What Is a Roman-Style Shower?

Definition

• A Roman-style shower is an architecturally designed shower "stall" without a door or curtain required. The way the builders construct the shower, water stays inside the stall and does not splash onto the bathroom floor.

Other Names

• Roman-style showers are used as handicapped accessible showers in some homes and hotels because they are designed without doors or other partitions. These handicapped showers may be referred to as "roll-in showers" for how much easier it is to lead a person in a wheelchair into the shower.

Theme

• A Roman-style shower is usually part of a Roman bathroom, a modern bathroom style. The rooms are usually designed with few partitions, wide-open spaces, marble and glass. Roman bathrooms in homes often have modern features such as LED lights, steam, radio, TV, telephone, theaters and Internet access, according to the the Home Architectural Design website.

History

• The name Roman-style shower comes from the style of showering the Romans borrowed from the Greeks. The simple construction of the shower stalls was like a communal shower, similar to the way athletes clean up at the gym or after sports games. The Romans also constructed large steam houses, called "sweating rooms" or "sudatoriums," where people relaxed together as a social event. Romans also used communal bathing, where everyone would cleanse themselves in a "bath," more like a marble swimming pool, to clean themselves of dirt and grime.

Color

• Color is important when designing an Roman shower and bathroom. Bright colors for the shower and surrounding area broaden the space. Colors like bright white, hot pink, yellow and lilac make space. Darker colors, such as ebony, mahogany, dark blue and green usually make a space appear smaller, although also more intimate and warm.