At the beginning of every year, we’re bombarded with a plethora of articles about interior design trends for the coming 12 months and 2026 is no different. But one of the top bathroom trends this year might surprise you – conservatory showers.
This trend is also being described as complete shower enclosures, but what it basically means is that your shower appears to be in a “room” of its own within your bathroom.
However, it’s separated by glass walls – or half-glass walls. Usually that means the bottom half of the shower enclosure wall is tiled, while the top half is glazed. Now you are probably getting an idea about where the term “conservatory shower” has come from!
Many of the shower enclosures currently trending in design circles have a distinctly 19th century bathhouse vibe.
This means you might find that shower heads in brushed brass are more suited to this particular bathroom design choice than the more modern chrome you might first imagine.
Similarly, black showerheads could fit into this trend really well depending on the colour scheme you choose for your tiles and the rest of your bathroom.
What do you need to create your own conservatory shower?
The most important element for this design choice is enough space to create a separate room for your shower within your bathroom. Sadly for many of us that simply won’t be practical.
In the UK, the average size of a bathroom is 2.7m x 2.4m, giving a total floor space of just under 6.5m.
Think carefully about how you want the whole space to be laid out before you commit to a large project like a fully enclosed shower and make sure that you’re happy to dedicate that much space to this feature.
How do you light an enclosed shower?
The glass panes that look out into your bathroom will help with bringing light into the space, but to make the most of this trend and really create a luxurious shower enclosure, you’ll ideally have a window in one of the walls of the shower room.
So, as well as light entering from the main bathroom, you’ll have an external light source that brings daylight into your shower enclosure.
If you don’t have a window that is suitable, a skylight can be another option if the bathroom is at the top of your home.
Why are conservatory showers growing in popularity?
One of the reasons conservatory-style showers seem to be having a moment is that they tie in with the increasing desire to create a spa-like experience in our bathrooms.
After all, there’s nothing quite as luxurious as having enough space for your shower to have its own room, rather than having a shower mounted over your bath tub.
What’s more, fully enclosed showers like this allow you to incorporate other design features that speak to luxury, such as recessed shelves in the wall and even shower benches in the enclosure. All of these features work together to create a luxurious ambience.