Many showers are a strictly utilitarian affair. They are designed to quickly and efficiently provide a morning cleanse, and won't have too many frills hiding behind the shower curtain or door.

But as bathrooms have become a popular location for home remodeling, homeowners are reimagining the shower. Several options are now available to upgrade this feature to a more luxurious part of the home.

Some showers will give a full body wash. Jan Soults Walker, writing for the National Association of Realtors' home improvement site HouseLogic, says water jets can be installed at varying heights along the sides of a shower stall. These sprays can be adjusted to point in different directions or provide massaging pressure or pulsations.

Replacing the main showerhead can easily make the shower a more soothing experience. Showerheads mounted from the ceiling instead of a wall can give the feeling of standing under a waterfall or out in the rain. Lori Dennis, writing for Angie's List, says new showerheads also use techniques such as air injection and atomization to save water without compromising comfort.

Showers aren't exempt from smart home technology. The home design site Houzz says digital control pads allow you to adjust pressure, water temperature, lighting, and other aspects of your shower with the touch of a button. Walker says you can create preset programs, allowing you to enjoy a steamy shower on a chilly winter day or a cooling rinse on a hot day.

Smart showers can help monitor the mixture of hot and cold water to create a constant temperature. They can automatically shut off to prevent scalding if cold water pressure drops.

Other features aim to help you relax. Dennis says some showerheads use chromatherapy, or colorful lights that create a soothing environment. Each color is reputed to have a different effect, such as blue for pain relief and yellow for heightening awareness, and the mood lighting can be changed as needed.

Some showers even use aromatherapy methods. Inserting a pod of essential oils into the showerhead allows it to diffuse a calming scent during your wash.

Waterproof radios have long been available for showers, but newer arrangements give more audio options. Wireless speakers can be incorporated directly into the showerhead and paired with another device, letting you listen to anything from a podcast to streaming radio. Houzz says some speakers are designed to seamlessly blend in with shower tiles.

Homeowners also have the option of a more complex shower panel. These devices combine a number of features, such as massage jets and a mix of overhead and handheld showerheads. They may also include convenient touches such as a footrest for women to use while shaving their legs.