So, you’re upgrading your bathroom, and it’s time to reimagine the shower enclosure. Your new shower door needs to contain the spray, fit your space, be easy to maintain, and look great. A tall order, but choices abound.
Let’s start with the shape of your shower enclosure, keeping in mind how much clearance a door will need to open.
For a bathroom with a stand-alone shower in the corner of the room, you can tuck the enclosure into the corner with three angled panels and a hinged door directly facing the corner of the shower. If space allows for the enclosure to come further into the room, a rectangular shower space with glass panels and a door at right angles to the walls will give you more area inside the shower. For smaller bathrooms, round shower enclosures with a sliding door save space while spiffing up the look.
A traditional alcove shower sits between two walls, so the surround makes up three sides of the enclosure, with the shower door as the fourth side.
Bathroom design and space allowance will dictate door style. A hinged shower door opens by pulling on a handle to swing the door open on hinges mounted to the bathroom wall or the glass of the enclosure. This option works for a stand-alone shower, allowing you to walk in (rather than stepping into a tub), and requires a bathroom large enough to accommodate the shower door opening into the room.
Like a hinged door, a pivot shower door opens with a hinge-mounted from the top and bottom and the door revolves on a pivot, allowing it to open in either direction.
Sliding shower doors do just that; they slide from side to side to access the shower or tub. Sliding doors are a good option where space is at a premium. Doors slide on a track, or you can upgrade to mechanical rollers for a sleek look and effortless glide.
A folding shower door opens by folding in on itself in either two (bi-fold) or three (tri-fold) segments. Like a folding closet door, these shower doors are an excellent choice for small spaces that can’t accommodate a swinging door.
A fixed shower door (or partition) will contain shower spray with few installation considerations for a minimal look. As the name implies, glass panels fix in place. No doors or moving parts. You’ll need to make sure the panel is wide enough to provide water coverage. Etched, tinted, or patterned glass can add a visual design element.
