Adding a custom glass shower enclosure is one of the most effective ways to update a bathroom and make it more appealing. With tons of possible configurations, glass styles, and hardware options, designing your new shower can be daunting, so we’ll provide pro tips and suggestions for various aspects of the project.

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1. Choose clear glass for maximum impact.

 

If you’re looking to significantly alter the look and feel of the room, replacing a shower curtain or old patterned glass door with clear glass is a good strategy. The transparent barrier will give both the shower and the bathroom as a whole a more spacious vibe. Other benefits of clear glass include:

• The tile on the shower walls remains visible instead of being hidden behind a curtain or patterned glass.
• Clear glass allows plenty of light into the shower area.
• The surface of clear glass is smooth without dips and ridges where residue is likely to build up.
• Clear glass matches any color scheme and looks good with any hardware

 

2. Keep practical considerations in mind if you have a small bathroom.

 

Not every glass shower enclosure design is practical for a small bathroom. The last thing you want is a door that swings open and crashes into another installation or blocks access to a bathroom appliance. There are a few ways to avoid this:

• Choose a frameless sliding shower door that does not need clearance around it like a hinged door does.
• If you prefer a swinging door, be mindful of the width of the door panel. In some bathrooms, a swinging door will work, but only if it stays under a certain width.
• Consider a single splash panel that leaves an open entrance to the shower area. Note that you will need extra waterproofing as this configuration does not contain water as well as a full enclosure.

 

3. If you want a more private shower area, try to include some clear glass.

 

Some individuals prefer a more private shower area. Likewise, visual separation between the shower and the rest of the space can be of practical benefit in certain bathrooms, such as ones shared by siblings. However, even if you are making the enclosure more private, you may still be able to integrate some of the benefits of clear glass.

• Glass can be custom sand-blasted to create a privacy strip around the mid-point of the glass, while leaving clear glass above and below it.
• In some glass shower designs, privacy glass is used for one or more panels, while clear glass is used for other panels, based on the layout of the space and the location of other appliances.

 

4. Choose the hardware finish with care.

 

Since shower glass is clear or tinged with white, the color of the hardware has a significant impact on the appearance and style of the finished enclosure. In general, mainstream finish options fall into three categories, each of which has a different impact on the glass shower.

• Silver-based finishes: Hues like chrome and nickel are on the cool side of the color spectrum and can give the shower stall a sleek, tranquil vibe.
• Gold-based finishes: On the other hand, tones like brass and bronze are warmer and often add elegance to the enclosure.
• Dark finishes: This category includes matte black and some versions of oil-rubbed bronze. Dark hardware can provide a nice contrast to the pale elements often used in bathrooms.

 

In choosing your hardware finish, take into account other metal present in the space, your overall vision for the bathroom, and ease of cleaning. If you have hard water, for instance, you might want to avoid using a dark finish in areas vulnerable to water spots and choose a brushed finish that will camouflage them instead.

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Have questions about ordering hardware for your frameless glass shower enclosure? Give Glass Simple a call at (571)707-7760!