Landscape Design
25 Inspiring Outdoor Showers
From seaside villas and lakefront camps to suburban pools and city gardens, outdoor showers offer function and fun
Alfresco showers have myriad uses, including rinsing off sand, washing muddy dogs and giving your bathing experience a resort-vacation vibe. If you’re looking for some inspiration and tips to get you started on creating your own outdoor shower, check out these examples uploaded to the Houzz photo feed.
Iconic by Kaitlyn Wolfe
2. Desert Rain
This outdoor shower in Scottsdale, Arizona, is in a lush private courtyard adjacent to the primary bedroom, with a wall of glass separating them.
There’s a drain in the shower floor, but any splash is surely appreciated by the courtyard’s greenery. When greywater runs straight into garden beds, use plant-friendly biodegradable soaps.
How to Add an Outdoor Shower
2. Desert Rain
This outdoor shower in Scottsdale, Arizona, is in a lush private courtyard adjacent to the primary bedroom, with a wall of glass separating them.
There’s a drain in the shower floor, but any splash is surely appreciated by the courtyard’s greenery. When greywater runs straight into garden beds, use plant-friendly biodegradable soaps.
How to Add an Outdoor Shower
r. brad knipstein photography
3. Soak It In
In San Francisco, an outdoor bathing area just off a primary bedroom features a large wooden circular soaking tub and shower.
A handheld sprayer like this one is especially convenient for a quick foot (or paw) rinse.
Enjoy Outdoor Soaking With a Classic Wood Hot Tub
3. Soak It In
In San Francisco, an outdoor bathing area just off a primary bedroom features a large wooden circular soaking tub and shower.
A handheld sprayer like this one is especially convenient for a quick foot (or paw) rinse.
Enjoy Outdoor Soaking With a Classic Wood Hot Tub
Blue Jay Design
5. The Living Is Easy
How do you spell summertime? How about a simple freestanding shower stall set in a grassy yard on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts?
Water from outdoor showers might flow into the ground (with or without a dry well or French drain) into a greywater system or into a drain connected to a home’s sewer lines. Check local building codes to find out what’s allowed in your area.
5. The Living Is Easy
How do you spell summertime? How about a simple freestanding shower stall set in a grassy yard on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts?
Water from outdoor showers might flow into the ground (with or without a dry well or French drain) into a greywater system or into a drain connected to a home’s sewer lines. Check local building codes to find out what’s allowed in your area.
The Up Studio
6. Forest Idyll
This shower is part of a modern pool cabana built on a forested property in East Hampton, New York. A surround made of board-formed concrete has the appearance of weathered wood.
Ensuring that an outdoor shower gets direct sun will make showering more comfortable and help keep shower walls and floors drier (and yuck-free).
6. Forest Idyll
This shower is part of a modern pool cabana built on a forested property in East Hampton, New York. A surround made of board-formed concrete has the appearance of weathered wood.
Ensuring that an outdoor shower gets direct sun will make showering more comfortable and help keep shower walls and floors drier (and yuck-free).
Shapeside
7. Tile-Tastic
At a Spanish-style home in Santa Monica, California, a barn door slides open to reveal a colorful and pattern-full shower with floors and walls covered in Spanish tile.
One advantage to locating an outdoor shower on the other side of an interior bathroom is that it can tap directly into the home’s water line. You just want to be sure that the water is directed away from the foundation or basement and that your siding is protected from water infiltration. Your best bet is to hire a pro with experience building outdoor showers.
7. Tile-Tastic
At a Spanish-style home in Santa Monica, California, a barn door slides open to reveal a colorful and pattern-full shower with floors and walls covered in Spanish tile.
One advantage to locating an outdoor shower on the other side of an interior bathroom is that it can tap directly into the home’s water line. You just want to be sure that the water is directed away from the foundation or basement and that your siding is protected from water infiltration. Your best bet is to hire a pro with experience building outdoor showers.
Always by Design Architecture
8. Petite Pavilion
Not much bigger than an off-the-shelf garden shed, this little outdoor pavilion in Cape May, New Jersey, has a spot to rinse the sand off yourself and your beach toys, as well as a storage space for the latter.
