Which shower should I choose for my bathroom?

Why rethink your shower or replace your bath?

Before choosing a shower, it is worth asking a more fundamental question: why is now the right time? The answer shapes the rest of the project.

Replacing your bath with a shower: a lifestyle choice

In Belgium, more and more homeowners are making this choice — and often they do so late, regretting not having done it sooner. The bath takes up a considerable amount of space in a room where every centimetre counts. Replacing it with a walk-in shower means regaining space, light, and often the impression of a completely reimagined room.

It is also a practical choice: the shower is more accessible on a daily basis, easier to maintain, and suited to all ages. A level-access shower designed from the outset with care remains comfortable and accessible for decades — it is a lasting added value for your property.

The transformation effect

Removing an inset bath and installing a walk-in shower in the same space produces one of the most striking visual effects in bathroom renovation. The room instantly appears larger, more airy, more contemporary — even without touching the walls or existing tiling.

Shower types: finding the one that suits your space

Each shower type responds to a different space configuration and level of work. The key is to identify what is feasible in your home — and then project onto it the style you want.
 

The walk-in shower: why it has become the benchmark

The walk-in shower is no longer a luxury: it has become the solution that the majority of Belgians choose when renovating. And for good reasons. It removes all entry barriers, creates visual continuity with the rest of the room, and adapts to all styles: from clean minimalism to Japanese wabi-sabi, through spa style or Art Deco.

It is also the most long-lasting solution: accessible at all ages, easy to maintain, and adding value to your property. A well-designed walk-in shower today will still be the right choice in twenty years’ time.

Small space, big impact

An 80 × 80 cm walk-in shower with an extra-flat tray, a fixed glass panel and a unified floor/wall cladding visually transforms the smallest bathrooms. The secret: eliminate visual breaks. The fewer interruptions in the space, the more the room breathes.

The extra-flat tray: the ally for renovations without demolition

If a screeded base is not possible (existing floor, flat, technical constraints), the extra-flat tray is the answer. Current models in enamelled steel or solid surface go down to less than 4 cm in thickness — visually almost indistinguishable from a screed. They are installed on existing fittings in a single day, with no dust and no noise.

At Facq, brands such as Kaldewei (enamelled steel, guaranteed for decades) or Geberit (ultra-thin drainage systems) offer trays that combine a slim profile with outstanding robustness. The choice of material depends primarily on your style and usage — our advisers will guide you in person.

The integrated shower cabin: the turnkey solution

It is often underestimated in design projects — wrongly. The integrated cabin has one decisive argument: zero waterproofing work, zero coordination between multiple trades. Everything is designed together (tray, panels, door, taps). It is perfectly suited to small bathrooms, studio flats, or projects where speed of execution is the priority.

In 2026, high-end cabins from brands such as Hüppe have taken a major aesthetic leap: extra-clear glass, ultra-thin profiles, solid surface tray. The visual boundary with a bespoke walk-in shower has narrowed considerably.

The shower panel: glass, style and privacy : the choice that changes everything

The shower panel is what you see when you walk into the bathroom. It determines the atmosphere, the level of privacy, and the daily cleaning required. And it is often where projects really take on their visual identity.

Transparent glass: maximum openness

Transparent glass is the choice for visual continuity. It removes all visual barriers between the shower and the rest of the room, enlarges the perceived space and lets light flow throughout. It is the most requested solution for spa-style bathrooms, niche showers and all projects where you want the room to breathe.

Its only requirement: maintenance. In Belgium, the water is hard — a nano-coating treatment (available as an option from Hüppe or Duscholux) is strongly recommended. It considerably reduces visible marks and turns the weekly clean into a simple wipe with a squeegee.

Frosted or satin glass: privacy and diffused light

Satin glass is the choice for balance. It filters the gaze without blocking light — ideal for family or shared bathrooms, where a degree of privacy is desirable without visually partitioning the space. The gradient effects offered by some brands (clear glass at the top, satin at the bottom) are particularly appreciated for their subtlety.

Textured glass: the detail that expresses a style

Textured glass panels have been the major trend in recent years. The Reed pattern (vertical reeds) creates a unique play of light and pairs beautifully with wabi-sabi, Art Deco or biophilic styles. Some shower brands also offer gradient effects and panels with natural wood profiles, an approach that connects the shower space to nature.

The key: choose textured glass as a deliberate style element, not as a way to hide imperfections. It must complement your palette of materials and finishes — not clash with it.

