How The Choice Of Shower Enclosure Is Vital For A Great Bathroom

Thomas Pretty asked:


The latest trend in the renovation and redesign of homes is to place greater emphasis upon the bathroom. Increasingly homeowners are attempting to create bathrooms with a spa like feel and luxury throughout; choosing the right shower enclosure can be considered a major element in this popular trend. In the past, a shower enclosure was simply a place to wash, nowadays a large shower enclosure is a place to relax and enjoy the experience. Benches and seats as well as multiple shower heads, body sprays and steam showers have all become common in modern bathroom design.

The shower enclosure is now believed to be the focal point of the bathroom. Trends include forgetting the dark and gloomy showers of the past for a light an airy enclosure that adds a design feature to the bathroom. Frameless shower doors and evermore luxuriant finishes are being utilised to make the shower enclosure a nice place to spend considerable amounts of time. Added to this, totally enclosed shower areas are being installed to create showers that double as steam rooms, bringing greater health benefits that just a scrub.

When considering the design of a shower enclosure there are many factors to consider, at the forefront of the homeowner’s mind should be the amount of space available in the bathroom and of course, the budget at the homeowners disposal. A framed enclosure will provide a rigid area and will require considerable amounts of materials; surprisingly however they are cheaper than their frameless counterparts in terms of instillation costs.

A framed enclosure will most likely work well if a bathroom has an uneven shape and walls. Frameless enclosures are currently becoming increasingly popular in design but due to the need for thicker glass, they are often more expensive, although this extra cost does give an incomparable luxurious look.

The type of glass you use for your shower enclosure is also important. Legislation demands that the glass used must be either laminated or tempered for safety reasons. Tempered glass is a brilliant design feature and creates elegance; the material is also remarkably easier to clean for all of those who despise housework. Clever use of glass can make a bathroom look bigger and when combined with creative etching can be a superb design feature in its own right.

The finish of the shower enclosure should also be a concern; there is a huge variety out there to choose from for the actual framework. Two of the most popular finishes for their durability are ardonised silver and gold. Design trends however have started to incorporate brushed oil finishes using metals such as bronze and nickel. The choice of finish can make or break the attractiveness of your shower enclosure, and as the predominant feature in your bathroom, the space as a whole.

A vital part of any shower enclosure design is the door, curtains are now considered passe and a detrimental design aspect. When looking at doors it is worth visiting a supplier where doors are installed in a number of mock up bathrooms, by doing this it is possible to test the hardiness of the latch mechanisms and the durability of the door more generally. The door will create balance to your shower; hence the decision should be made after careful consideration.

With today’s modern lifestyle it is often only the bathroom where we can spend private time and truly relax. Getting the choice of shower enclosure right is essential to making the bathroom as comfortable and stylish as possible. The modern homeowner demands that their bathroom be luxurious, elegant and fundamentally practical, with such a wide variety of shower options on the market all of these attributes are achievable.