Thinking about a double bath shower or a small bathtub shower combination for your family bathroom or ensuite? Here’s a practical, Australian guide from Joyce Kitchens—Perth’s experts in kitchen, bathroom, laundry and wardrobe design and renovation.
What is a double bath shower?
In Australia, a shower bath combo is popular in family bathrooms where space is tight. A double bath shower takes that up a notch—adding dual shower heads or extra width so two people can comfortably use the area. It’s an ideal option when you want the practicality of a shower with the relaxation of a bath, without dedicating floor area to both.
Typical Australian sizes
- Small bathtub shower combination: 1500–1600 mm long (great for compact bathrooms).
- Standard family size: 1700 mm long, 750–800 mm wide.
- Double-ended bath for two: 1700–1800 mm long, 800–900 mm wide, with central waste and mixer.
Benefits and when a double bath shower suits
- Space-saving: Ideal where a separate bath and shower won’t fit.
- Family-friendly: Bathe kids safely, then use the shower afterwards.
- Resale appeal: Many Perth buyers expect a bath in the main bathroom.
- Flexible luxury: Add dual shower heads or a rain shower over a double-ended bath for a hotel feel.
- Budget control: One waterproofed wet area, less tiling than separate zones.
Possible drawbacks (and our fixes)
- Step-in height: Choose a low-profile back-to-wall bath or inset bath to reduce step-over.
- Splashing: Specify a quality frameless shower screen with a return panel and proper fall to waste.
- Slipperiness: Select textured porcelain tiles and a bath with anti-slip base.
Our renovation process (Perth & WA)
- Design consultation: We measure on site, discuss how you live, and model options including wet room layouts, wall-hung vanity storage and custom cabinetry WA homeowners love.
- Selections: Tiles, bath shape (inset, back-to-wall or freestanding), mixers, shower screens, LED strip lighting, ventilation and accessories—coordinated with your kitchen, laundry fitout or shaker kitchen style if renovating multiple rooms.
- Compliance and approvals: We align with the NCC via the ABCB, HIA best practice and Master Builders WA guidance. Waterproofing and glazing to relevant Australian Standards.
- Build: Demolition, plumbing and electrical rough-in, waterproofing membrane, tiling, shower screen install, vanity and mirror cabinets with soft-close drawers, then fit-off and clean.
- Handover: You receive care instructions and warranties for fixtures, grout and joinery. We can coordinate kitchen renovations Perth wide at the same time for efficiency.
Useful authorities and guides for homeowners:
Materials and finishes
Bath options
- Acrylic: Warm to touch, lighter for upper floors, budget-friendly. Choose reinforced bases for longer spans.
- Steel/enamel: Durable, thinner lip suits tiling. Can be cooler to touch.
- Stone/composite: Premium look and heat retention; heavier and needs strong subfloor support.
Shower screens
- Frameless or semi-frameless: Minimal hardware, maximises light; specify toughened glass to AS/NZS 2208.
- Return panel: Useful on a double bath shower to contain splash from dual heads.
- Heights: 2000–2100 mm typical in Australia to capture spray from a rain shower.
Tapware and mixers
- Thermostatic mixers: Safe for kids; stabilise temperature when two users shower.
- Diverter mixers: Switch between rain shower and hand shower.
- Spout placement: For double-ended baths, centre-fill spout avoids leaning against tapware.
Tiles, grout and slip resistance
- Porcelain tiles: Low porosity and excellent in wet areas.
- Slip rating: Aim for a practical P3–P4 in wet zones.
- Grout: Epoxy grout reduces staining and mould.
Vanity and storage
- Wall-hung vanity: Improves floor cleaning and makes compact rooms feel larger.
- Custom cabinetry: Soft-close drawers, integrated laundry hampers and mirrored shaving cabinets to expand storage.
- Style continuity: If you love a shaker kitchen or scullery, consider a shaker-profile vanity door for a cohesive home aesthetic.
Engineered stone vs laminate (for vanity tops and kitchen benchtops)
| Feature | Engineered Stone Benchtop | Laminate Benchtop |
|---|---|---|
| Look and feel | Premium, seamless, pairs with Caesarstone-style aesthetics | Wide design range, realistic stone or timber looks |
| Moisture resistance | Excellent when edges are sealed correctly | Good; protect joins and cut-outs from standing water |
| Heat resistance (WA kitchens/laundries) | High; still use trivets near hot appliances | Moderate; avoid direct hot pans or irons |
| Maintenance | Low; non-porous, easy to clean | Very low; non-porous, easy to clean |
| Budget | $$–$$$ | $–$$ |
Layouts and styles that work in Australia
Popular double bath shower layouts
- Back-to-wall bath with fixed/hinged panel: Keeps the room open while controlling spray.
