Small bathroom walk in showers: Why you probably don't need that tub

You're standing in a bathroom that feels more like a closet. Honestly, it’s cramped. You’ve got that standard 5-foot alcove bathtub that you haven't actually soaked in since 2019, and the shower curtain keeps clinging to your wet legs like a needy ghost. It sucks. But here is the thing: swapping that dusty tub for small bathroom walk in showers isn't just a trend or a way to flip a house for a quick profit. It’s about breathing. It’s about not hitting your elbow on a ceramic ledge every time you try to wash your hair.

Most people think they’re stuck with the layout they have because moving plumbing is expensive. And yeah, it can be. But you’d be surprised how much floor real estate you "find" when you stop thinking in terms of boxes and start thinking in terms of glass.

The layout lie: You have more space than you think

We’ve been conditioned to believe a bathroom needs a tub to be "full." That’s a myth that real estate agents have pushed for decades, but the data is shifting. According to a 2023 study by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), more homeowners are opting for large walk-in showers over the traditional tub-shower combo, especially in secondary bathrooms.

If your room is roughly 5x8 feet—the standard "small" American bathroom—you’re working with 40 square feet. A standard tub eats up about 15 of those. That is nearly 40% of your entire floor dedicated to a basin you rarely use. When you pivot to small bathroom walk in showers, you aren't just changing the fixture; you’re changing the flow.

Think about the "wet room" concept. In Europe, they’ve been doing this forever. You don’t always need a heavy, framed glass door that swings out and hits the toilet. Sometimes, a simple fixed glass panel—often called a "splash guard"—is enough. It keeps the water in the zone but leaves the visual line of sight open. It makes the room feel twice as big because your eyes aren't stopping at a plastic curtain.

Dealing with the curb

A lot of people want that seamless, "zero-entry" look. It’s gorgeous. It’s also accessible, which is great for "aging in place," a concept organizations like AARP champion. But here’s the reality check: to get a truly curbless shower in a renovation, you usually have to "wet-set" the floor. This means dropping the floor joists or building up the rest of the bathroom floor to match. It’s pricey.

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If you're on a budget, go with a low-profile curb. A 2-inch curb is barely noticeable but saves you thousands in structural labor. It still gives you that sleek look without the "I just spent $5,000 on a drain" regret.

Why glass matters (and why it’s a pain)

Let’s talk about the glass. You want frameless. Everyone wants frameless. It looks like a high-end hotel. But honestly, frameless glass needs to be thick—usually 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch—to be structurally sound. That stuff is heavy. If your walls aren't perfectly plumb (and in an old house, they never are), installing frameless glass becomes a nightmare of custom cuts and shims.

There is also the maintenance. If you live in an area with hard water, like much of the Midwest or Southwest, that beautiful glass will be covered in white crust within a week. Small bathroom walk in showers require a commitment. You either need to buy glass pre-treated with a hydrophobic coating (like EnduroShield or ShowerGuard) or you need to become best friends with a squeegee.

• Fixed panels: Cheapest, easiest to clean, but can be drafty.
• Sliding "Barn Door" styles: Great for tight spots where a swinging door would hit the vanity.
• Bi-fold glass: Rare, but amazing for tiny corner units.

The drain dilemma and waterproofing

This is the boring part that actually matters. If your shower isn't waterproofed correctly, your "lifestyle upgrade" becomes a moldy nightmare. Traditional PVC liners are okay, but the industry has moved toward topical waterproofing membranes. Brands like Schluter-Systems (specifically their Kerdi line) or Laticrete’s Hydro Ban are the gold standards here.

Instead of the waterproofing being hidden under a thick bed of mortar, these membranes sit right behind your tile. This means the moisture doesn't soak into the mud bed; it just runs off into the drain. It dries faster. It smells better.

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And the drain? Linear drains are the darlings of Instagram. They look like a sleek slit in the floor. They allow you to use large-format tiles on the shower floor because you only have to slope the floor in one direction. With a traditional center drain, you’re usually stuck with small mosaic tiles because the floor has to "bowl" in from all four sides.

Storage: Don't forget the soap

The biggest mistake I see in small bathroom walk in showers is forgetting where the shampoo goes. You spend all this money on beautiful subway tile and then you hang a rusty wire caddy over the showerhead. It ruins the vibe.

Build a niche. No, build two. Put them between the studs. But here is the pro tip: don't put the niche on the wall where the water hits it directly. You’ll just end up with soggy soap and a niche that’s constantly slimy. Put it on a side wall or a "pony wall" where it stays relatively dry but is still within reach.

Materials that actually work

Small spaces get humid fast. If you don’t have a high-CFM (cubic feet per minute) fan, your grout is going to turn pink or black.

1. Porcelain Tile: It’s nearly indestructible and non-porous. Better than ceramic for showers.
2. Natural Stone: Looks amazing, but it’s high maintenance. Marble is basically a sponge. If you use it, you have to seal it every six months. Do you really want that chore?
3. Solid Surface: Brands like Corian or even some high-end acrylics now make "stone-look" panels. No grout lines. Zero. You just wipe it down. For a small bathroom, this can be a lifesaver.

Cost vs. Value

A mid-range bathroom remodel that replaces a tub with a walk-in shower typically costs between $8,000 and $15,000, depending on your zip code and how fancy you get with the fixtures. Will you get that money back?

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Usually, yes.

The "one tub" rule still applies for resale—if you have only one bathroom in the whole house, taking out the tub might alienate buyers with toddlers. But if you have a second bathroom with a tub elsewhere, go for the walk-in. Modern buyers value a high-end shower experience over a bathtub they'll only use to wash the dog.

Making the most of the "Small" in Small Bathroom Walk In Showers

Lighting is your secret weapon. Most small showers are dark holes. If you’re doing a renovation, run a dedicated LED pot light into the shower ceiling. Make sure it’s "wet-rated." It changes everything. It makes the space feel intentional, not like a cramped afterthought.

Also, consider the "toe kick" or a shaving ledge. If you're removing a tub, you're losing that place to propped up a leg. A small corner stone seat or a simple recessed footrest is a tiny detail that makes a massive difference in daily usability.

Actionable Next Steps

If you are ready to pull the trigger on a remodel, don't just call a contractor and say "I want a shower." You need a plan.

• Measure your current footprint. If you have 60 inches (the standard tub length), you can easily fit a luxurious walk-in.
• Check your venting. If your mirror fogs up now, it will be worse with a high-moisture shower. Upgrade the fan first.
• Choose your "splash" strategy. Decide between a full enclosure, a sliding door, or a single fixed pane.
• Select your tile wisely. Large tiles make the room look bigger, but you need a linear drain. Small tiles offer more grip for your feet.
• Don't DIY the pan. You can tile the walls yourself, but the shower pan (the floor) is where 90% of leaks happen. Hire a pro for the waterproofing and the slope.

You don't need a mansion to have a bathroom that feels like a spa. You just need to stop letting an unused bathtub dictate your floor plan. Swap the curtain for glass, the tub for a low-profile tray, and the clutter for a built-in niche. It's the most effective way to turn a cramped 5x8 into a space you actually enjoy waking up in.