Shop for your outdoor space
8. Petite Pavilion
Not much bigger than an off-the-shelf garden shed, this little outdoor pavilion in Cape May, New Jersey, has a spot to rinse the sand off yourself and your beach toys, as well as a storage space for the latter.
Shop for your outdoor space
Wendi Young Design
9. Island Time
This outdoor shower area at an elegant Hawaiian estate looks like it was built from ancient lava rock. The rough black stone contrasts pleasingly with the smooth shower wall in light-colored tile.
9. Island Time
This outdoor shower area at an elegant Hawaiian estate looks like it was built from ancient lava rock. The rough black stone contrasts pleasingly with the smooth shower wall in light-colored tile.
Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects
10. Oculus Prime
Part of a Connecticut modern farmhouse’s concrete pool house, this shower has an oculus that lets in light when the barn door is closed. A green living roof and vines growing up the shower walls make it look like a magical grotto.
10. Oculus Prime
Part of a Connecticut modern farmhouse’s concrete pool house, this shower has an oculus that lets in light when the barn door is closed. A green living roof and vines growing up the shower walls make it look like a magical grotto.
Block House Design/Build
11. Under Cover
A solid or slatted roof over a shower, like this one at a resort in the Virgin Islands, can provide privacy, weather protection, shade and a place to install an overhead rain shower.
11. Under Cover
A solid or slatted roof over a shower, like this one at a resort in the Virgin Islands, can provide privacy, weather protection, shade and a place to install an overhead rain shower.
Josh Wynne Construction
12. Heavy Metal
In Florida, on a property with several small, rustic guest cottages, a bathhouse has an outdoor shower with walls made of durable and cost-effective corrugated metal.
12 Stylish Screens for Hot Tubs, Pools and Outdoor Showers
12. Heavy Metal
In Florida, on a property with several small, rustic guest cottages, a bathhouse has an outdoor shower with walls made of durable and cost-effective corrugated metal.
12 Stylish Screens for Hot Tubs, Pools and Outdoor Showers
Total Concepts
13. Wine Country Casual
The fixtures in this Sonoma County, California, shower are installed on paneling that protects the wood siding from water damage. Look closely and you’ll also spy a little spigot at the end of the shower that’s the perfect height for rinsing feet or filling watering cans.
13. Wine Country Casual
The fixtures in this Sonoma County, California, shower are installed on paneling that protects the wood siding from water damage. Look closely and you’ll also spy a little spigot at the end of the shower that’s the perfect height for rinsing feet or filling watering cans.
Blue Heron
14. Viva Las Vegas
At a sleek contemporary home near Las Vegas, a glass door between an expansive indoor bathroom and this outdoor shower disappears completely to turn the two spaces into one. A wall of what looks like a huge slab of natural turquoise is the outdoor portion’s pièce de résistance.
14. Viva Las Vegas
At a sleek contemporary home near Las Vegas, a glass door between an expansive indoor bathroom and this outdoor shower disappears completely to turn the two spaces into one. A wall of what looks like a huge slab of natural turquoise is the outdoor portion’s pièce de résistance.
Yellowstone Traditions
15. Rough and Ready
Rugged rocks form the walls of the outdoor shower at a fishing cabin in Montana, and a door built with boards of varying lengths adds more rustic charm. The cabin itself was built with hewn logs milled on-site, which help it blend into the landscape.
15. Rough and Ready
Rugged rocks form the walls of the outdoor shower at a fishing cabin in Montana, and a door built with boards of varying lengths adds more rustic charm. The cabin itself was built with hewn logs milled on-site, which help it blend into the landscape.
Jill Lewis Architecture
16. Mid-Mod Mood
This crisp outdoor shower at a midcentury modern house in Rancho Mirage, California, shares the home’s clean lines and minimalist black-and-white palette.
16. Mid-Mod Mood
This crisp outdoor shower at a midcentury modern house in Rancho Mirage, California, shares the home’s clean lines and minimalist black-and-white palette.
