A glass shower enclosure can be personalized to match your décor tastes and the design scheme for the bathroom. There are several ways to tailor an enclosure to your preferences:

Glass type

Style and finish of metal components

Overall layout and configuration

The combination formed by your choices will give your custom shower its personality and charm. We’ll take a look at the possibilities and how they’d impact your enclosure and bathroom.

 

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Glass Options for a Custom Shower

Glass is the primary component on a shower enclosure, so the glass style you pick will go a long way toward giving it a particular vibe. Shower doors and enclosures are built of tempered glass for durability and safety. In terms of style, your choices include:

Clear – Standard clear glass is a favorite pick. It doesn’t hide the tile-work, has a smooth texture for easy cleaning, and makes the shower area and the whole bathroom seem bigger.

Ultra-Clear – This glass has reduced iron content, which lessens the greenish coloration that occurs around glass edges. While more expensive, this glass offers the same benefits as normal transparent glass with even more clarity.

Acid-Etched – On the other hand, some homeowners want a shower enclosure that provides some privacy. Acid-etched glass (also called frosted) offers a classic look and also yields a more private shower area.

Patterned – Patterned glass is another type of obscure glass for private enclosures. It is available with various textured designs on its surface.

Tinted – Glass can also be a tinted for a bit of privacy. Options may include gray, bronze, blue, and green.

Cast – Another type of textured glass is formed by pouring molten glass into a mold. This glass is deeply grooved, has a striking appearance, and requires more meticulous cleaning.

In evaluating your glass options, consider design goals, privacy preferences, and how much time you can devote cleaning.

 

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Choices for Metal Components on a Glass Shower

The glass is a crucial component in terms of design, but the metal components on a shower enclosure also affect its style. Frameless shower enclosure hardware will often include:

Hinges – Glass to Glass, Wall to Glass, or Pivot

Clamps – Glass to Glass or Wall to Glass

Door Handle – Pull, Towel Bar, Pull/Towel Bar Combo, Knob, or Finger Pull

Hinges and clamps are usually offered with either a beveled or square profile. Square edges are often preferred for a contemporary design and beveled for traditional. Items like pulls, towel bars, and knobs are available in a wide span of styles, ranging from basic geometric contours to fancier designs.

The finish of the hardware also makes a big difference. Warm tones like satin brass and brushed bronze add a note of luxury to a glass shower. Cool metallics like chrome and brushed nickel can give your space a fresh, calm vibe. There are also dark finishes like matte black and oil-rubbed bronze. Matte black is a very popular pick these days and is often partnered with clear glass.

 

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Glass Shower Enclosure Configurations

Besides the glass and metal, you often have choices for the overall layout of the glass shower. Here are some popular options, some of which may be feasible for your space.

Corner Shower – In many bathrooms, the best place for a glass shower is in a corner. The two bathroom walls are tiled to form two walls of the enclosure, and it is finished off with glass. On a right angle enclosure, the glass is installed at right angles to form a square or rectangle. On the other hand, a neo-angle enclosure has two pieces of glass coming out from the wall at 90 degree angles that are joined by a third glass panel which meets the other glass at 135 degree angles.

In-Line Enclosure – This layout is popular when upgrading a tub/shower combo or existing shower stall. In its basic form it consists of a fixed panel next to and in line with a hinged door. The door panel is either attached with glass to glass or wall mount hinges . 90 degree return panels are added if necessary for completing the enclosure.

Frameless Slider – If your bathroom layout requires a space friendly sliding door and your design calls for stylish unframed glass, a frameless sliding shower door system is an appealing product.

Shower Screen/Splash Guard – At times, simple is best. A screen (or splash guard) is one piece of glass installed to block water while leaving an open entrance to the shower. If you go this route, you’ll also need to ensure that extra waterproofing is added around the shower and that the floor slope, shower spray location, and floor drain placement are conducive to keeping water off the bathroom floor.

 

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Whichever glass, metal, and layout you prefer, we invite you to give Glass Simple the chance to earn your business. We carry Glass Simple, FHC, and Portals brand hardware in various styles and finishes. Items are shipped or prepared for local pickup in a timely manner to help keep your project on schedule. If you are part of a glass company or construction business, save 25% or more by creating a B2B account online or by calling us at (571)707-7760.