Thinking of modernizing your bathroom? One area to definitely focus on is the shower to create a luxurious experience. But, if you’re still stuck with your builder grade pre-fab shower and are bathroom ballin‘ on a budget, you might be wondering how you can decorate this piece of acrylic or fiberglass.
Good news: you’re not stuck with a boring, outdated shower. There are several ways you can freshen up this space for a modern design. To find the best ideas, we spoke to several designers for their top tips on updating pre-fab showers.
Here are the 7 no-fail ways to modernize a pre-fab shower.
Meet the Expert
- Emily Hunter is an interior designer at Design Environments.
- Stephanie Calderon is the principal designer and owner of Stephanie Calderon Interiors in Charlotte, NC.
Swap Out Your Hardware
Arguably the easiest and first go-to when modernizing a pre-fab shower is to update the hardware.
„Most prefabricated showers come with a standard hardware package typically in a chrome finish,“ Emily Hunter, interior designer at Design Environments, says.
„If the rest of your bathroom has a different finish (sink faucets, towel bars, etc.) then I would make them all consistent, or at least coordinate at some level.“
For a true modern look, swapping the chrome hardware for brass or matte black will totally give your shower a brand new design.
„The more details the hardware has, the more traditional they typically look. Straight lines and a smooth surface are always the way to go if you want to modernize a space,“ says Hunter.
Want more design inspiration? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest decor ideas, designer tips, and more!
Hang Your Shower Curtain Higher
Spoiler alert: shower curtains are not completely out of style! If modern elegance is your style, then Stephanie Calderon, principal designer and owner of Stephanie Calderon Interiors, has a genius hack for using your shower curtain to make your shower feel (and look) more sophisticated.
„Hang a shower curtain from the ceiling on a ceiling track or from a rod placed higher on the wall,“ she says. „This will make your bathroom feel more luxurious. You can also opt for actual drapery to customize a length, just don’t forget a shower liner!“
Replace Your Curtain With Shower Doors
But, if you’d rather modernize your pre-fab shower with shower doors, Hunter says this will also give your bathroom an updated appeal.
„Although this requires a bit more work than replacing hardware, this will make a world of a difference,“ Hunter says. „Not only will it provide those straight lines and a smooth surface a modern bathroom needs, but it will also open up your entire bathroom to appear larger.“
Bring In Spa-Like Accessories
Sure, you can update the outside of your pre-fab shower to make it appear modernized, but what about the inside? Calderon says the best way to spruce up pre-fab showers for an elevated feeling when you step in is to bring in „spa-like“ accessories to make your shower feel more relaxing.
„Decorative shampoo and conditioner bottles, soap bar plates, and more really do the trick,“ she says.
Renovate Other Fixtures
If you find yourself running out of ideas for dressing up your shower, Hunter says the key to making your shower stand out is to focus on the bathroom as a whole.
„I’d say the easiest way to disguise a prefabricated shower is to make the rest of the bathroom stand out!“ she says. „Add a fun tile on the wall around the shower, get rid of your Builder Grade mirror, accessorize and add some art for a completely modernized space.“
Tile The Top Wall
Most pre-fab showers don’t extend all the way up to the ceiling, which means there’s some bare wall space left to play with. One of the best ways to use this free space to dress up your shower is to add decorative tile instead of relying on paint.
Depending on the pattern and material you choose, wall tile can make your shower feel more serene (if you go with stone) or playful (if you choose tile with designs). It’ll also draw the eye to the tile instead of the plain material of your shower.
Hang Fresh Eucalyptus From the Shower Head
Joe Hendrickson / Getty Images
Lastly, a simple trick for modernizing your shower? Hanging fresh eucalyptus from your shower head!
This recent trend not only accessorizes your shower scene, but it provides several positive health benefits too, like stress relief and helping with several respiratory issues.