Many people’s bathroom is a place of refuge. Taking a shower provides more privacy than other activities in the bathroom and can be a place to find comfort and do relaxation things when there is too much activity. In light of the hours you spend showering each week, it can be helpful to update your shower for your individual needs and style. When remodeling your bathroom, you may overlook installing a shower door. Installing a shower door could also provide your bathroom with increased comfort, privacy, and personality.
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Shower Door Design
Consider the layout of your bathroom as you design it and what kind of door is best for that space. In small spaces, avoid using pivot doors. A splash guard works well in a minimalist design to hide the walk-in shower while still allowing easy access to all sides of the shower opening. Incorporate farmhouse themes into the bathroom with a barn door style shower door. Neo-angle frameless doors are great for small spaces—faucets, showerheads, and fixtures that match the frame complete this cohesive design theme.
A Few different Varieties Of Shower Doors
When remodeling or updating your bathroom from classic to edgy and modern, there are shower door designs that match the style you desire for your bathroom. There are many factors to consider when choosing shower doors for your bathroom. You should think about the room you have available and what type of finish will go best in your bathroom.
In Terms Of Additional Features Shower Doors Ideas
Bathtub Door
Although glass doors offer benefits that shower curtains don’t, they are not the most common choice for bathrooms. These glass doors for the tub are designed to fit on top of it, making them an excellent substitute for curtains. They provide privacy, keep the water inside the tub, make these bathrooms look more streamlined than showers with curtains, and are much easier to clean and last longer. This door can give your tub a more luxurious and, therefore, expensive appearance. They come in many different designs to match any bathroom theme.
Safety And Tempered Glass
If you have many kids home and are worried that the glass will shatter if they bump into it or their play results in blows to the door, tempered glass is your best option. Tempered glass is not as sturdy as non-tempered glass. If someone slams a door on it or if someone falls onto it, it will break. However, it does not shatter into a million little pieces.
With kids running around the house, it’s easy for glasses to shatter into small pieces. Tempered glass shower doors and panels are a family-friendly alternative because they work best with small children. Tempered glass shower doors may not look as elegant or luxurious as some of the other available types, but they are affordable and easy to maintain.
In Terms Of Glass Style Shower Doors Ideas
Partial Glass Shower Enclosure
With the Aqua Uno, DreamLine has done it again with another innovative and cutting-edge piece of engineering. The curved silhouette is just one example of their dedication to making showers a more comfortable space for your daily routine. With its frameless design, there are no exposed pipes or dripping water that can cause mildew stains on tiles because everything runs through enclosed channels in the wall and into a hidden plumbing compartment below floor level.
Tinted Glass Shower Doors
Tinted glass is a better option for giving your bathroom privacy. This type of door comes in many different colors and pairs well with any decor choice you want for your bathroom. Tinted glass also helps pull together materials with a uniform color, providing cohesion in your bathroom décor options.
The tinted glass doors come in various tones, such as bronze, black, and shades of grey. You can opt for semi-opaque or completely opaque windows, depending on your preference for privacy.
The degree of light in your bathroom will also be a big factor when deciding on a new tinted glass door. Since there is no lighting, dark panels cannot allow any light to enter the showering area. It may be necessary to install a fixture inside the showering area if you install a black shower door.
In terms of functionality and privacy, tinted glasses are a good choice. However, they may lack the crisp detail that clear glass panels would provide.
Clear Glass Shower Doors
Office-style glass shower doors are the way to go for a modern feel. A stark contrast between light and dark tiles will make one of these look great in any bathroom! While clear glass doors may give your bathroom a crisp and edgy look, they do not provide any privacy. Clear glass doors are timeless and allow light to flow in, but frosted glass doors eventually lose their appeal.
Frosted Glass Shower Doors
If you want a classic look for your bathroom, consider purchasing frosted glass shower doors. The frosted glass comes in an abundance of patterns to choose from and can be customized to meet your needs. For example, a frosted glass shower door can obscure an otherwise dull bathroom with either a scenic view or intricate design. This type of shower door has an easy-to-maintain surface, and there are no water spots or fingerprints engraved in it. When a bathroom isn’t available for your privacy, you can still have it with this shower curtain that provides some privacy.
Hammered Glass Shower Doors Ideas
Hammered glass doors can make showering more enjoyable. The hammered glasses boast textures and have specific indentations on the surface, but that’s only on one side of the glass.
