Contrary to popular belief, outdoor showers are not reserved for plush hotels and resorts. You can have your very own outdoor shower at home, to wash away sand and grime after a swim or just to feel close to nature. Showering alfresco in the outdoors can be exhilarating and there are many designs and styles of outdoor showers that you can choose from. An outdoor shower is generally constructed in the backyard and is mostly made out of natural materials. If you are keen on having an outdoor shower stall in your home, first decide on the level of privacy you require in your shower design. For people who live in large isolated homes, where there is no question of nosy neighbors peeking through, privacy is not a problem. But you will require some sort of privacy screens or doors in your outdoor shower if you have neighbors living close by. Design Ideas for Outdoor Shower Designs and plans of outdoor showers should not be like your indoor walk-in shower enclosures. Shower designs should be such that it blends in perfectly with the landscape and do not stand out like a sore thumb. It is best to keep designs simple and use natural materials that will work well with your garden or backyard. Use materials like pebbles, slate, stones, bamboo and wood as far as possible and steer clear of aluminum, tiles and steel. Wooden Enclosed Shower One of the best yet simple outdoor shower designs is to opt for a shower that is constructed out of redwood. A rectangular enclosed redwood shower with a partially open roof, provides the right amount of privacy. The shower stall can be as big or small as you want, with stainless steel hooks installed for hanging clothes. Construct a lattice roof and install this over your shower enclosure. A medium-sized outdoor teak towel rack or a teak shower bench, placed inside the shower stall would perfectly complement this rustic and simple shower design. Open Outdoor Shower Another good outdoor shower design is to construct an open shower with a backsplash of slate and a protruding side wall of rounded river stones. This is a very natural looking shower design and is great for people who live in beach houses. However, this particular design of outdoor shower does not provide any privacy and as such is suitable for people who have large properties without any neighbors living in close proximity. You can also use natural pebbles on the walls to give it a completely natural look. Glass Block Shower There are many design options of outdoor showers for people who desire to have a bit of privacy while taking a bath outdoors. Glass block showers work very well outdoors, as glass blocks are sturdy and low maintenance. Install a shower stall made of clear glass blocks or colored glass blocks. Although, glass blocks are not natural material, they still provide excellent privacy. You can also install aluminum screens that have translucent marbles suspended on it, to create a stained glass effect. Brick Wall Shower If you are low on funds and want an outdoor shower that is simple and cost-effective, then a brick wall shower is just what you are looking for. Construct a rectangular shower enclosure with bricks with an open roof. This type of outdoor showers are easy to construct, and they are low maintenance too. To help it blend with the landscape, you can build a border around the shower with pebbles or river rocks. These were some ideas for designing an outdoor shower. If you are on a budget and require a shower enclosure that is cheap, then just affix a curved curtain rod on the wall and hang waterproof custom shower curtains on it. The curtain can be drawn when the shower is not in use. Plans for an outdoor shower should be made in consultation with plumbers, as proper drainage as well as supply of hot water are basic requirements. The material used for the construction of outdoor showers should be resistant to mildew and rotting and should also be easy to maintain.