- Inset bath with tiled nib wall: Adds elbow room and a ledge for shampoos.
- Double-ended bath with twin outlets: Two shower heads at each end or a central rain shower with a hand shower rail.
Style ideas
- Coastal WA: White shaker-profile vanity fronts, brushed nickel tapware, light terrazzo-look tiles.
- Modern minimal: Frameless shower screen, matte black fixtures, large-format stone-look porcelain.
- Family-friendly: Textured floors, wall-hung vanity with finger-pull rails, integrated LED strip lighting under mirrors.
Two short local examples
Mount Hawthorn, family bathroom: We installed a 1700 mm double-ended bath with a central thermostatic mixer, a rain shower and a hand shower on rail. A semi-frameless return panel and a fall-to-waste upgrade solved previous splash issues. The vanity echoed the client’s shaker kitchen in 2-pac polyurethane with soft-close drawers.
Fremantle apartment ensuite: Space-limited layout reworked to a small bathtub shower combination (1500 mm) with a custom screen height of 2100 mm for a tall owner. We paired a compact wall-hung vanity and niche shelving to increase storage without crowding.
Costs, allowances and timelines
Indicative Perth/WA pricing (supply and install) to help you plan. Every project is unique—book a measure for a tailored quote.
- Bath (acrylic/inset/back-to-wall): $600–$2,200
- Shower screen (frameless/semi-frameless): $700–$1,800
- Tapware (dual head + thermostatic mixer): $650–$1,600
- Plumbing rough-in and fit-off: $1,200–$2,500
- Waterproofing (AS 3740 compliant): $800–$1,500
- Tiling and fall-to-waste: $120–$180 per m² (labour), plus tiles
- Vanity and mirrored cabinet (custom): $1,800–$4,500+
- Full bathroom renovation: typically $18,000–$35,000+ in Perth
Timeline: 2–5 weeks on site, depending on scope, with lead times for custom cabinetry and screens. Combining kitchen renovations Perth wide with your bathroom and laundry fitout can streamline trades and save on preliminaries.
Pre-renovation checklist
- Measure room width, window heights and door swing to confirm bath length.
- Confirm wall type (brick, stud) for screen fixing and niche placement.
- Decide on dual shower head vs. rain + hand shower combination.
- Select a bath with anti-slip base and check step-in height.
- Set mixer and spout positions; central for double-ended baths.
- Plan storage: wall-hung vanity, shaving cabinet, tiled niche.
- Choose tiles with suitable slip rating; consider epoxy grout.
- Ventilation strategy: window + exhaust sized for room volume.
- Confirm compliance: AS 3740 waterproofing, AS/NZS 3500 plumbing, AS/NZS 2208 glass.
- Coordinate finishes with your kitchen splashback and engineered stone benchtop for a cohesive home.
Ready to plan your double bath shower?
From concept to completion, Joyce Kitchens delivers custom cabinetry, compliant waterproofing and elegant fixtures across kitchens, bathrooms, laundries and wardrobes. Book a design consultation to see how a double bath shower or shower bath combo Australia families love can work in your home.
FAQ
What is a double bath shower and who is it best for?
A double bath shower is a bath and shower combined in one zone—often with a double-ended bath and dual shower heads—designed for flexible use by couples or families. It suits Australian homes where space is limited but you want both a bath and a high-performing shower.
How much does a double bath shower cost in Perth?
Expect $4,000–$8,000 for a targeted upgrade of the bath, screen and tapware within an existing bathroom, and $18,000–$35,000+ for a full bathroom renovation. Final pricing depends on materials, plumbing changes, tiles and custom cabinetry.
Will a small bathroom fit a small bathtub shower combination?
Yes. Many Perth apartments and cottages fit a 1500–1600 mm small bathtub shower combination. Use a wall-hung vanity, a frameless screen and large-format tiles to make the room feel bigger while maintaining storage and safety.
What Australian standards apply to a shower bath combo?
Waterproofing should follow AS 3740, plumbing must meet AS/NZS 3500, and shower screens should use toughened safety glass to AS/NZS 2208. Your designer and licensed trades will coordinate compliance and certificates.
How do I maintain a shower bath combo Australia homes use?
Rinse after use, squeegee the glass, and clean weekly with pH-neutral products. Use epoxy grout to reduce staining, keep silicone joints intact, and check exhaust ventilation to minimise condensation and mould.