There are many good reasons to have an outdoor shower. You might not want to bring the mess inside. You might want to take a shower before or after going to the pool. Your dog might need a bath. It's not hard to build your own outdoor shower, and you can do it on almost any budget. Almost all you need to start is a place to get water, a place to hide for privacy, and a few DIY outdoor shower ideas.
If you don't know how to design a practical outdoor shower that adds to your outdoor oasis instead of taking away from it, here are some ideas to get you started.
Partially Enclosed Outdoor Shower
The most effective ideas for outdoor showers keep things basic, but a few unobtrusive changes can make a significant impact on the overall quality of the experience. The use of a shower that is just partially enclosed can offer not only a high level of privacy but also some protection from the weather. If the shower is built using high-quality composites for the drainage system, it will be able to blend in with the side of your home as if it were a natural extension.
Read more: 7 Outdoor Storage Ideas & Tips
DIY: The Bare Essentials for an Outdoor Shower
It is helpful, to begin with the most fundamental components of an outdoor shower when imagining a more functional approach to the space. In most circumstances, this involves having access to some water as well as some level of seclusion. When it comes to providing a source of water, one of the simplest ways to do so is to put a garden hose in a raised position and then secure it with planter hooks. This will allow the water to reach the plants below.
You might, for instance, put a hose on top of an arbor or pergola so that it is concealed from view. This would be a very clever solution. Decorating can be made much simpler and perhaps a little bit more elegant by making use of the natural plant life that is present for the purposes of providing privacy and concealing. This kind of straightforward outdoor shower concept works best when the weather is warm.
DIY Outdoor Showerhead
Some imagination can go a long way. For example, take a bucket and poke holes in the bottom of it. Then, let your hose drain into your bucket, which will be your showerhead. With a little work, you can change the water pressure to suit your needs. Using common shelf brackets, it only takes a few minutes to hang a bucket or other object on a fence or wall.
Utilize Existing Structures
It's often easier to build your outdoor shower around any existing plumbing, and it's usually necessary if you want to have hot water in your outdoor shower. Also, making your outdoor shower an extension of your home makes it easier to use an existing overhang that can help give you some privacy.
Using this method, a simple solution would be to mount a round shower rod on a flat wall of your choice and then draw a shower curtain for privacy. Adding a large stone where you can put soaps, towels, and other shower necessities can help keep the "outdoor" look and feel while also giving you a place to store shower necessities.
But if you want something fancier, you could also install a mounted door with a locking mechanism. A door that swings open can give you access when you need it and keep prying eyes out of your shower when it's closed. Many homeowners like this kind of partially enclosed design, and their guests appreciate the extra privacy.
Freestanding Outdoor Shower Enclosures
Most outdoor showers are permanent or semi-permanent installations, but if you don't have a lot of space, it's often a good idea to use a portable enclosure. If you only use your outdoor shower during the warmer months, being able to move or store the enclosure can be a big plus.
You can choose any kind of stand-alone enclosure you want. You might like the woodsy look of bamboo, the industrial look of galvanized metal, or the indoor feel of opaque tempered glass.
Ideas for Shower Enclosure Flooring
Sanded wooden pallets can serve as an impromptu showering platform for homeowners who are looking for quick and simple solutions for an outdoor shower. These homeowners do not need to look any further. It's a good idea to use pallets as the base of an outdoor shower since they're built to support a reasonable amount of weight, and the arrangement of the boards on the pallets allows water to freely drain away and move to the ground below. However, because of the accumulation of mildew, mold, or rot that can result from the wood being saturated with water for an extended period of time, you will be required to replace your wooden pallets every few years.
You might instead construct a bathing platform that is resistant to the elements by using composite decking. This would involve applying the same fundamentals but in a more complex manner. The use of composite decking as a platform has a number of advantages, including the fact that it is resistant to mildew and mold growth, won't splinter like actual wood, and won't fade in color. Drainage problems can be eliminated with careful planning and positioning of the building. Just keep in mind that you should only use soaps that are biodegradable and won't hurt the plants that are around.
A practical solution to the problem of trailing dirt into the house or into the pool is to install an outdoor shower. You do not, however, have to forego aesthetic value simply because the addition serves a functional purpose; this is not the case. It is possible to effectively incorporate an outdoor shower into the design of your backyard in a number of different ways, providing you with some degree of seclusion as well as a practical location that can be used during the warmer months.