As interior design experts predict trends for 2026, we’re taking a look at how these movements may impact homeowners’ preferences for glass and hardware in their bathrooms. Many principles – like homeowners frequently preferring a glass shower door to a curtain these days – will probably remained  unchanged. At the same time, up and coming styles impact both major design decisions and smaller details like the sheen of a hardware finish.

1. Homeowners may veer away from high-gloss hardware finishes in the new year.

According to The Spruce, "polish is out, and patina is in", and this will tend to affect hardware choices. Polished brass is already less popular than its softer counterpart, satin brass, but we may also see movement away from chrome and toward brushed nickel. Brushed bronze has been cropping more recently as well. However, if homeowners are literally seeking metal that will develop a noticeable patina, this could be the year of the return of oil-rubbed bronze. This is a dark finish that develops a patina and brighter highlights with time and use.

2. Shower screens and wet rooms may see an uptick.

Moving from the hardware to the glass itself, the same article from The Spruce predicts “minimal glasswork that creates a calming, open feel”. What might this mean for glass shower design trends in the upcoming year? A hinged or fixed screen installed on a tub/shower combo will likely be a hot pick for homeowners desiring to make the most of limited space in the bathroom. Since a screen leaves the actual entrance to the shower open, it is nice for creating continuity. At the same time, some water might escape through the open entrance, so enhanced waterproofing around the tub is a must. On the other end of the spectrum, some homeowners are turning large bathrooms into waterproofed wet rooms. While these sometimes eschew a curtain or glass barrier entirely, others include a stationary splash panel. With the emphasis on an “open feel”, it is probable that clear glass will retain is favorite status.

3. Designers will be keeping the potty out of sight.

The Spruce article also forecasts “Pocketed or partially screened toilets”, which brings us to another use for bathroom glass and hardware. Acid-etched, patterned, tinted, or back-painted glass can be used to hide or blur the view of a bathroom’s most necessary but least aesthetically pleasing appliance: the commode. Like glass showers, toilet screens are often held in place by clamps and/or U-channels.

4. Tile trends can impact glass style preferences.

Turning to a Decorilla piece, we find that "tile drenching" is also predicted for bathrooms of 2026. This term refers to the practice of using the same tile on a bathroom’s floor and walls. With tile serving as a key focal point in a bathroom like this, it is unlikely that a homeowner will want the carefully chosen shower wall tile to be hidden behind privacy glass or a curtain. Instead, standard clear glass or low-iron glass with less greenish coloration will likely remain favorites into the new year.

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Do you need hardware for a frameless glass shower project? Glass Simple offers an array of styles, brands, and finishes, and our dedicated VA team is available to answer your questions at (571) 707-7760