While we desire a primary bathroom that’s a spa-like oasis or maybe even a romantic nook, there are some unique practical considerations at play when it comes to designing the family bathroom. For instance, if your kids are little, it’s important to have an accessible bathtub that makes it easy for you to bathe a baby or help a toddler with hair washing. In a space shared by tween siblings, it makes sense to have a couple private areas within the room so that multiple appliances can be used at once on busy school mornings. Also, no matter the age(s) of the child(ren), there are considerations like safety and ease of use. We’ll take a close look at the glass and hardware needed for three child-friendly glass shower designs for a family bathroom.

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1. Hinged Splash Panel for a Tub and Shower Combo

 

If the area around your shower/tub combo is well-waterproofed, you can replace a drooping shower curtain with a modern alternative without sacrificing ease of use. Leave an open entrance on the end without the shower head and use a single piece of hinged glass to provide water containment across the rest of the opening. Known as a splash panel, screen, or splash guard, this piece of glass can be fixed or hinged.

If you need a highly accessible bathtub, go with hinged, so that you can easily reach the faucet when assisting a small child. In terms of glass, you might use a single piece or, as in the photo, attach the hinged panel to a separate piece of fixed glass. Thus, depending on the specific design chosen, you will need clamps for stationary glass, hinges for an operable panel, or both.

 

2. Acid Etched Glass Shower Enclosure

 

Most primary bathroom shower enclosures are built from clear glass, which shows off stone and tile and gives the room a bright, open vibe. In a family bathroom, though, one child might want to come in and brush their teeth while the other showers. Privacy glass can be used in many ways in this situation, including:

• Toilet screen or room
• Partition wall within the bathroom
• More private shower area

 

Focusing on the last point, acid-etched (frosted) glass can be used to build enclosures of all types, from single door to neo-angle corner showers. The more secluded shower space it provides is perfect for high traffic bathrooms, and you can dress it up by choosing a fancy pull handle like this and by picking a trending hardware finish such as satin brass or matte black.

 

3. Frameless Slider for Easy Operation in Tight Quarters

 

Leaks are another common issue in kids’ bathrooms. Unless a shower curtain liner is hung inside the tub and arranged correctly across the opening, water tends to escape. Even with the best of intentions, children often simply forget to take these steps. However, in some family bathrooms, the toilet is near the shower entrance, and a hinged door is not doable. In decades past, the only alternative was a framed or semi-frameless bypass door system in which the doors open by sliding in tracks. Nowadays, though, you can provide your kids with easy to operate gliding doors AND the on-trend look of frameless glass. Check out frameless sliding shower door options here.

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Whether you’re working in a family bathroom, your primary bathroom, or another restroom, Glass Simple is here to help with your glass shower hardware needs! Give our team a ring at (703)257-7150 to learn more, get answers to your questions, place an order, or create a B2B account and save.