Need More Space In Your Bathroom? Look No Further Than The L

Nov 20, 2023

Plenty of us dream of having a bathroom that we can truly luxuriate in, enjoying a nightly soak in the tub and taking a brisk shower under a waterfall showerhead in the morning. But many of us have a, well, less than accommodating (see: tiny) floorplan. Square footage in the bathroom is precious, so it's essential to pick out a shower-bath combo that really works for your space — and for tiny bathrooms that you want to pack luxury into, you can't go wrong with the L-shaped shower bath.

L-shaped shower baths curve at their end, which makes them look like an L, hence the namesake. Unlike a traditional rectangle shower-bath combo, they give you extra room in the shower part of the bath without taking all that much space away from the walkable area. With an L-shaped tub, you can easily treat yourself to long, relaxing baths without being pressed for space and comfort during a shower.

With an L-shaped shower bath, you can put the shower head on basically either of the two solid walls surrounding it, or overhead, depending on your preference. But to keep your floors safe from splashes (essential if you don't want a myriad of problems like warped flooring and mold), you'll also need to install double-hinged panels to encase at least the exposed part of the L — if not around the entire perimeter. These will keep all of the water droplets inside of the tub.

You can put L-shaped shower bath units anywhere in the bathroom, but for space-saving sake, tucking it snugly into the corner is usually best. Another perk of this placement is that it gives the room a custom-fitted feeling that definitely adds some luxury to the space. And of course, the bath's distinctive shape keeps the center of the bathroom open and airy, even if it's placed in a tight room, making it ideal for small bathrooms.

The sleek, right angle of the L-shaped tub can make it feel ultra-modern, but it's really all about how you style it. We loved the vertical, textured light blue tiles used by lifeatthirtysix in their bathroom (above). It gives the bathroom a more relaxing, rustic twist, and of course, topping the tub area with a bamboo bath tray and candle ups the luxury, spa-like vibes. Similarly, you can add plants to the side of the tub if you tend to like a more boho feel, and you can't go wrong with subway tiles and black shower fixtures for a modern farmhouse style.

And while those glass panels are necessary on a functional level, they aren't everyone's idea of stylish, and unfortunately, they do show off hard water stains. You can always cover them up by installing a tension rod and shower curtain in front of them for purely decorative purposes — this would be a great time to use breezy linen curtains for an ultra-luxe look.