When water cascades down your face and touches your entire body, the feeling is divine. This is the kind of experience offered by a rain shower head. It is almost as if you are in a spa. However, if you are not careful, you can have a rain shower head but miss the spa-like feel.
For maximum satisfaction, while using a rain shower head, you would need to be in a comfortable standing position under the shower. This is where it becomes important to correctly place your rain shower head.
A rain shower head should be 9 to 18 inches from the wall whether it is wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted. Mostly, the distance from the wall is also based on the width and height of the shower head.
What Is A Rain Shower Head?
A rain shower head is a type of shower head that is designed to spray water over the head of the user, ensuring full body coverage. A rain shower head mimics the natural rainfall effect so the face of the shower head is wide, measuring between 6 to 12 inches.
Originally, rain shower heads were installed in the ceiling. However, nowadays, there are wall-mounted rain shower heads too. Aside from being stylish, rain shower heads are easy to install and clean. They also help conserve water as they make it possible to shower in less time because the water falls directly on the entire body at one time.
Overhead shower, rainfall shower, and downpour shower head are some of the names used to interchangeably refer to a rain shower head.
What Should Be The Distance Between A Rain Shower Head And The Wall?
Apart from being refreshed as the water from your shower head hits your body, you must also be comfortable while taking the shower. You do not want your bathroom space to feel crowded or keep bumping into the wall and other fixtures while showering.
When it comes to installing a rain shower head, you can either attach the shower head directly to the ceiling or a wall with the help of a shower arm.
A rain shower head should therefore be 9 to 18 inches from the wall, whether wall or ceiling-mounted. Moreover, if the rain shower head is installed in the ceiling, it should be positioned in the center of the enclosed shower area.
Though these are the standard guidelines some factors could help you to be more precise with positioning your rain shower head.
Factors That Determine The Right Distance Between A Rain Shower Head And A Wall
Four important factors can help you to be precise about how much distance would be between your rain shower head and the shower wall.
1. The Width Of The Rain Shower Head
The width of the rain shower head can help you determine how much space the shower head will occupy on your bathroom wall or ceiling. The width, which is also the diameter of the rain shower head, should be known and checked against the size of your enclosed shower area. Usually, the width of rain shower heads ranges from 6 to 12 inches.
A wider shower head will spray more water at a given time and as such, will not be a good fit for a small bathroom. You do not want a situation where a lot of water gets out of your enclosed shower area and wets the bathroom floor.
2. The Height Of The Bathroom
To determine the right place to fix your rain shower head, you should know the height of your bathroom. Depending on whether the rain shower head will be wall or ceiling-mount, it will help to know the distance between the bathroom floor and the ceiling.
At the very least, you should know the distance between the bathroom floor and where you intend to place the rain shower head.
3. The Shape Of Your Bathroom
The shape of your bathroom is another factor that can help you determine the right place to install your rain shower head. If your bathroom is small, you might want to consider a wall-mounted rain shower head as this will help to save space.
A wall-mounted rain shower head can be placed at any part of the wall, close to the ceiling or closer to the floor. You can also place it in the corner of your bathroom to create more space in the bathroom.
On the other hand, if your bathroom is big, you can opt for a ceiling-mounted rain shower head as this will give you more flexibility with the position of the shower head.
4. The Type Of Enclosure You Have
The type of enclosure you have will also help to determine how to place your rain shower head. If you have an open shower area, you can place the rain shower head at any part of the wall or ceiling.
However, if you have a glass enclosure, it is best to install the rain shower head close to the ceiling as this will help to prevent water from wetting the floor outside the shower area.
A Practical Way To Determine Where To Fix Your Rain Shower Head
Let’s just assume that you want to avoid measuring the width of your shower head or the distance between the shower head and the bathroom floor. This is a practical approach to determining where to install your shower head so it is comfortable to use.
- Make sure your shower head is angled properly at 90 degrees
- Set the perforated nozzle of your shower head above your head
- Place both hands on your head with your elbows out facing opposite each other
- Stand in the middle of the showering area and turn on the shower
- Then, make a 360-degree turn
If you do not bump into the wall or any fixtures in the showering area, then your shower head is placed correctly.
How To Determine The Right Height For Your Rain Shower Head
As much as getting the distance between the rain shower head and the wall right is crucial, you also need to know how high your rain shower head should be.
Ideally, a shower head should be 80 to 84 inches above the bathroom floor. In places with high bathroom ceilings, the height of the shower head can even be about 96 inches.
If you are restricted by the height of your bathroom ceiling, get the tallest person who would use the bathroom to stand in the showering area. Then fix the shower head to be at a comfortable height for that person.
There are also some rain shower heads that can be adjusted to different heights. This type of shower head can be a good option if different people use the same bathroom. Especially for family bathrooms. This will make it easier to use the shower head for people of different heights.
Final Thoughts
It is important to get the placement of the rain shower head right to ensure that you enjoy using it. Essentially, a rain shower head should be 9 to 18 inches from the wall whether it is wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted.
The width of the shower head, the height of your bathroom, and the shape of your bathroom are some of the factors that will help you determine the right place to install your rain shower head.
You should also ensure that the shower head is not too high or too low. I hope this article was helpful in guiding you on how to determine the right place to install your rain shower head.
