks, rubber seals, and glass panels can harbour mould, mildew, and soap scum in hard-to-reach areas that become dingy over time.
With fewer joints and corners, cleaning is considerably easier. Many wet rooms feature large-format tiles or continuous surfaces with full-length panels that minimise grout lines or areas where dirt can accumulate. The open layout also allows for better air circulation, which helps prevent the moisture build-up that leads to mould growth and unpleasant odours.
Finally, as these spaces have become more desirable and familiar to buyers, homes featuring well-designed wet rooms often command premium prices and attract more interest in competitive housing markets. The contemporary appeal and universal accessibility of these bathrooms resonate with a broad demographic of potential buyers, making them a sound investment for homeowners considering a future sale.
Whether you’ve got a lot of room to play with or want to make the most of a smaller space, an open-plan wet room can be a luxurious and modern way to make the most of every inch of space.
To start designing your dream bathroom, from modern en-suites to traditional bathrooms, shower rooms and more, arrange a design consultation with the team at Village Bathrooms.