Shower doors with a hammered metal effect are referred to as such because the indentations on their surface look similar to metal. Such designs and features provide diverse visual effects, with light bouncing across the shower wall and allowing for an interesting spectacle.
However, these glass panels are more expensive and less durable than other door materials. Repeated impacts can also cause them to break when slammed fully open or closed.
Patterned Glass Shower Door
Patterned glass panels are a creative option for the different types of doors available. It is an excellent and inexpensive way to update the look of your bathroom. Glass shower doors can come in many different shapes, sizes, and patterns to best suit your own bathroom decor. From flower arrangements to leaves and even tree branch-themed panels, there are a variety of options available for you to customize your shower space the way you want.
One major advantage these patterns have over the original artwork is that they are easier to clean. You’ll likely only need to wipe down the panels with a cloth and you should be able to restore them to their former glory in little time! However, you need to wipe down the glass panel regularly as water from high humidity levels can lead to the growth of mold and mildew.
How To Decorate A Glass Shower Door
Etch It
Glass etching compound is available at craft and hobby shops and can be applied outside a bathtub with a brush for free-hand designs or over a stencil for more planned patterns. Applied to the edges of a window for a discreet design or over the surface of it for added privacy, once dry and removed, any scratches on its surface are left behind, which make it seem frosted.
Window Film
Decorative window film comes in various looks, including frosted glass and stained glass patterns or even wildlife scenes. The peel-and-stick film is easily cut to size and applied within minutes. Placing a decorative strip of film on the outside of your bathtub’s glass can help you improve privacy and add to the ambiance in your bathroom.
Paint it
Paint a design on the outside of the glass. You can either temporary or permanent paint made specifically for painting on glass. This paint is labeled as “stained glass paint” because it has a translucent quality, allowing light to pass through. You can paint along the border of the glass for a simple touch or over the entire door for a dramatic outcome.
Personalized Decals
Any peel-and-stick decal can be applied to the outside of your bathtub’s glass door, but for a unique design, order custom decals using your own artwork. If you want a custom family crest, the words to your favorite poem or song lyrics, or a design that is reflective of something personal to you, there are many websites online where this can be done. Putting a decal on your bathroom door helps create a focal point.
In Terms Of Frames Shower Doors Ideas
Framed Shower Door
Today, these types of shower doors are quite popular. They come with a frame that runs all the way around the glass panels to give it a distinct border.
These kinds of frames usually consist of a composite material or aluminum and are just perfect for providing aesthetic beauty to your bathroom.
Framed Shower Doors are fitted with a track along the bottom. This is designed to catch the water that drips from the top of the door and stop it from spreading onto your floor. These tracks need regular maintenance to keep them free of mold or mildew growth, as can happen if they become dirty.
One downside of framed glass shower doors is that they are quite expensive, but one feature we like about them is that they come in different finishes. That makes it easy to match the color of the hardware with your bathroom and why more people are choosing this option today.
Frameless Shower Doors
Frameless shower doors are just one category of door options: framed and frameless versions with new features like pivot or bypass.
Frameless shower doors are less aesthetically pleasing than framed ones. The clear, clean glass allows you to peek through the shower walls, making them perfect for showers with tile work.
Frameless shower doors are made from thick, super-strong glass that is more expensive than your average door. Frameless showers start around $700 on the low end and go up for the more expensive ones that can reach over $1,200 in price!
Semi-Frameless Shower Door
If you’re looking to get the best of both worlds, then a semi-frameless shower door might be perfect for your needs. The metal on this type of shower door is just decorative, and there is no frame around the glass, but it has an unadorned bottom edge.
Semi-frameless shower doors are sleek and can be made to look even more unique. A frameless design has the ability to fit any bathroom style without problem; they are universal in their appeal. However, it does share a similarity with framed doors because they will need occasional cleaning to prevent mold and mildew from forming. However, they are easier than framed variants to clean up and look more pleasant under certain light conditions.
In Terms Of Shape Shower Door Ideas
Round Shower Door
Though these doors may appear like models with a rotating function at first, this is not the case. These doors are specifically designed to create a shower enclosure. As it glides along, an opening and closing mechanism will exist that slides glass all around.
These doors work well in almost any space, including corners, and offer an interesting look that can improve your bathroom design.
The frame height of this shower door is not a uniform thickness, so that it will take up less space in the bathroom. These doors work for small and large bathrooms alike and are pleasing to the eye.