Kanga Construction
17. Pinch an Inch
Every square inch is put to work in this Key West, Florida, backyard, including the sliver of space between two wings, which accommodates a poolside shower.
17. Pinch an Inch
Every square inch is put to work in this Key West, Florida, backyard, including the sliver of space between two wings, which accommodates a poolside shower.
Kathleen Burke Design
18. Stepping Stones
Beside a modern farmhouse in Sonoma County, California, a sliced-pebble floor in an outdoor shower conjures daydreams of standing in a stream under a gentle waterfall.
18. Stepping Stones
Beside a modern farmhouse in Sonoma County, California, a sliced-pebble floor in an outdoor shower conjures daydreams of standing in a stream under a gentle waterfall.
Steven Allen Designs
19. Take the Plunge
At this house in hot and humid Houston, it’s a short trip from the bedroom, left, and bathroom to an outdoor shower and a refreshing plunge pool.
19. Take the Plunge
At this house in hot and humid Houston, it’s a short trip from the bedroom, left, and bathroom to an outdoor shower and a refreshing plunge pool.
Carol Kurth Architecture + Interiors
20. Light Showers
This petite poolside shower in Connecticut has all of the essentials, including an outdoor light for nighttime dips.
30 Stunning New Pools and Poolscapes
20. Light Showers
This petite poolside shower in Connecticut has all of the essentials, including an outdoor light for nighttime dips.
30 Stunning New Pools and Poolscapes
Feldman Architecture
21. Surf Zone
On the side of this Santa Cruz, California, beach home of a family of surfers are two Boffi showers that are great for rinsing both bodies and boards. The wood is reclaimed Monterey cypress.
Tour this home
21. Surf Zone
On the side of this Santa Cruz, California, beach home of a family of surfers are two Boffi showers that are great for rinsing both bodies and boards. The wood is reclaimed Monterey cypress.
Tour this home
Studio VMA
22. Canadian Club
This shower is part of a Toronto cabana designed for four-season enjoyment.
Experts generally recommend that homeowners who live in cold climates locate outdoor showers’ water shutoff valves inside the house and drain the fixtures and pipes before winter hits to avoid damage from freezing water.
22. Canadian Club
This shower is part of a Toronto cabana designed for four-season enjoyment.
Experts generally recommend that homeowners who live in cold climates locate outdoor showers’ water shutoff valves inside the house and drain the fixtures and pipes before winter hits to avoid damage from freezing water.
Envision Landscape Studio
23. Peaceful Path
East of San Francisco, a tranquil backyard design replete with earthy Asian design details, trickling fountains, pools and lounge areas has raised wooden pathways leading to this open-air shower.
23. Peaceful Path
East of San Francisco, a tranquil backyard design replete with earthy Asian design details, trickling fountains, pools and lounge areas has raised wooden pathways leading to this open-air shower.
Watershedd
24. Rugged Beauty
A remodeled stone cottage on the seaside in Cornwall, England, has a fuss-free outdoor shower installed just outside a new surfboard storage and wet room, right onto the side of the home’s new stone-clad addition.
24. Rugged Beauty
A remodeled stone cottage on the seaside in Cornwall, England, has a fuss-free outdoor shower installed just outside a new surfboard storage and wet room, right onto the side of the home’s new stone-clad addition.
Jason Thomas Architect
25. Stripped Down
How cool is the minimalist shower head in this sleek Sagaponack, New York, pool house’s outdoor shower?
More on Houzz
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See 50 more ideas for outdoor showers
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25. Stripped Down
How cool is the minimalist shower head in this sleek Sagaponack, New York, pool house’s outdoor shower?
More on Houzz
Tour more landscapes
See 50 more ideas for outdoor showers
Find general contractors in your area
Shop for your outdoor spaces
1. Free Flow
An inviting variation on the classic alfresco shower is an indoor bathroom that opens up to an outdoor bathing area, such as this example at a lakeside retreat in Georgia. The glass door and sidelight allow light to filter into the adjacent primary bathroom, which has its own double shower.
Work with a landscape contractor in your area