At What Height in the Shower Should I Install a Border?

A decorative border installed in your shower can be a fun way to add a little extra color and detail to the design. Many people opt to choose a simple field tile for their showers and then install a border of decorative glass or stone to dress up the space. If you’re only installing a single border, however, and not creating a design with stripes or other decorations, it can be a tough decision to figure out exactly where the border should go. There are a few tricks you can use, however, to ensure that your border ends up in the perfect position in every shower.

Continuing A Line

If you are running the same field and border tile around the perimeter of the bathroom, just continue the border and the chair rail right through the shower at the same height with the field tile extending above it. This makes the bathroom seem larger, and creates an unbroken design that simplifies the room.

At Eye Level

If you are only tiling the shower, consider moving the border up to around eye level. This accomplishes a few things:

• It places the border where it is most noticeable
• It breaks the shower up at a higher point, which makes the walls appear taller
• It emphasizes the border as the sole decoration in the shower, rather than leaving the viewer to expect the tile to change shape or direction above it

If your shower has a few different users and they are different heights, split the difference between the two tallest users and install the border at this height. While this isn’t perfect, it does accomplish the later two points, which helps make the shower look larger and more polished than if the border were installed lower down. If you are unsure, consider running a piece of blue tape around the shower at the level you are considering so you can see for yourself what a border would look like at that level.  The consultants at Levi’s 4 Floors are happy to help with these decisions.  Feel free to ask!