Save bathroom space with a shower corner

While most showers are located in a corner of the bathroom, a corner shower takes this idea to another level. With a triangular rather than a square base, a shower corner takes up less space, which makes them perfect for smaller bathrooms.

"The base of a shower corner fits into the right-angled corner of a bathroom, with the screen or door opening one way or the other to suit the layout of the room," says Stuart Howard of Bathroom Bazaar. With their space-saving ability, corner showers are becoming increasingly popular, particularly in ensuites and apartment bathrooms.

Corner showers are available in two varieties, the main difference being the type of door used. "Flat panel doors cut directly across from one wall to the other, or there are curved doors to give you that little bit of extra room," says Stuart. While most doors are hinged, there is also one design – the Life Slider – that has a curved, sliding shower door.

Just like regular showers, shower corners can have either a tiled or pre-moulded base. And the position of the showerhead and taps can be the same as with a square shower. "Most people installing a corner shower actually leave the taps and showerhead on the side wall," Stuart says.

According to Stuart, the only disadvantage of a shower corner can be the lack of elbow room in the smaller size. "At 900x900 millimetres, they actually become very tight," he says. Curved doors can make them a bit less squeezy, but if you have the space, Stuart recommends opting for the one by one metre size.

While replacing a regular shower with a shower corner won't require a major bathroom renovation, you may need to give your tiles a freshen-up afterward. "You might have to put some extra tiles in to cover the space where your old shower went," says Stuart.

Depending on where your plumbing is located, some work may also need to be done, as the waste outlets in some corner showers are right in the back corner.

Although corner showers are used mostly for saving space, this doesn't mean they have to be inelegant. Along with traditional framed enclosures, semi and fully frameless designs are also available, creating stylish and contemporary looks to match any style of bathroom.