Showers

Showers Buying Guide

A shower needs to perform well daily, which makes water flow, pressure and efficiency as important as its finish. At the same time, a shower's shape and colour are some of the more visible design decisions in a bathroom, since the fixture sits at eye level against the tiled wall it's mounted to.

Shower styles

• Shower heads range from sleek, minimal profiles through to more classic, rounded designs, and are engineered to deliver a specific water flow and spray pattern
• Shower arms connect the shower head to the wall's water supply, and their length affects both reach and the height at which the shower head sits
• Double shower heads combine two shower heads for a wider water coverage area, suited to bathrooms wanting a more immersive daily shower experience
• Rail showers let the shower head slide up and down a fixed rail, which suits households with a range of heights, and makes it easy to lower the shower head for washing without wetting hair
• Handheld showers detach from their holder for direct use, and work well either on their own or alongside an overhead rain shower. They're also practical for washing down the shower enclosure itself when cleaning
• Wall shower heads are fixed directly to the wall via a fixed or adjustable arm, and are available in a broad range of spray pattern types
• Outdoor showers are built to withstand weather exposure, suited to poolside or garden rinsing
• Ceiling showers are mounted into the ceiling to deliver water from directly overhead, creating a rain-like effect
• Rain showers use a wide, typically flat shower head to replicate the sensation of natural rainfall, generally chosen for a fuller, more enveloping water coverage than a standard shower head

Shower finishes

Finish is one of the clearer ways to set a bathroom's tone, since a shower sits prominently against the tiled wall.

Black showers bring bold contrast to a contemporary bathroom. Chrome showers remain the most versatile and enduring choice, suited to almost any bathroom style. Gold showers bring a more ornate, formal character to the room. Brushed brass brings warmth with a slightly worn, vintage-adjacent character, while brushed nickel gives a softer, more understated alternative to chrome. Gunmetal sits between matte black and brushed nickel in tone, suited to a bathroom wanting a dark finish with less starkness than pure black. Champagne finishes offer a lighter, more subtle warm tone than brass or gold. Stainless steel gives a contemporary, durable finish suited to modern bathrooms.

Brands in this collection

This collection includes Caroma, known for water-saving technology; Fienza, offering an accessible price point without a reduction in design quality; Phoenix, focused on contemporary design and functionality; Meir, known for bold, statement finishes; Indigo, Nero Tapware, Oliveri, Clark, Greens, and Dorf, each bringing a different balance of design, durability and water-efficiency focus to their respective ranges.

Shower accessories

Shower accessories, including shelves and soap holders, keep the shower space organised. Shower niches provide built-in storage recessed into the wall itself, avoiding the need for an external caddy. Channel wastes manage water drainage efficiently and help keep the surrounding bathroom floor dry.

Do shower heads fit all showers?

Almost all showers in Australia use a standard-sized fitting to connect shower elbows, arms and heads, regardless of the head's shape or size, handheld or fixed. In Australia, the UK and most countries outside the US, the standard thread is a half-inch British Standard Pipe (BSP). 

What are the best shower heads?

The most suitable shower head balances a satisfying shower experience against water use. A typical shower head outputs around 9 litres per minute, though water-efficient models are available with reduced flow rates from 7.5 litres per minute down to 5 litres per minute, which can meaningfully reduce both water use and utility costs while maintaining normal showering habits.

All shower heads sold in Australia carry a WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards) rating. A shower head with an output of six to nine litres per minute is rated three stars under this scheme.

Can shower heads increase water pressure?

A new shower head can improve water flow if the existing one is old, mineral-clogged, or connected to a damaged hose, since any of these can restrict flow independently of the home's actual water pressure. Some shower heads are also specifically designed to boost the felt water pressure in genuinely low-pressure settings, such as older apartment blocks or townhouses, though a shower head can't overcome a fundamental water supply or plumbing issue on its own.

Is a round or square shower head better?

This depends on the bathroom's overall design rather than any inherent performance difference. Ceiling-mounted shower heads are available in both round and square profiles across a range of sizes, while handheld showers have traditionally used a round head, though square and rectangular handheld designs are increasingly available for a more contemporary, minimalist look.

As a general design guide, a square shower head in matte black tends to suit a contemporary bathroom, while a round shower head in a warmer finish, such as gold-toned chrome, suits a more classic or heritage-style bathroom. Beyond shape, it's worth weighing up water flow and efficiency preferences, since these vary across shower head designs independently of shape.

How many litres per minute does a shower use?

Every shower sold carries a WELS rating, and this information appears both in-store and on each product page at thebluespace.com.au, including the specific litres-per-minute flow rate and star rating.

Do I need a diverter for my twin shower set?

Not unless water needs to be diverted to an additional outlet, such as a bath spout. Twin shower sets in this collection include a built-in diverter as standard, allowing water to be directed to either the overhead shower or the handheld shower.

Completing the bathroom

A shower is easiest to finalise once the tiling and tapware finish for the rest of the bathroom are settled. The Blue Space's Tapware and Tiles collections are worth reviewing alongside a shower choice, so the finished bathroom reads as one considered scheme rather than separate decisions made in isolation.