A bathroom used to be an area with enough space to include the shower, bath and sink/vanity. It was a necessity so designers used to “stick it in” as they would a closet. In fact, bathtubs and inside toilets only became the norm less than 75 years ago. The homes of the 1950's began including showering devices but they were a far cry from the one-piece shower cabinets of the later part of the last century. However, now this is changing again to make the bathroom a living space instead of a convenience.

The mood in modern bathroom design is for bigger spaces that include space for relaxation before and after bathing or showering. The main idea is to have the bathroom an equal partner in time spent in the home, along with the kitchen, living room and patio area. In fact the modern bathroom can be composed of two or three rooms, each with its own function.

The Spa Feeling

In the past ten years the amount of people visiting spas has increased exponentially. With the amount of stress in peoples' lives the spa experience is one of the bright lights, a healthy and soothing way to relax. Now, homeowners want to bring this feeling home and bathroom designers are listening. Along with the bathing fixtures there are LCD screens and audio systems which make the space an end.

1. Soaker Tub

Bathtubs used to be a standard size in the majority of homes but today designers are taking a page from the Japanese way of bathing with soaker tubs which come in a variety of sizes and accessories. There are large rectangular tubs, freestanding antique-looking ones and tubs which feature a door so that people with disabilities can use them.

Bubblers: In the past tubs had jets which could be adjusted to hit different areas of the body or for a full bubbling effect. These are still available but now there are hot air bubbling systems which fill the tub with an effervescence. The thousands of warm bubbles have a tension-relieving quality. In addition the large bathing area allows the bather to move and experience the bath.

Rain Shower Baths: For the adventurous there are tubs which feature a focused dropping of water much like a warm jungle waterfall.

Chromatherapy: Scientists have proven that colors affect our senses and so underwater lighting is standard in many tub models. The preferred colors can be pre-programmed into the tub allowing for a steady coloration or a slow changing of scenes.

2. Shower Cabinets

No fixture has changed more than the standard shower cabinet because there is nothing standard about these new models. As with the soaker tub the bather has many features to use including retractable seats. Through the use of a “smart panel” many different functions can be either pre-programmed or manipulated in real time.

Shower Jets: Unlike the previous generation of showers the new showering fixtures include up to 20 showering jets that can be programmed for both intensity and trajectory.

Steam: The best thing about these new cabinets is the capability of having a steam bath. Because the cabinet is enclosed there is a fan system for providing fresh air and exhausting the steam when finished so that the excess moisture does not enter the home.

Rain Shower Head: Appearing like a silvery pizza plate this large shower head has hundreds of tiny openings that allow a thick stream of water as if the bather had been caught in a warm rain.

Lighting: Like the soaker tubs the shower cabinets can be ordered with special chromatherapy lighting. This provides a unique experience when activated in conjunction with the steam.

Foot Massager: Since many models include seats there are also shower cabinets with foot massaging units to nead the toes while steaming.

3. Relaxation Room

After either lounging in the tub or taking a steam shower many people do not feel ready to take on the outside world. For these types there is the relaxation room which can include a sofa, television and even a massage table. The new tables include massaging fingers which can give you a workout while you are reading, listening to music or watching television. The vanity can be included in this area which can be as big as a normal-sized bedroom.

4. Heated Flooring

Radiant floor heat is a welcome addition to any bathing area. As with all radiant flooring it is the best way to economically heat an area because once the tiles heat up they because a thermal mass and keep dispersing heat after the elements shut off.

The bathroom can be molded into any type of space you want. This may mean taking out a couple of walls to steal space from a spare bedroom but this may not be a problem in a 4-bedroom house where the extra bedroom is not used. The added bathroom space will appeal to future home buyers.