What Color Are Ella Wall Panels, and Do They Match the Tub?
Ella wall panels are white based. The molded shower stalls, the shower bases and their wall panels are offered in white only, and the acrylic wall kits come in Carrara White or a solid white gloss. There is no ceiling panel in any color, because Ella does not make one, as explained in Does Ella Offer a Dome, Ceiling Panel or Light for Its Showers?. The panels that actually arrive with a walk-in tub are its end panel, extension panel and front apron, which are parts of the tub and not wall coverings.
What Arrives with a Walk-In Tub, and What Is a Separate Wall Kit
People use the word panels for two different things, so it helps to separate them. The first group is the set of panels that belong to the tub itself. Every Ella walk-in tub comes with one reversible end panel, which can be placed on either side of the tub to cover the plumbing and the frame. Any Ella walk-in tub that is less than 60 inches long also comes with an extension panel so the tub fits a standard 60 inch tub alcove, and that panel can sit on the right side or the left side. The front of the tub carries a removable apron, typically with two easily removable panels for service access to the plumbing and other components. The End Panels and Extension Panels video on this page shows each of these pieces and where it goes.
The second video, on extension panels or filler kits, shows the following:
- The extension panel can be trimmed when an alcove is out of square or an unusual size.
- It becomes a handy place for towels, shampoos, soaps and other bathing items.
- It rests on fully adjustable stainless steel shelf support brackets that are an integrated part of the tub frame.
If you feel you do not need the extra end panel or the extra extension panel, you can opt out of receiving one or the other to reduce plastic waste.
The second group is wall panels, which cover the room's walls above a tub or a shower base. These are not tub parts. They are complete kits ordered through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, either together with a shower base or walk-in tub or for a bathroom you already have. Where can I buy acrylic shower wall panels for my Ella bathroom? covers how they are ordered. There is no third group, because no ceiling panel is made.
The Wall Finishes Ella Lists
| Wall option | Color or finish | Listed size | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic 6-piece kit | Carrara White, 1/8 inch thick panels | 36 by 60 inch alcove, 92 inch finished height | A white marble look with storage shelves on the left side |
| Acrylic 3-piece surround | Solid white gloss | 40 inches deep by 60 inches wide, 97 inches tall | The plain glossy white choice, deeper and taller, with a 1-inch bend at each panel edge |
| Three-piece acrylic wall systems | White, CNC and digital print finishes | Large panels including 98 by 60 inch back walls and 36 to 38 by 96 to 98 inch side walls | The route to a patterned finish, with ADA accessories available |
| SMC subway-tile-look panels | Subway tile look, color not listed | 36 by 60 by 96 inches, in 6-piece or 12-piece form | A different product from the acrylic kits, so name it when you ask |
| Cultured marble travertine surround | Travertine look with a gel coat surface | Not listed, supplied as eight, six or four panel surrounds | Can be glued over drywall, plaster, painted walls, Durock or existing tile |
| Molded shower stall walls | White only, with a molded tile pattern | Not listed | No smooth version and no other color |
| Ceiling panel | Not offered | Not offered | The enclosure stays open to your bathroom ceiling |
Both acrylic kit formats are white, and they differ in character. Carrara White carries a marble look, and the 3-piece surround is a solid glossy white. If you want something other than plain white on the walls, the listed choices are the CNC and digital print finishes in the three-piece wall systems, the subway tile look in SMC, or the travertine look in cultured marble. Size matters as much as color here, because each kit is built for a specific footprint. Measure your alcove width, depth and ceiling height before you settle on a finish.
White Only on Stalls, Bases and Their Walls
Ella shower stalls, bases and wall panels are offered in white only. Beige is the color customers ask about most often, and it is not available. No other color is offered on the base, the walls or the stall. The practical advice is to plan the rest of the room around white from the start, and to coordinate the floor tile, the wall paint and the vanity with a white shower.
On a molded stall, the white walls also carry a tile pattern formed into the surface, and on some stalls the back wall has a single upper row with a diamond pattern as an accent. The lines you see are part of the molded surface, not grout joints, so there is nothing to seal or regrout. The surface wipes down like any other acrylic wall. Do Ella Shower Stall Walls Come Smooth, or Only With the Molded Tile Pattern? explains why that pattern cannot be left off. When the pieces arrive, both the molded texture and the white finish are expected.
Why There Is No Ceiling Panel Color to Choose
An Ella shower kit is made up of the acrylic base, the wall panels and, if you choose one, a glass door or screen. None of the packages include a roof, a dome, a top panel or a built-in light. The wall panels install against the room's walls, and the space above them is finished by your bathroom ceiling. Steam and moisture are handled by the room's ventilation.
That means the color overhead is simply the color of your ceiling, and you are free to paint it to suit the white walls below. If you would like more light over the enclosure, a licensed electrician can install a fixture rated for wet or damp locations. Can I Add a Ceiling Light Above an Open-Top Ella Shower? covers the planning. Decide the fixture location before the wall panels go up, so any wiring above the shower is finished first.
How to Be Sure the Walls Suit Your Tub or Base
The panel guides list each wall finish, but they do not publish a tub by tub color pairing. The reliable step is to confirm the finish before you order. A few habits make that easy:
- If you already own an Ella product, where you purchased can look up the matching panels.
- Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 for the spec sheet of the wall kit you are considering, and confirm which finish fits the base size or tub you are planning.
- Name the exact product you mean, because the acrylic kits, the SMC subway-tile-look panels and the tongue-and-groove grout-free tiles are all different products.
- Measure the alcove width, the depth, and the height from the shower base or tub rim to the ceiling. If your space is larger or smaller than the kit, share those measurements when you ask.
Watch: Ellas Bubbles: Extension Panels or "Filler Kits" For Alcove Installation with chapters and a full transcript.
Related Guides
- Acrylic 6-Piece Wall Panel Kit: Size, Shelves, Thickness and How It Compares to the 3-Piece Surround and SMC Panels
- Wall Panels and Surrounds for Walk-In Tubs: Acrylic 3-Panel Kits, Cultured Marble, and PVC Tiles
- Where Can I Buy Cultured Marble Shower Walls, and Is Acrylic Better?
Related Videos
Common Questions
Does Ella make a ceiling panel to match its wall panels?
Can I get Ella shower walls or a base in beige?
Which panels are included with an Ella walk-in tub?
What is the difference between the Carrara White kit and the solid white surround?
Are the lines on the white stall walls real grout joints?
About this guide. Answers in the Ella’s Bubbles Support Center are compiled from real conversations with tub owners, our technicians’ notes and the product documentation, then reviewed by our team. Tub models and options have evolved over the years, so a detail here may differ slightly from your exact tub. If something looks different on yours, send us your serial number and a specialist will confirm it for your model.
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