• There are many new innovations for showers.shower image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
  
  If you are remodeling your bathroom, chances are you will need to replace the existing shower. Gone are the days when showers were little more than a shower head sticking out of a tiled wall. There have recently been many innovations in shower technology that you may want to include in your new shower design.
  
  

Shower Designs

• One new shower idea is to incorporate a steam shower. Steam showers combine jets that disperse steam into the shower with a more conventional shower head to use for rinsing after you relax in the steam bath. According to Joseph D'Agnese of This Old House, steam showers are a greener alternative to traditional showers, as steaming for 20 minutes uses only about two gallons of water. You can also add scents to the steam such as eucalyptus and lavender to combine aromatherapy with the benefits of steam. Steam showers are available in stall shower designs and in designs intended for use with a tub. Not only has the technology available for showers changed, so have the designs of the showers. Rather than a simple, rectangular box, you can also purchase showers in octagonal or pentagonal shapes--or even an enclosed ultra-modern egg-shaped shower complete with jacuzzi jets to add visual appeal to the shower space.
  
  

Shower Heads

• You can purchase shower heads in a variety of shapes and styles, as well as in a variety of water flow amounts. One of the most popular new types of shower heads is the rain shower head. These shower heads disperse water in a soft spray, similar to standing in rain. These heads are available in round, square or spoke designs in a variety of finishes, such as bright chrome and brushed nickel. Massage shower heads are also popular. These shower heads disperse the water in pulses that massage stiff, sore and tired muscles. You can often find a shower head in a design and finish you like that will allow you to switch between massage, rain shower and other settings.
  
  

Shower Features

• For your new shower, consider adding various aesthetic and utility features. One option is to include a bench at one end of the shower. This is a particularly nice feature to add to a steam shower--it provides a place to sit and relax in the steam. Another option is inset shelves--which are appropriate if you don't want a shower caddy hanging over the shower head.