Sleek and stylish open-concept bathrooms—with entire walls and floors clad in gorgeous tile—are all the rage these days. But are these artfully designed, modern spaces suitable for everyone? To get the lowdown on so-called “wet rooms,” we consulted designer Hanna Wiegers, who’s worked with the likes of Berman Horn Studio and Jocelyn O. Dickson Architecture. Here’s what you need to know.
Above: A wet room-esque setup in a Fort Greene townhouse by Bangia Agostinho architects. See more in
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What is a wet room?
A wet room is a fully tiled and waterproofed bathroom with an open floor plan. Often, it features a curbless walk-in shower at the same level as the rest of the floor and, if space allows, a tub. Usually there are no boundaries or dividers between the bathing area and the rest of the room.
What are the benefits of an open-concept, fully tiled bathroom?
Open layouts create a feeling of spaciousness and steam-room-like luxuriousness, especially in bathrooms with a smaller footprint. While the visuals are often the draw, the lack of doors and thresholds provide many other practical advantages, including a space that’s easier to clean.
Barrier-free entry also provides easier access to shower areas for people with limited mobility, wheelchair users, or those who plan to age in place. “I once worked with a very elderly client, and this would have been the perfect bathroom for him because he had nurses who bathed him,” Wiegers says. “This type of bathroom is ideal for a situation where you need to have other people helping you as you get older.”
Above: This Park Slope townhouse bathroom, designed by Branca & Co., features an unobtrusive marble barrier and glass partition but is otherwise open. Photograph by Nicole Franzen from
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