Corner Shower Door
Corner shower doors don’t always have a set structure. The angle in the shower is not at a right angle because of the placement of the shower inside it.
Corner showers are the best choice for those who want a shower that is larger than most. There can be five or more glass panels in their shape, depending on what you’re looking to do with it and how big your bathroom space will allow you. Some of these walls may form “surrounds,” while others work as both walls and windows for the shower room itself!
Like foldaway showers, these models have a hinged design; however, the panels are fixed in place, and there is no folding feature. The door may swing in and out of the shower, making it best suited for large bathrooms to accommodate this size of the enclosure door opening.
Alcove Shower Door
If you have a small bathroom, the Alcove’s shower door design might be perfect for your needs. These often take up very little space but require clearance in the front and behind to swing the door open without hitting anything or anyone in their way.
However, if you have claustrophobic tendencies and do not want to be restricted by Alcove’s shower door’s small space, it is best to opt for a different model. Alcove’s shower doors are not as free or as luxurious in design as some on the list, but they are more price-conscious and space-efficient.
Alcove shower doors can give the smallest bathroom a whole new look.
The Rain Door
The rain doors work much like the opaque ones but are accompanied by an intricate design or detail and increased aesthetic appeal. If you want to enhance both the aesthetics of your bathroom and maintain privacy while showering, a rain door is probably best for you.
The simplest way to describe these doors is that they are not as patterned and detailed as a typical glass door but more streamlined in build. The reason for this is because they have been specifically designed with versatility in mind so that they match easily with any bathroom decor.
If you’re looking for a bathroom door that will fit in with your more modern or minimalist design, look no further. The design on the front door is not as loud or extensive so it can never be the main focal point of a bathroom. To customize your bathroom in a way that suits you, you can bring in other design elements.
Obscure Shower Doors
When it comes to bathroom time, especially in busy homes, the obscure shower doors are ideal since you can’t see through them because they have an opaque finish. The panels on this glass door are made in such a way that people outside of the shower can’t see inside, granting privacy for those using it.
If you need a shower door that doesn’t look like it blocks out the entire room, these obscure glass panels might be a good option. They allow light in but are more expensive than typical doors and can take more time to clean. If privacy is important to you, these glass doors can be perfect.
In Terms Of Operation Shower Doors Ideas
Pivot Or Swinging Shower Doors
Other shower door options include swinging or pivot doors. Since a swinging shower door swings open into the shower and a pivot opens outward, they are often mounted and freestanding. If the shower opening is too small for a standard sliding door, it may be possible to accommodate one of these alternate options. Shower doors can typically be 36 and a half inches wide, but you should add a stationary panel if your doorway is any larger than that.
Fixed Bathroom Doors
Fixed bathroom doors can give your shower a modernistic flair and significantly enhance its appeal. But they’re not limited to standard bathrooms-they also work well for wet baths.
If you have a luxe, highly modern bathroom to start with, fixed sliding shower doors can be used effectively to show it off without the need for opening the doors. These doors are made from floor-to-ceiling glass panels that are installed and firmly screwed into place.
Though they are aesthetically appealing on their own, modern homeowners often buy shower doors with designs or marquis with etching to create more appeal. However, buyers should make sure their bathroom is large enough for such a door before investing in one. They may not fit smaller showers well at all.
Hinged Shower Doors
A hinged door is one of the more common shower doors on our inventory today. Hinged bathroom doors work much like regular doors in everyday homes – they have pivot joints that allow the door to swing open when people want to get in and out of the shower. If you choose to cover your shower with these doors, you can then opt for a glass base that is elegant and attractive.
Sliding Shower Door Ideas
A common shower door option for bathtub/shower combinations is a sliding door. Generally, these doors take the form of two to three panels that slide past each other on a track positioned at the top and bottom of the tub. This type of shower door is typically used for standalone showers. It takes up the least amount of space and is available in various sizes and styles, making it cost-effective.
Folding Shower Door
Dull showers can be spiced up with shower doors that fold, turning any bathroom into class and elegance.
They come in two different types of the fold: ‘bi-fold and ‘tri-fold. They have a unique folding mechanism that looks and feels very modernistic. This is a large picture frame that consists of glass panels. One panel is fastened to the wall, and the others are free to fold and move as they are attached with rubber hinges.
Folding closet doors are a popular bathroom door option because they are easy to maintain and operate, just like the old-fashioned ones. Additionally, their lack of a swing feature makes them versatile and capable of operating in small or enclosed spaces such as the shower.
