Is an outdoor shower a good idea? 6 designers on why they added one to a project

Homes and Gardens, press May 20, 2024 by cby7gs

Think an outdoor shower is a worthwhile addition to a backyard? It’s certainly a luxurious feature, but you might wonder if it’s something you’ll actually make good use of.

After all, it will need to be factored into the budget for planting and landscaping, and you’ll want it to complement your interior design, too.

6 Times An Outdoor Shower Was A Good Idea

Outdoor shower ideas are practical and they can be gorgeous, too. Like the designs for the inside of your home, outdoor bathrooms can include fabulous materials that make them great to look at as well as to use.

An outdoor shower can make it easier to enjoy yard space that includes features such as a pool, hot tub, or tennis court, as well as being convenient to use after spending time on the beach if your home is by the coast.

There’s plenty of inspiration below as designers explain why an outdoor shower was the right choice in all these backyards.

An outdoor shower can be an appealing alternative to using an interior bathroom in the right climate.

‘For this 11,724 square-foot tropical modern waterfront home in Bal Harbour, Fl, we designed the upstairs premier bedroom boasting a sprawling bathroom with its own private terrace and outdoor shower,’ says of Ralph Choeff, founding principal of Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture + Design. The materials used for the shower include Italian travertine, brass fixtures, planters, and lush landscaping.

‘There’s nothing like showering outside with nature,’ he adds. ‘It’s very Zen and in South Florida, very refreshing on a typical warm day. This particular outdoor shower has an open-air top yet the walls and the landscaping are high enough that they provide privacy.’

Ralph Choeff is the founding principal of Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture + Design. He is a graduate of Pratt Institute where he earned a bachelor of architecture. Upon graduation in 1978, he moved to Miami where he launched his firm in 1983. He has since established himself and the firm as leaders in south Florida’s tropical modern architecture.