If you don’t have the space (or budget) for a separate shower enclosure and bath, you’ve probably decided on a combined shower-bath. But should you go with a shower curtain or glass shower doors to enclose it? Some of us might gravitate toward the softer look of a colorful piece of waterproof fabric that can be changed at will, while others might love the no-nonsense efficiency of a sheer pane of glass. To help point you in the right direction, here are five benefits each of shower curtains and glass doors.

Shower Curtains

1. Soften the surfaces. Great swaths of fabric (waterproofed or backed with a water-resistant liner) can temper the overall aesthetic of a bathroom that’s in danger of becoming too harsh or sterile. Make sure your curtain — or at least the outer fabric section — can be washed at home, so any hint of mildew or staining can be nipped in the bud.

2. Add personality. Simply put, shower curtains can instantly inject a blast of color, print and personality with the minimum of fuss, expense and effort. And even better, when you’re tired of the look, the curtain can be replaced with one in an altogether different style. Be bold with color in the bathroom and remember, you don’t have to stick with top-to-bottom white for a fresh feel.

3. Rev up a roll-top. Roll-top baths with a shower fitted above can be notoriously difficult to pull off — particularly when it comes to dealing with water spills and splashes. Glass panels are generally a no-no where curves and awkwardly shaped tubs are concerned, unless you go for something custom, so your best bet is to install a robust ceiling-mounted rail and finish with a heavy-duty, waterproof shower curtain that can be swept all the way around the inside the tub.

 

 

Shower Screens

1. Go for a full enclosure. There’s no fear of water escaping from this recessed bath, as the sliding doors fully enclose the tub in a neat, no-nonsense fashion. Sliding panels of glass are also a good option where space is at a premium, as they don’t need to hinge or pivot outward, eating into valuable floor inches and making fixtures and fittings awkward to use.

2. Utilize tricky spaces. A bath can be slotted rather neatly into an unused alcove or nook in a converted attic, but how to cope with the sloping ceilings if you fancy a shower, too? Your best bet is to opt for a custom shower screen (lots of companies now offer them), which can accommodate tricky recesses and angles as well as nonstandard heights. You might well pay extra for this made-to-measure item, but for a neat, splashproof solution, it’s worth its weight in gold.

3. Keep it simple. If you have a lot going on in terms of decor in the rest of the bathroom — think colored tiles, paneled furniture and fancy sink fixtures — then perhaps a plain sheet of no-frills glass is the best solution. Look for glass that has been finished with a special coating so dirt and limescale won’t accumulate and make it hard to keep clean. It might bump up the overall price of the screen, but it will save you lots of elbow grease.

 

credit: Houzz