I have a shower head as described by kudzu9 above. It's wonderful. The adjustable height is great for multiple users and the handheld function comes in handy for washing the dog, rinsing dirty feet and cleaning the shower. It has variable water flow options, too, just like a wall-mounted shower head. Can't remember for sure but I think it's a Hansgrohe.

I was going to make the same suggestion. In my 3x4 shower, I have one shower head: a hand-held model. Sticking with one shower head will save money and reduce plumbing, which means reducing the possibility of leaks in the future.

5' x 8' shower with two heads; 12" rain head in the center of the ceiling and a handheld on the vertical sliding bar on the wall. Each head has its own supply valve so temperatures can be selected independent of one another.

No regrets. Don't wish for more, don't think I have too much.

If you shower independently (but at the same time), a conventional head on one wall and a handheld on the other wall would work for basic showering. You can still have the rain head on the ceiling for those crazy rainy moments. It's only overkill if all three heads are always running at the same time.

If three shower heads is what you want and it fits in your budget (and local codes) then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

I have done 2 shower heads in all the bathrooms. One is a standard wall mounted shower head (Speakman brand are really good). The second shower head is a handheld on an adjustable shower/grab bar (Jaclo brand for the bar).

Handheld shower heads do not produce the same water pressure as a wall mounted head. If it has to go down and up through that hose ... you are losing pressure!

chispa-

I'm going to respectfully differ.

First, for me, three shower fixtures in a 4X5 shower space would be a bit too much visually. That's me...

Second, you are not going to get a significant loss in flow if the water goes through a hose for its last few feet of travel. Maybe if the hose was 30' long I'd be concerned, but you can check the specs for most any shower fixture to confirm flow rate and you'll find plenty of hand held models have flow rates comparable to wall-mounted (unless you select some head that dumps a huge amount of water and will require a very large water heater to compensate).

I am going to do a rainhead, which I really want as a luxury for me for part of my shower, a conventional head, which hubby insists on, and the handheld, which will be on the Jacclo bar on the side wall so that it will be in reach when I have to shower sitting down.

I don't care what it looks like.

With all the safety bars I will have in my 37" x 62" shower, it already looks like a chrome lover's paradise. Each fixture has its own volume control and there is a center temperature control. I expect that only one shower head will be used at a time, unless the bather is expecting a pretty short shower. We are not enlarging our 60 gallon water heater at this time.

The plumbing showroom where we shop is plumbed so you can try everything out. I asked about the theory that handheld showers have less pressure. She said it depended on the model and showed me different shower heads. There was enough pressure to blow the hair off your head. I personally don't think a wall-mount is necessary.

Thanks for all the comments! I like the idea of the handheld as the main shower head. I'll need to investigate water flow/pressure though. We're on a well with a pump and I'm not happy with the pressure as is but what can I do? Any less water pressure would be a total bummer.

I saw some pics with ran shower heads in the ceiling rather than hanging down on an arm. That might reduce the "business" of shower heads.

Two walls are outside walls and one wall is glass so that leaves a single wall for me to put the shower heads. If I do a stationary and a hand held, they'd both have to be on that wall. I pic has this set up. A - thanks for the pic of your shower. that's another great option.

Good points on plumbing and fixture costs and thanks for the tips on products your like. I've seen Speakman faucets online but never heard of the brand so was dubious.

"I'll need to investigate water flow/pressure though. We're on a well
with a pump and I'm not happy with the pressure as is but what can I do?"

Shower heads are rated for a maximum flow of 2.5gpm, 2.0gpm, or even 1.8gpm, usually at 80psi.

If you're on a well, most well set-ups have a pressure regulator with a factory set PSI range. 40psi-60psi is common. Some others are 30-50, some 50-70.

The pressure regulator, as well as a water dial pressure gauge, should be located at the base of your water tank. The regulator itself looks something like this and the regulator and water pressure dial indicator assembly could look like this.

For a 40-60 rating, it means that when the house pressure drops to 40psi, the regulator switch will energize the well pump and water will be pumped from the well into the holding tank. When the pressure hits 60psi the well pump will be de-energized.

As water is consumed and the pressure drops, the well will cycle on and off as needed.

Too low water pressure (20 psi for example) can result in anemic flow. Too high of a pressure (above 100psi for example) can result in water hammer, or seal or cartridge leaks in your valves or faucets.

You can turn on a faucet, get the water flowing, and watch the needle movement on the water pressure gauge to see the PSI settings where your regulator and well pump are cutting in and cutting out. Your plumber can adjust the regulator if needed to change the line pressure. It's not difficult.

Most single shower head bathrooms are plumbed with 1/2" supply tubing to the shower valve. Talk it over with your plumber, during the reno if you have undersized tubing feeding your bathroom, you may be able to upsize it to 3/4" depending on access.

That written, unless you have something unconventional in your plumbing....an excessively long run, or a lot of elbows in the plumbing...two standard shower heads can simultaneously be fed with a 1/2" supply tubing from the bathroom branch running to the 1/2" supply valves for your shower heads.

Your plumber will be able to guide you through any pump pressure and supply tubing size issues.

Thank you MongoCT! I will definitely discuss with the plumber.

My husband also prefers a handheld since he is the head shower/tub cleaner. I admit it is also handy for things like rinsing pets, just feet (if you have been barefoot outside) and so on. We just have handhelds that mount in regular “overhead” brackets for regular “overhead” use.

Maybe it is handhelds I have chosen to purchase, but absolutely no issues with pressure - they do all have adjustable pressure and spray settings though.

Three separate heads would seem like a lot of “clutter” for me personally but it is not my shower and plenty of people seem to like showers with all sorts of rain heads, handhelds, body sprayers.

My rain head will be in the ceiling, over the center of the shower. I am looking forward to not having to hug a wall to rinse off or get wet. It will also rinse me when I am sitting and can't get up, or if I use a wheelchair. Since the shower is in an alcove with a lower ceiling, I am not worried that the water will get colder falling so far, it really won't be falling much further than if it had come out of the wall, and we can really insulate that recessed ceiling portion well.