Cloakroom Shower Enclosures

Fitting a shower into a cloakroom changes the room entirely — from a simple toilet and basin stop to a fully functional bathroom in the smallest footprint in the house. The enclosures here are designed for exactly that. Compact quadrant shapes that sit tight into corners, slim bi-fold doors that won't hit the toilet when they open, and low-profile trays that keep the step-in height to a minimum. If you've got a corner to spare and want to add showering to a room that currently doesn't have it, start here.

Cloakroom shower enclosures

Adding a shower to a cloakroom is one of the most practical upgrades you can make to a home. A room that currently handles a quick hand wash becomes somewhere you can take a full shower — useful for guests, for muddy kids coming in through the back door, or for mornings when the main bathroom is occupied. The challenge is fitting a shower into a room that wasn't designed for one, and that's where the right enclosure makes all the difference.

Quadrant enclosures — built for cloakroom corners

A quadrant enclosure is the natural choice for a cloakroom shower. It fits into a corner with a curved front, taking up the smallest possible floor area while still giving you a usable showering space. At 700mm x 700mm, the smallest quadrant enclosures fit into corners that you'd otherwise write off as unusable. Step up to 800mm x 800mm and you get noticeably more room inside without a dramatic increase in footprint. The curved sliding doors open without swinging into the room, which is essential in a cloakroom where the toilet and basin are inches away.

Bi-fold doors for recesses

If your cloakroom has a recess or alcove — under the stairs is a common one — a bi-fold door enclosure can work where a quadrant can't. The door folds inward on itself, so nothing extends beyond the enclosure frame when you open it. This means you can put the shower against a wall or in a recess without worrying about the door hitting the toilet, the basin or the room door. It's the most space-efficient door type for tight linear layouts.

Wet room panels — the open alternative

In a very small cloakroom where even a compact enclosure feels like too much hardware, a wet room panel offers a simpler solution. A single fixed glass screen separates the shower area from the rest of the room without a door, a frame or a track. The floor needs to be properly tanked and graded for drainage, but the result is the most open, least cluttered way to add showering to a tiny room.

Shower trays for tight spaces

The tray is just as important as the enclosure in a cloakroom conversion. Low-profile trays at 25mm to 40mm high keep the step-in height minimal, which matters when the room is tight and you're stepping in from close range. Quadrant trays match the curved footprint of a quadrant enclosure. Rectangular trays work for recessed installations. Make sure the tray size matches the enclosure exactly — in a room this small, even a 10mm mismatch between tray and glass creates problems.

Planning the plumbing

Adding a shower to a cloakroom means adding a water supply, waste drainage and potentially a shower pump if the water pressure isn't strong enough. If the cloakroom is on the ground floor near the kitchen, the waste drainage is usually straightforward. If it's under the stairs or in an unusual location, you may need to route the waste to a soil stack or use a macerator pump. It's worth checking the plumbing logistics before choosing the enclosure — the last thing you want is to buy a shower that fits the room but can't connect to the drains.

Door swing and clearance

This is the detail that catches most people out in a cloakroom conversion. Before choosing an enclosure, map out where the room door opens, where the toilet sits, and where you'll stand to use the basin. Then check that the shower door — whatever type it is — doesn't conflict with any of those positions. Sliding and bi-fold doors are the safest options because nothing extends beyond the enclosure footprint. If you're using a hinged door, make sure it opens inward into the shower, not outward into the room.

Need help adding a shower to your cloakroom?

Converting a cloakroom into a shower room is one of the trickier bathroom projects because the tolerances are so tight. Call us on 0121 753 0700 or visit our Birmingham showroom with your room measurements, including ceiling height, door swing direction and the location of existing plumbing. We'll help you work out what fits and what's involved.

Can I fit a shower in a cloakroom?

In most cases, yes. If you have a free corner of at least 700mm x 700mm alongside the existing toilet and basin, a compact quadrant enclosure can fit. The main considerations are plumbing access, drainage routing and whether the room has enough ceiling height for a shower.

What's the smallest shower enclosure for a cloakroom?

700mm x 700mm is the smallest standard quadrant enclosure size. It's compact but functional for a daily shower. If you can stretch to 800mm x 800mm, the showering experience is noticeably more comfortable.

What type of enclosure works best in a cloakroom?

Quadrant enclosures are the most popular because they fit into a corner and the sliding doors don't swing into the room. Bi-fold doors are best for recessed or linear layouts. Wet room panels work well if you want the most open, minimal feel.

Do I need to waterproof the whole room?

For a standard enclosure with a tray, no — the tray and enclosure contain the water. For a wet room panel without a fully enclosed shower, you'll need to tank the floor and lower walls around the shower area to prevent water damage. A professional installer can advise on what level of waterproofing your setup needs.

Will I need a shower pump?

It depends on your water pressure. If the cloakroom is on the ground floor and your home has a combi boiler, the mains pressure is usually strong enough for a shower without a pump. If you have a gravity-fed system with a tank in the loft, a shower pump may be needed to boost the pressure. Check your water pressure before choosing the shower valve.

What about drainage?

The shower tray needs a waste pipe that connects to your drainage system. In a ground floor cloakroom, this is usually straightforward — the waste can run to a nearby soil stack or external drain. In more awkward locations, a macerator pump or saniflo unit can handle the waste. Check the drainage route before committing to a layout.

What tray should I use?

A low-profile tray (25mm to 40mm high) that matches the shape and size of your enclosure. Quadrant trays for quadrant enclosures, rectangular trays for recessed installations. Make sure the tray and enclosure sizes match exactly — mismatched dimensions cause leaks and fitting headaches.

How much clearance do I need around the shower?

Sliding and bi-fold doors need zero clearance outside the enclosure. Hinged doors that open inward need clearance inside the shower. The main thing to check is that the shower door doesn't conflict with the room door, the toilet or the basin when fully open.

Can I keep the existing toilet and basin when adding a shower?

Usually, yes. Most cloakroom shower conversions add an enclosure to a free corner while keeping the existing toilet and basin in place. The layout may need adjusting slightly to accommodate the tray and allow access, but in most cases the existing sanitaryware stays.

Can you help me plan a cloakroom shower conversion?

Yes. This is one of the projects where getting professional advice early saves time and money. Call us on 0121 753 0700 or visit our Birmingham showroom with your room measurements, ceiling height and door swing direction. We'll help you work out what's possible and what you'll need.

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