Rain shower or a handheld shower head?

A rain shower set differs from a hand shower only in terms of appearance. It has a larger surface area and the water is dispersed, making it feel as if rain was falling on your body while taking a shower. Such a bath is extremely comfortable. Sometimes the rain shower head comes together with the shower enclosure, but much more often we need to buy it separately. It is available in different sizes and shapes, but usually a rectangular or round one is chosen.

Rain showers can be divided into several types, where each involves a different method of installation. An exposed wall-mounted rain shower is the easiest to install. All we need to do is connect it to the shower panel or a wall-mounted faucet. The second type is a concealed wall-mounted rain shower where the entire installation is behind the wall tiles. They have a minimalist look, and all we see on the outside is the rain shower head itself and its connecting pipe. There are also ceiling-mounted rain showers, which, as the name suggests, are mounted in the false ceiling or in the plaster. This is a super stylish and impressive choice, but also the most expensive.

The hand shower has been around for many years. It’s more compact than a rain shower head and the water stream coming out of it is weaker. When looking for modern models, we can find ones with adjustable height. The classic handheld shower head is associated with a round shape. However, nowadays manufacturers design them in such a way that they fit in perfectly with the modern decor of the bathroom, and we can now find, among others, rectangular hand showers on sale.

The biggest advantage of a rain shower is the comfort while showering. We do not need to hold the hand shower, so the hands are free when taking a shower. This allows us to freely reach out for cosmetics, and bathing in the rainfall is extremely pleasant. Let’s not forget about the design as it is important, too. The rain shower will be a real decoration, and if we add it to a modern walk-in shower enclosure, for example, we can achieve an amazing effect. To find out more about walk-in shower enclosures read our article: ‘Walk-in shower: advantages and disadvantages’.

But, a rain shower has a few disadvantages, too. First of all, we can’t adjust the direction of the stream, which could be troublesome as we might not be able to reach every part of the body. What is more, when the shower stream is strong, even up to several liters of water flow from the rain shower per minute. Also, let’s not forget that the rain shower head is permanently mounted, so it can’t be moved.

A hand shower gives us more ways to manipulate, which means it is easier to direct the stream in the desired direction. It will work better in a home with children, especially if it is a hand shower with adjustable height. The advantages of a handheld shower head also include wide availability and a much lower price compared to a rain shower head.

One disadvantage is certainly the fact that it is less handy in use. While taking a shower, we always need to hold it in our hand. In addition, the water stream is always weaker than the one in a rain shower, and it is also less appealing in terms of design.

A hand shower is a more economical choice, and it shouldn’t be a big burden on your budget. The price can be as low as several dozen dollars. The thing looks different when it comes to a rain shower; here the cost would be higher. Depending on the installation method and the manufacturer, the price starts somewhere around a few hundred dollars and reaches up to a few thousand dollars for ceiling-mounted rainfall showers.

Many investors ask themselves if they should invest in a shower with or without a rain shower. The answer is not that obvious. If practicality is the priority, then a hand shower may be a better choice, but when comfort and modern design are important, a rainfall shower is a good option. There are also products that combine both of these options. You can also find a rain shower head for a bathtub, but in this case, a good bath screen comes in handy to prevent splashing.