Showers are one of the most prominent features in your bathroom, and updating your shower enclosure can add visual appeal, modernize the space and improve use. You’ve probably lived in an older home with a framed doorway cased in shiny bronze, but today, there are several shower enclosure styles and design layouts to consider when redesigning your guest bathroom or ensuite.
Shower Enclosure Styles
When you’re selecting and designing a new shower enclosure for your bathroom, you may find that there are more shower styles than you remember. Shower spaces are often defined by their door style and type of enclosure, and each offers different purposes and aesthetics according to your tastes and needs. You can consider several different door styles and enclosures for your bathroom, including:
Sliding: Ideal for bathrooms with little available space, sliding doors are stylish and create an open and airy feel.
Pivot: A popular as well as space-saving option, swinging doors typically open outward and are good for shower panels that cannot accommodate a sliding door panel. This style is available in several glass options and makes your bathroom appear clean and modern.
Hinged: Similar to a pivot door, hinged options have large hinges on the side of the door that can open inward or outward. They can give your bathroom an edgy and contemporary aesthetic.
Once you’ve chosen a shower door style you prefer and that works best for your space, there are several design shapes and glass styles to consider with your shower enclosure, including neo-angular, frameless, framed, curved, square, rectangular, glass block or textured glass.
Choosing The Right Shower Enclosure
While there may seem like nearly endless shower enclosure combinations, when it’s time to update your space, you’ll want to consider a few factors, such as:
Available space: Doors are designed to open in certain ways, so consider ceiling height and available floor space when selecting a shower door.
Wall location and shower position: Is your shower located in the corner, the center of the wall or in a separate, enclosed space?
Glass types: There are several glass options and thicknesses to consider, all with benefits that are ideal for certain types of bathrooms.
Opening position: Think of your bathroom, the position of your shower and other obstacles like windows and doors. Should your shower door open to the left or right?
Tray options: While not a necessary addition, trays are a great upgrade that can be fit to your shower door to prevent water from leaking outside the shower. When considering a shower tray, think about the size you need, and ensure the door fits with the tray.