Wet rooms aren’t just for boutique hotels and luxury spas any more, they’re now a popular and practical choice for anyone looking to design a stylish and modern bathroom at home. If you’re wondering how to make yours sleek, functional and beautifully designed, here are 5 wet room design ideas that elevate both style and usability. With smart layouts, thoughtful materials and standout fixtures, even a modest bathroom can feel like a sanctuary.
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT INTERIOR STYLIST MAXINE BRADY
Maxine Brady is an award-winning interior stylist and creative director who specialises in home décor styling, event styling, lifestyle shoots and shoot production. A former Style Editor at House Beautiful magazine, she now freelances as a Brighton interior stylist, working across London, Sussex and the wider UK. Her projects span editorial shoots, commercial campaigns and brand content. She’s also styles internationally. Alongside styling, Maxine hosts the No.1 UK home décor podcast How to Home, writes a multi-award-winning interiors blog, and shares inspiration with 57k followers on Instagram. Her TV presenting credits include shows on BBC, ITV and Channel 5.
Explore the Interior Stylist Maxine Brady portfolio and get in touch to discuss your next photo shoot, brand project or home styling.
How to Create Your Dream Wet Room: 5 Clever Design Ideas
Here are my top 5 clever wet room ideas to help you design your dream bathroom.
1. Open-Plan Layouts That Maximise Space
One of the biggest appeals of installing a wet room in a home is the sense of light and openness they give! With no bulky shower enclosure, chunky bath or raised tray, a barrier-free layout creates a seamless flow from the shower zone to the rest of the room. It really is a clever solution for smaller bathrooms. Or if you want to update your home to give it a contemporary, minimalist look.
If you are thinking of ripping out your bathroom and starting again, then make sure to shop around for tiles that will give the space WOW factor. One thing I believe is that large-format tiles and wall-mounted fittings can really enhance the streamlined feel in a wet room. I love unusually patterned tiles that add drama to walls and floors.
I think tiling can really add personality into a space as well. And, the best bit, they won’t break the bank either, making it a small design luxury that will make a big difference to how your bathroom looks and feels.
2. Underfloor Heating for Everyday Luxury
Want your bathroom to feel indulgent every single day? Underfloor heating is a simple upgrade that adds a layer of comfort to your wet room. In the UK where the weather is pretty freezing during the winter months, cold floors can make early mornings bathing feel even harsher.
Unlike bulky radiators, underfloor heating is invisible, freeing up vital wall space and helping maintain that clean, uncluttered feel. Underfloor heating also works brilliantly with tiled floors and ensures your wet room stays cosy and dry underfoot. You don’t have to go electric either, there are lots of water underfloor heating options that might work well for you and your bathroom.
And if you really want to boost up the luxury factor in your wet room, you’ll want to swap out your old bathroom accessories – like tooth brush holders, soap dispensers and scratchy towels. I love a bamboo cotton bath towel for really luxe look s not only do they feel soft on your skin, and have a fluffy appearance too.
When I installed underfloor heating in my own home it felt like a luxury at first, but now I can’t imagine going without it. No more cold feet in the mornings, and now it’s the one thing I recommend to everyone to make srue they budget to install when renovating their space.
Please check out the electric underfloor heating systems from Wetrooms Design which are so easy to install and have next day delivery too! Perfect for your next DIY Wet room project.
3. Sleek Linear Drains That Blend In Beautifully
When designing a wet room, you’ll want to install a linear drain which is both a functional and design-savvy choice. Its slim, minimalist shape works seamlessly with modern bathrooms, directing water efficiently while also being easier to clean than traditional central drains.
The gentle slope needed for a linear drain means the floor remains almost entirely flat making it perfect for walk-in access and a clean, architectural finish. This is especially important for homes that need a disabled wet room because pairing this setup with grippy, non-slip flooring ensures better stability and reduces the risk of slips and falls, but you are not sacrificing on style!
Or you can go for linear style drain that you can tile over with your floor tiles so it all matches for a clean look.
STYLE TIP: Look for quality options that tone in with your tile colour or add a smart contrast for a subtle design feature.
4. Natural Materials That Soften the Space
To bring warmth and texture to your wet room, try introducing natural materials like stone, wood or marble. Think slate-effect tiles, timber benches or even a reclaimed-wood vanity. These tactile elements help soften all that sleek tiling and add a calm, organic feel to your space.
Even a couple of leafy plants in the corner can make a difference. Or wicker storage baskets. Anything with natural texture will inject life into your wet room.
I’m a big fan of mixing textures in a bathroom, my own space I have ceramic tiles and wooden stool and bath rack, and lots of greenery to soften the space. It means my bathroom is a cosy and inviting space that I enjoy spending time in!
STYLE TIP: If you’re using darker tiles, consider lighter woods or greenery to keep the space feeling balanced and airy.
5. Statement Fixtures That Add a Stylish Finish
Fixtures and fittings are where you can really elevate your wet room giving it a luxury look. I’m talking about installing oversized rainfall shower heads, or brushed brass taps or a matte black mixer which can all become design features in their own right.
If you’re going for a coordinated look, pick finishes that complement your tiles and colour palette. For example, pairing grey tiles with polished chrome or brushed gold fittings looks very on trend and echos the designs seen in boutique hotels.
In my own bathroom, I’m so pleased I went for a large overhead rose shower head. It’s the best for early morning showers when you need to just get up and go!
Ready to Start Designing Your Wet Room?
I hope that this blog post has shown you that coming up with your dream wet room design ideas is achievable with a little bit of thought. It’s all about combining smart functionality with personal style to create a bathroom that feels as luxurious as it looks. From open-plan layouts to statement fixtures and everyday luxuries like underfloor heating, it’s possible to design a space that looks great and works brilliantly too.
Paying attention to these 5 wet room design ideas when creating your dream wet room is what will make your bathroom space look finished and considered, and ultimately super stylish too!
For more interior ideas for your home click here – Your Ultimate Guide To The Best Interior Styling Tips Ever!
PIN THESE TO READ FOR LATER
Images kindly supplied from:
Roper Rhodes; A British designer of stylish bathroom furniture, brassware, baths, and more.
Matki: UK-based specialist in luxury, bespoke shower screens, trays, and wet room panels, crafted in Bristol.
Drench: A UK shower and enclosure brand offering panels, doors, and showers, based in Hampshire.
Merlyn: One of the UK’s premier shower enclosure brands—specialising in wet rooms, plates, and lifetime guarantees.
Hyperion Tiles: An independent, family-owned tile specialist stocking porcelain, mosaics, LVT, engineered wood, and custom wet‑room tiles.