Fixed panel (walk-in) or door: what this choice really reveals

The fixed walk-in panel is the most aesthetically clean option. A single piece of glass, with no rail, no visible mechanism, no sealant to renew. It is suited to showers at least 90 cm wide and creates an incomparable sense of openness. The brands Hüppe and Duscholux offer walk-ins with profiles as thin as 4 mm — virtually invisible.

The door (sliding, pivot or bi-fold) is better suited to smaller formats and spaces where containing water splashes is a priority. The sliding door is particularly clever in confined spaces: it requires no room to open.

�� Facq tip: If space allows, always favour the fixed panel: fewer mechanisms = less maintenance, less to replace, and a visual result that remains impeccable years after installation.

Shower head and thermostatic column: the experience that makes the difference

You can have the most beautiful shower in the world, but if the water jet is disappointing, so is the experience. The shower head and tap fittings are the elements most directly linked to how you feel every day. They are also where it is often the simplest and most important to invest in quality.

Good to know: A shower head is the simplest element to change in an existing installation. It is often the first upgrade our advisers recommend during a partial renovation: immediate impact on the experience, virtually no work required.

The decisive argument: A concealed thermostatic unit with a matt black front plate and a ceiling rain shower head in the same finish is the combination that transforms an ordinary bathroom into a spa experience. No need for a large space — just consistency and the right choices.

Specific uses: families, PMR and shower for two

The family bathroom: a shower that lasts and reassures

In a family bathroom, the shower needs to work for everyone: children, adults, people with varying mobility. The priorities change: it is not necessarily about maximum clean lines, but about robustness, ease of maintenance and a degree of preventive accessibility.

A level-access walk-in shower meets all three criteria at once. Anti-slip finishes, enamelled steel trays (virtually scratch-proof) and panels without a low-profile rail (which trap limescale) radically simplify maintenance over the years. Adding a discreet grab rail (the Keuco ranges offer rails of impeccable elegance) anticipates the future without compromising today’s design.

PMR shower: accessibility and design are no longer mutually exclusive

The accessible PMR shower of 2026 bears no resemblance to the functional, austere image of the past. Belgian standards (150 × 150 cm turning space, zero threshold, grab rail) integrate perfectly into ambitious contemporary designs.

A level-access walk-in shower is, by definition, PMR-compatible. A fold-down teak wall seat, a Keuco brushed stainless steel grab rail, a shower control at an adapted height: these elements form part of the aesthetic range and do not flag up accessibility — they make it natural.

Belgian reference: In Wallonia, Brussels and Flanders, renovation grants are available for home adaptation work related to PMR accessibility. A Facq adviser can guide you on the procedures during your EXPOcentre appointment.

Brands available at Facq: points of reference

Facq works with a carefully selected range of partner brands : all available to discover and compare in the EXPOcenter. Here are the key points to understand the speciality of each, without going into detail on references that change from season to season.

One piece of advice that applies across all these brands: what matters is not the brand chosen, but the consistency of the system. The tray, panel, taps and accessories must speak the same language. A matt black finish throughout, or a guiding thread in brushed brass from the tap to the towel bars: this is the level of consistency that our Facq advisers help you build in the EXPOcenter.

Durability and maintenance: thinking about your shower for the long term

A well-chosen shower should remain beautiful and pleasant to use for years, without its maintenance becoming a burden. This dimension is often underestimated at the project stage, yet it is decisive for satisfaction at 5 or 10 years.

Choosing materials that age well

• Enamelled steel: non-porous, scratch-resistant, resistant to household products and heat. Its surface does not yellow or tarnish. It is the material that ages best in a shower, with no special maintenance required.
• Solid surface (mineral resin): no joints, repairable by sanding in the event of a scratch, maintained with clear water. Very homogeneous ageing.
• Stoneware (for wall and floor finishes): very resistant, but the joints are the weak point. Opt for epoxy joints or joint-free cladding systems for the inside of the shower.
• Acrylic: economical and lightweight, but more susceptible to scratches and yellowing over time. Best reserved for projects with a shorter expected lifespan.

The number one enemy in Belgium: limescale

Belgian water is hard: TH above 20°f in most provinces. Without precautions, limescale builds up on glass panels and taps within weeks. Two complementary approaches:

• Nano-coating treatment on glass: offered as an option by some brands, it makes the surface hydrophobic (drops slide off), so limescale does not stick.
• PVD finishes on tap fittings: unlike conventional chrome plating, the PVD coating (physical vapour deposition) resists acidic household products and repeated rubbing. Matt black or brushed brass PVD finishes remain impeccable years later.

�� Best practice: Ventilating the bathroom after each shower remains the simplest and most effective measure against moisture, mould and limescale. A high-performance mechanical ventilation system (MVS) is the invisible investment that protects all your equipment over the long term.