A walk-in shower feels like a small daily luxury, and the details are what make it work. A teak bench, a rain shower head and a place for everything turn a glass box into a spa. We picked the pieces from Kohler, Hansgrohe, Aqua Teak, SFERRA, Frette and more.
Walk-In Shower Ideas: Benches, Rain Heads And Towels
Start with somewhere to sit
A walk-in shower only feels generous once it has somewhere to sit. The open, glass-walled look borrows from hotel and spa bathrooms, and a bench is the piece that makes it feel like a place to linger rather than a place to rush. Teak is the classic material because it copes well with constant moisture, and Aqua Teak's Original Spa bench is solid teak with a lower storage shelf. TeakCraft's bench has non-slip feet and a two-tier shelf and arrives fully assembled, while EcoDecors' Satori has a curved seat and a lower shelf. Decoteak's Eleganto measures 30 inches wide, in a rich dark finish with an integrated shelf.
Rain shower heads and systems
A rain head is the fixture that changes how the whole shower feels, with a wide, soft spray falling from above rather than a jet at chest height. Kohler's Contemporary Rain Shower Head comes in brushed moderne brass with a 2.5 GPM flow rate, and Delta's Modern 14 Series system pairs a 10 inch rainfall head with a handheld spray in champagne bronze. Hansgrohe's Raindance Downpour Air uses the brand's AirPower technology behind a large round face, and Moen's wide round head delivers a 1.75 GPM rainfall spray in chrome. A handheld wand is worth having alongside any rain head, since it makes rinsing hair and cleaning the glass far easier. Check your local water rules before choosing, because some areas limit shower flow rates.
Shower shelves and caddies
Open showers show everything, so storage needs to look as good as it works. Kohler's Corner Shower Basket is polished stainless steel sized to tuck into a corner, and EcoDecors' Snazzy stand is a three-tier teak corner shelf that matches a teak bench. Aqua Teak's Moa caddy hangs from the shower arm with three tiers, which is the answer if you cannot drill into tile. Kohler's Purist Hotelier is a 24 inch wall-mount shelf and towel holder in brushed brass, best placed just outside the spray. Keep only what you use daily in the shower and the space will stay calm.
Towels and a tub mat for stepping out
The moment you step out is part of the experience, so the towels matter as much as the tile. Abyss & Habidecor's Super Line mat is extra long staple Egyptian Giza cotton at 1200 GSM, thick enough to feel like a hotel floor. SFERRA's Bello Nuovo is long-staple combed cotton with a honeycomb dobby border, and Frette's Classic Collection towel is cotton terry with the brand's double barrata stitch border. Kassatex's Sullivan is combed Aegean cotton made in Turkey, with a textured stripe. Hang towels on a hook or rail within reach of the door so you are not dripping across the floor.
Our honest take
The best open showers are designed around a few good things rather than many gadgets. A solid teak bench, one great rain head with a handheld wand and a single shelf will do more than a wall of niches and jets. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Chanel Rain Boots and GANNI x Hunter Boots.
