Outdoor showers

Give your garden a holiday feel, or get your daily dose of cold water therapy, with an outdoor shower

Withsummers getting hotter, we are all seeking ways to add that staycation luxury to our gardens. An outdoor shower not only offers a place to cool off but also proves a practical spot for washing off beach gear, watersports kit or even the dog after a muddy walk.

SWEET SPOT

You'll want a private spot that is not overlooked by your neighbours, so pick a location where you can plant trees, install a screen, or build a more permanent enclosure. If you have a pool or hot tub, positioning your shower near this area will make access easier.

Just as when installing a water feature, the location will also be partially dictated by your pipework. The best and easiest place to install your shower would be on the kitchen or bathroom outer wall so you can simply run the hot and cold pipes outside without much disruption. The general rule is that the closer the shower is to your house, the easier the plumbing work will be, says Rikki Fothergill, style expert at Big Bathroom Shop.

FIRM FOOTING

Your first consideration when it comes to flooring is stability. Non-slip tiles those with a rating of R11 or above) will provide durable and colourful flooring. As with indoor showers, we advise avoiding glazed tiles for shower floors, as these are a slip-risk. Instead, cement tiles are hardwearing and weatherproof once sealed, which makes them a good choice for outdoor showers. Alternatively, terracotta is a classic and versatile choice, and proper sealing makes them waterproof and resistant to stains and scratches, making them perfect for outdoor showers, says Ruth Webber, creative director at Bert May.