Make all of summer feel like one long vacation.
Whenever you return from a beach vacation, you probably have a long list of amenities you suddenly want to upgrade so you can continue that relaxed, getaway mindset from the comfort of home. While a massage parlor with a full-time masseuse and an in-ground pool might not be practical for your budget, an outdoor spa is a bit more realistic. Plus, it can increase your home's resale value. According to a recent report by Zillow, houses with outdoor showers can bump up an offer by 2.8 percent above the asking price. So if you want to capture that laid-back beach house energy in your own abode, you need to check out these outdoor shower ideas.
From risk-free privacy barriers to open-air designs, European rustic style to tropical paradise, these outdoor shower ideas can appeal to any homeowner, no matter their preferred aesthetic. If you're seriously considering adding an outdoor shower to your yard or you want to update your existing one, then look below for some designer tips that'll make the result feel so elevated.
Additional copy by Hadley Mendelsohn.
Just because your shower is outdoors doesn't mean you need to forgo a curtain. Designer Sheldon Harte added two twin curtains for privacy, but they also beautifully match the rustic European vibe he's going for in this home, both inside and out.
If you have the space, then you might as well make your outdoor shower area as spa-like as possible. The team at Bamboo Master Studio added multiple shower heads of varying types in this area, offering different kinds of showers depending on what the user was looking for.
Add a tropical vibe to your outdoor shower with a bamboo privacy barrier that you don't even have to grow yourself. The brand Boohugger uses Vietnamese Tam Vong bamboo to create these sustainable shower stalls, and they can add a relaxed vibe to your outdoor shower if that's what you're looking for.
When John Humphreys was enlisted to work on this Austin, Texas, home, he knew he wanted to make the ground-floor primary suite extra special while still being casual. So he added an outdoor shower that's only accessible from the bedroom. A very large and very old oak tree hangs above the bathing area for total relaxation and privacy. Humphreys made the faucet out of copper and nail heads welded onto bulkhead walls for hooks.
In this Vero Beach, Florida, home, design firm Moor, Baker & Associates elevated the pool area with a tricked-out indoor/outdoor pool house. The duo worked with landscape designer Sam Comer to devise a surface of tabby concrete tiles that blend in with the home’s stucco and also optimize drainage in the rainy months. Located at the end of the swimming pool, this pergola gazebo houses a changing room, a shower, and a pool bathroom.
Two trellises create privacy for an outdoor shower stall without actually blocking the views and beautiful dappled light. Designer Hadas Dembo painted the trellis partitions dark green to blend in with the ivy. A stone pedestal for shower supplies and a workbench, along with a plant, further enhance the secret garden feel. It's truly like showering in the open forest.
In this poolside oasis designed by Robson Rak, a shower stall is discreetly tucked into the concrete corner next to the cozy built-in nook. The fun cushions piled in the shaded lounge steal the spotlight, and the shower remains discreet and minimalist.
An open-air swimming pool, adjacent bathroom designed by Akin Atelier, looks out onto the ocean. In other words, it's paradise. Stone tile floors set the foundation, while an oval skylight and dappled light add partial protection without blocking the sun completely.
Two shower heads are better than one, especially when the backdrop in question is a romantic Hawaiian escape like this one designed by Nicole Hollis Studio. Though minimalist and laid-back, the slight tilt of the shower heads adds a unique cool-kid factor. Plus, every bathroom in this home has a twin outdoor shower.
Architect Ruard Veltman built a semi-outdoor shower in a North Carolina pool house with slatted walls to promote good airflow. The thatched roof helps regulate heat year-round.
This rustic outdoor shower designed by Akin Atelier proves that it doesn't take much to create a beautiful scene. If you only plan to rinse off post-hike or swim, keep things super simple with a slatted floor for easy drainage and a no-fuss showerhead.
If you thought outdoor showers were dreamy, you'll love the idea of an outdoor bathtub even more. At this island oasis by Ishka Designs, wood wall enclosures create privacy while still allowing occupants to enjoy the breeze.
Take your design cues from your surroundings, as Nicole Hollis did with this ultra luxurious tub arrangement. Here, the clean lines of a crisp white tub play off organic textures and moody hues.
Interior designer Palmer Weiss had an outdoor shower installed in her Sonoma, California, home, and her family uses it year-round. "We don’t even have an indoor shower in our main bath," she admits, "and in four years, I’ve never regretted that decision."
Keep your things tidy—and your plumbing simple—with an outdoor shower fixed to the exterior of your pool house. Robson Rak optimized this outdoor space with a built-in bench and hooks for towels, hats, and beach bags, and it fits right in with the modern beach house aesthetic of the home. Think of it as a cross between a mudroom and a bathroom.
For a modern enclosure that feels sleek and sexy, try slatted wood screens or reed walls, as exemplified by this tranquil outdoor shower designed by Nicole Hollis Studio. The dappled light is dreamy at every time of day.
Briony Fitzgerald stuck to the outdoor shower formula with a rustic shower head and classic wood slat decking for easy drainage, but a backsplash of blue and white zellige tiles makes a seriously chic design statement. The surrounding banana leaf foliage completes the Insta-worthy snapshot.
When textile designer John Robshaw revamped a ramshackle barn into the ultimate summer hangout spot, there wasn't enough room to build a full shower indoors. So he installed a shower head in a private area outside, then added storybook stone floors, a rattan settee complete with his signature patterned throw pillows, and plenty of cozy towels for a homey feel.
A classic solid enclosure adds extra privacy. Landscape architect Ed Hollander suggests erecting partitions that reach up to about five feet above the ground. Or, you could get creative and build a natural privacy screen with florals. Flowering shrubs like hydrangeas or other plants that don’t mind moisture can act as a living shower wall (and tend to be cheaper).
When you have a home that overlooks the Pacific Ocean, you want to make the most of your view. Eric Olsen added this glass door—which would be refreshing on its own but also leads to an outdoor shower—off the main bath of his California home.
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