Turn Your Shower into a Spa Retreat

With all that water everywhere, you'll need to make sure your plumbing is up to the job. A standard showerhead uses about 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM), a shower system may use up to 12 to 15 GPM. Make sure you've got a hot water heater that won't leave you in a cold shower. And check to see if your water pipes are wide enough; half an inch is standard, but you may need three-quarter inch or even an inch to handle water for a custom shower system.

If you're more of a shower minimalist, a single showerhead can still pack some punch — with massaging jets or various other pampering pluses. Many have a self-cleaning mechanism, which means that you never need to worry about calcium deposits ruining your spray arc or power. Hansgrohe's Downpour Royale is one such showerhead, and in 7-, 10-, and 14-inch sizes, you can take your pick. It injects air into the water spray, which — especially if you're underneath the 14 in. model with 225 sprayers — lets you sing in the rain while you shower. And "Tiny Bubbles" isn't just a Don Ho song.