A frameless glass corner shower makes wise use of your space and elevates the look and feel of the bathroom. When you replace a shower curtain or old bypass door system with a modern frameless glass alternative, the transformation is amazing. While shower enclosures of old relied on aluminum framework for structure and rigidity, frameless designs make use of clamps, hinges, and caulk joints. Some include a header if needed as a surface for attaching pivot hinges or another structural consideration. In this ultimate guide, we’ll go over different types of corner showers and options for customizing their aesthetics and functionality. 

1. Why choose a glass corner shower? 

As mentioned above, a glass shower is more stylish than a curtain. If you’re doing a bathroom remodel or a new build, including a glass shower has become a standard practice. The blend of glass and your chosen hardware (see examples here) will give the bathroom’s whole ambiance a boost. Other benefits besides home fashion include: 

• No clammy curtain liner to brush up against. 
• Clear glass will show off the tiled walls of the shower area. 
• Glass can be cleaned and sanitized; it will not get infested with mold, mildew, or bacteria. 
• Shower doors are easy to close and don’t need to be carefully arranged in order to contain water. 

Choosing a bathroom corner as the location for your frameless glass shower allows you to make use of two existing walls. While huge bathrooms can be outfitted with an “all glass” shower enclosure, many of us don’t have this much space to work with. As you will see there are specific corner shower designs that can further boost space efficiency.

2. What is a 90 degree glass corner shower? 

A 90 degree frameless glass corner shower – also known as a right angle enclosure – has a square or rectangular shape. The glass walls and the existing walls all meet each other at right angles and are joined by 90 degree glass clamps – click to see an example. One side of the enclosure will include or consist of the door panel. This will either be attached to the tiled wall with wall mount hinges or to an adjacent glass panel with a glass to glass hinges. Reasons for choosing this configuration include: 

• 90 degree corner showers can be roomy and spacious. Rectangular layouts are often used if a dual shower is desired. 
• A right angle corner shower has clean lines and crisp edges that can be incorporated into modern, transitional, and traditional bathrooms. 
• A simple, clear shower of this type is ideally suited for highlighting unique and beautiful tilework on the shower walls. 

3. What is a neo-angle glass corner shower? 

On a neo-angle frameless corner shower, glass panels also extend out from the bathroom walls at 90 degree angles. However, they stop short of meeting each other and are instead connected by a third glass panel that meets them at 135 degree angles. This is often the door, in which case it is attached with 135 degree glass to glass hinges like this. However, you also have the option of making one of the other panels the door. This flexibility is one of the space-friendly features of a 135 degree shower enclosure design. Other benefits include: 

• The shape of these enclosures works well if you want to use a bathroom corner but not have the shower extend as far out into the room as it would with a square shape. 
• Depending on the glass and metal you choose, this configuration can be adapted to bathroom styles ranging from contemporary to vintage. 
• The triple panel layout is aesthetically pleasing and creates visual interest. 

4. Can I have a frameless glass corner shower with sliding doors? 

The enclosure options we’ve discussed so far share a common feature – a swinging glass door. However, in some bathrooms, you have room for the stall itself but not enough room for a door to swing outward. Having the door open inwards might seem like the obvious solution, but this violates building codes. A shower door can be installed to open inwards but it must also be capable of swinging outward. 

One possibility is to do away with the door panel altogether and create a walk-in shower. However, if you do this, the following extras are needed: 

• Additional waterproofing around the shower 
• Correct drain placement and floor slope for optimal drainage 
• Proper placement the shower head and sprays in relation to the glass panels. 

A simpler solution can be found in frameless sliding glass door systems – see some options here. In case you are not familiar with this door type, which is a newer product than swinging or bypass doors, we will answer some FAQS. 

Q: I’m used to seeing sliding doors with aluminum framing. Is it possible to have a frameless door like this? 

A: Yes. On a frameless slider, the door panel moves along a header bar on rollers. All glass edges are unframed. 

Q: Does a frameless sliding shower door system have one or two door panels? 

A: Both single and dual door products are on the market. On a single door system, there is a stationary glass panel beside the door, and the door glides past this panel to open. On dual door systems the doors can glide past each other. 

Q: How space efficient is a frameless rolling shower door system on a corner shower? 

A: These units require no more space than a tub/shower combo, and no extra clearance is needed around the shower entrance as in the case of a swinging door panel. 

Q: Do I have options for the style and finish of the hardware? 

A: Systems are usually offered in a few popular finish choices. You can also choose from among various systems and opt to use a different door handle, knob, or towel bar than the one provided. 

5. What about a custom design for a frameless corner shower? 

Custom designs are definitely possible for a frameless glass corner shower. There are always ways to personalize your choice of glass and metal components, but the layout and configuration can be unique as well. A glass shower can be tailored to your design vision with regard to: 

• Overall shape of the shower stall 
• Number of glass panels 
• Dimensions of glass panels 
• Degrees of angles at which glass panels meet each other and the adjacent walls 
• Use of flat or curved glass 

A custom design can be more costly, but if it’s in your budget it’s a way to give the bathroom personality and charm. In fact, home decorating trends favor one-of-a-kind, bespoke pieces, so this is an option worth considering. 

6. What are my glass options? 

One of the most impactful decisions to be made when designing a frameless corner shower is the glass style. Shower enclosures are constructed from durable tempered glass, which is less likely to break and less dangerous if broken when compared to standard annealed glass. Within this tempered glass category, popular glass options include: 

• clear 
• ultra clear 
• acid-etched 
• patterned 
• tinted 

Ultra clear glass differs from standard clear glass insofar as it has a lower iron content and, therefore, minimal greenish coloration around its edges. Homeowners choose this when maximum clarity and/or a more pristine view of the tilework is desired. At the same time, many are happy with appearance of normal clear glass. 