In Terms Of Style Shower Doors Ideas
Contemporary Curved Shower Door
Curved shower doors are best for round or corner showers. This will soften your space while also adding a luxurious feel. You can choose between hinged and sliding to find the right fit.
Industrial Shower Doors
Industrial bathroom designs may be used in modern- and retro-styled bathrooms, but they are most often employed to create a strong decorative statement. For example, you can choose an industrial door color that contrasts the overall style of the bathroom ornaments.
Barrier-free Shower Doors
To create a more accessible bathroom, you may want to take steps such as installing a barrier-free shower. A barrier-free shower avoids the need for a bottom track running around the tub, and there is one consistent floor that runs throughout. The bathroom could have a glass or tile wall separating it from the shower if desired.
Contemporary Sliding Shower Door
Frameless glass doors are a popular design choice because they offer sleek style with grace. The clear glass can make an even smaller space appear more spacious and upscale, depending on the type of handle you select. Try bronze, brass, or gold for rich-looking details.
White Outdoor Shower Door
Outdoor showers can be made of a wide variety of materials. Privacy is essential, so you will need to use something that lets in enough light for the location. You could choose between glass, fabric or wood.
Etched Glass Shower Door
Etched glass in the bathroom brings an artistic punch that is distinctively different. Choosing a beautiful door design that ranges from abstract to vintage will make the space look elegant and artistic. Designer handles are additional characters for the room and enhance your bathroom’s beauty.
Simple Arched Shower Door
If you want to add a creative touch to your bathroom, many arched door designs can help achieve this. This new door design will make your bathroom appear softer and more elegant while adding style in the process.
Gridscape Shower Door Ideas
There are many different grid shapes doors that you can find in home improvement stores. They come with various designs on the frame and can be configured as either fixed panels, sliding doors, or shower door frames. If you’re looking for something truly unique, I recommend checking out your local custom glass store!
Traditional Hinged Shower Door
A hinge can come in many different styles, such as stainless steel or chrome. If you select these for your door, then they’ll look perfect within modern and contemporary homes, while bronze or brass work best with vintage houses.
Steel-framed Shower Door Ideas
Take a look at this stunning shower enclosure. Yes, it is custom-built and undoubtedly expensive. However, this is a reminder that many different shower door options are available for purchase, including decorative framed models. Knowing the right information will lead to a clear decision for your bathroom.
Shower Door Alternatives Ideas
Turning your bathroom into a stylish, spa-inspired getaway can be daunting. Most people spend plenty of time there; it should reflect one’s personal style and provide a relaxing atmosphere.
You can achieve this in multiple ways. For example, one alternative that is fairly popular among homeowners is flooring changes, such as a luxury tile in your favorite color or installing builder-grade mirrors above the sink. But even with these upgrades, your dissatisfaction might not be over yet. Glass shower doors often look dated and unattractive. Consider an alternative instead.
No Shower Door
For those who don’t like the look of shower doors, it’s best to remove them completely. Removing the glass out and putting something like tile, stone, or brick to prevent water from pooling outside the bathroom. If your shower is in a separate room, you may not need a door at all.
Tile Shower Enclosure
It might also be worth building a permanent shower enclosure if you are comfortable working with tile.
The first step is to remove your shower door and the frame entirely. Next, build an enclosure around the opening of the shower. Leave room on either end for both entering and exiting so that water doesn’t flow out of the enclosure. Lastly, install glass mosaic tiles over the top to give a bright and stylish look.
Farmhouse Style Door
Farmhouse aesthetics have risen to the top of most people’s home design preferences. A farmhouse style uses modern yet old materials to create a fun and easy-to-maintain renovation project that is perfect for those looking to make their place look a little more updated without going all out on renovations.
A quick and easy way to change the look of your old-fashioned glass shower door is by assembling wood or aluminum frames and attaching them to the existing glass panels. This will give a seamless appearance that can be done in just minutes.
Each of these options, regardless if you do the upgrade yourself or hire someone, provides different styles and levels of renovations. The result is an upgraded bathroom that defines your home’s aesthetic and makes daily routine easier.
Final Thoughts
The design and models of shower doors are as diverse today as the types of people who use them. Each door has its own aesthetic, whether that is clean lines or a more rustic look. We’ve compiled our favorites below for you to consider, but one, in particular, could be just what you’re looking for!
Our list has a selection of the most popular shower door types available. Have you found one that suits your needs?