A while back I posted 5 Creative Staircase Ideas for Tiny House RVs, which sparked an excellent discussion and a few innovative ideas with our readers. Well, it’s time to get creative again!
At Tumbleweed, we typically outfit our Tiny House RVs with a standard 32″ x 32″ fiberglass shower. This is the same size shower that you’d find in a traditional home, and it’s comfortable, lightweight and affordable. Of course, some of our customers prefer to use alternatives, which can add character to a tiny bathroom. Below I’ve listed five alternative showers, but there are many more options out there. Feel free to post your ideas in the comments section.
5 SHOWER IDEAS FOR TINY HOUSE RVs
1). Metal Shower
A popular DIY shower method used in a many Tiny House RVs is the metal shower. Galvanized steel sheets are available at any hardware store and, because it’s roofing, the sheets are already waterproof. Note: It’s important to waterproof the seams—areas where two sheets meet. For an extra snazzy look, use SILVER silicone sealant for this application. I even used my leftover roofing underlayment behind my tiny metal shower (pictured below), for extra waterproofing.
Metal Shower in Tiny House Giant Journey
2). Horse Trough
Ella Jenkins uses a horse trough for her Tumbleweed Cypress shower tub. This adorable, lightweight, affordable option comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Ella also created a wrap-around shower curtain rod from copper pipping to ensure that water does not damage her bathroom paneling.
Read all about Ella’s Tiny Bathroom
3). Ofuro / Japanese Soaking Tub
Enjoy a soak? Ofuros or Japanese-style soaking tubs are compact and luxurious. Of course, they also tend to be expensive. But, so what? Pamper yourself!
4). Wooden Shower or Tub
Some woods are water resistant – like teak and cedar. Why not create an entire shower with water resistant wood? Wouldn’t that be beautiful? Another fantastic shower alternative for Tiny House RVs is the use of a reclaimed wine barrel for a small tub (as pictured below)!
Note: All wood intended to be used in the shower will require maintenance and some form of sealant. But I think the aesthetic is worth the extra elbow grease, don’t you?
Kasl Family‘s Custom Tumbleweed Elm. Shower w/ Wine Barrel Tub & Tile
5). Tile
Tile is not usually recommended for Tiny House RVs for two reasons: 1). It’s heavy, and 2). Tile tends to shift and crack when jostled on the road. Of course, if you do not plan on moving your Tiny House RV often, tile might be a wonderful option for a creative and beautiful tiny shower. Get artsy—create a mosaic shower with reclaimed tile pieces!
Where can I find a small acrylic tub like the one in the “Metal Shower” example?
I suggest asking our Google overlords……
Hello! So I’ve designed a tiny house from top to bottom and so far I’ve decided to use tile in my shower to create an elegant but sleek, minimalistic look. I understand that being mobile, the tile has a potential to crack. I plan to only move my house maybe 3 to 4 times in the lifetime of the structure. And if it does move it will be low speed low traffic roads. Will it be necessary to make the structure more rigid for the tile? Or maybe also use something I’ve heard of called “flexible grout”?
Hi Seth,
Tumbleweed does not install tile in our Tiny House RVs for the reasons of movement and excess weight, but it can certainly be done. You should research epoxy-based grouts and urethane-based grouts. One of those should work well for you depending on the type of tile you choose to install. I hope this helps!