Acid-etched glass is often referred to as “frosted”. To make this glass, an acid wash is applied to clear glass and then rinsed off, leaving the surface etched and “frosty.” Sometimes this effect is uniformly applied to the whole surface, but you can also find glass with etched patterns and designs. 

Patterned glass is available in a wide range of looks. It always has a textured patterned, but this can range from subtle waves or bumps to depictions of flora, such as bamboo. Like acid-etched glass, patterned glass is a popular pick for those wanting a more private showering area. 

Tinted glass is not used as much, but sometimes a decorating scheme calls for shower glass with a little color. The tinting also makes the stall a bit more private, and bronze and gray are popular color options. 

7. What are my hardware options? 

Homeowners take different approaches to the hardware on a frameless corner shower, but what you pick will always impact the style of the finished project. For some, the glass is the focal point, and the shower enclosure includes as little metal as possible. For others, the pieces of hardware are ornaments on the glass that have a positive effect on its beauty and fashion. 

Before we look at different hardware styles and products, let’s consider the finish. Pieces of frameless glass shower hardware are often available in various finishes. Some are offered in chrome, brushed nickel, and matte black, which are the three top picks in certain parts of the US. Satin brass and brushed bronze are rising in popularity, and you will also see items available in the five finishes we’ve mentioned as well as polished nickel and oil-rubbed bronze. 

Metal finishes in the gold family, such as brass and bronze, bring up the room’s color temperature, adding richness and warmth. Including these on a corner shower can give it a high-end look. On the other hand, silver-toned finishes like nickel and chrome lower the room’s color temperature and can bring a cool and calm vibe to the space. Matte black is a neutral finish that can be paired with any color and with other metal finishes. Oil-rubbed bronze is unique because it is a living finish. It starts out dark with lighter bronze highlights and gains patina and more light areas with time and use. Keep in mind that the same finish may look different from different brands, and this is definitely true of oil-rubbed bronze. 

Now we’ll look at some common components of a frameless corner shower and the options you have for each. 

• Door handle – Sliding shower door systems often include a finger pull, towel bar, or other type of door handle. If you’re designing a swinging door corner shower, though, you have many options. Those who wish to keep the metal to a minimum may choose a small knob or finger pull, while those wanting more storage might pick a towel bar. Pull handles are also popular because they are ergonomic and available in a wide selection of styles from fancy to simple. 
• Hinges – There are three general categories of shower door hinges: wall to glass, glass to glass, and pivot. We’ve already touched on the first two, and pivot hinges attach a glass panel to the surfaces above and below it. This forms a point from which the door pivots to swing open or shut. You will find that hinges of all three types are often available with either beveled or square edges, with a square profile being the more contemporary style. 
• Clamps – Clamps are small pieces of hardware used for installing fixed glass panels. They are either wall to glass or glass to glass, and they can also have square or beveled edges. You will want to choose the same profile for all the clamps and hinges used on your corner shower. 

8. Are there tips for styling the interior of a frameless glass corner shower? 

Most frameless glass corner showers are build from clear glass, so their interiors remain visible at all times. This makes choosing the right tile, shower head, and shelves very important, but what’s more difficult is keeping the shower stall looking its best as time goes by. Here are some tips for styling the inside of your corner shower and keeping it fresh: 

• Remove all but the bare necessities. Clutter is the main thing that makes a shower area look bad. The only things to store inside the shower are the soap, shampoo, and conditioner you use regularly and a pouf or sponge if desired. 
• Store in style. Buy matching decanters for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash and transfer your products to these. 
• If space allows, add something decorative and trendy like a living plant or a teak shower stool. 
• Keep it clean. Weekly cleanings of the shower area are a must. If you squeegee the glass and tile after each shower, this will also help it to stay looking its best. 

9. How should I clean and care for a frameless shower? 

The great news is that a frameless design already makes care and cleaning easier by eliminating aluminum framing and the nooks and crannies that come with it. It is recommended to clean the shower weekly and then make that more or less frequent as needed. As alluded to above, removing the water from the shower surfaces after each use will keep it looking clean longer. This is because the longer water is left on the glass, tile, and hardware, the more opportunity it has to spot, stain, and corrode. Here are some additional tips for success: 

• Order glass with a permanent protective coating or regularly apply a spray on glass protectant. 
• Never use any harsh or abrasive products when cleaning shower glass and hardware. 
• A half and half mixture of water and vinegar or an approved glass cleaner is good for the shower glass, while the hardware can be washed with a diluted blend of mild liquid soap and water. Be sure to rinse and dry the hardware after cleaning it. 
• When cleaning the glass, watch out for paper towels or rags that leave lint behind. Old newspaper and microfiber cloths can be good alternatives. 

Put simply, to keep your frameless glass corner shower clean, protect the glass, dry after use, utilize appropriate products, and clean regularly. 

10. Can I install a frameless glass corner shower myself? 

You may be able to carry out the installation of your frameless glass corner shower as a DIY project. This should not be undertaken by all homeowners, as you will be working with large, heavy pieces of glass with an element of risk involved. Question to consider include: 

• Am I a handy person with experience in the construction field? 
• Do I have the requisite physical strength? 
• Is there a family member or friend available to assist with the project? 
• What tutorials and instructional videos have I found on this topic? 

If you discern that a glass shower install is an appropriate DIY project for your skill set, Glass Simple offers our frameless shower hardware and accessories without order minimums (a few exceptions are noted on our website) and without the requirement of creating a business account with us. We also provide YouTube videos on how to install many of the hardware items we sell. Call (571)707-7760 to speak with our Manassas Park, VA team!