Being transparent, glass shower screens evoke a sense of openness in a bathroom, but this does come at the cost of privacy. When choosing a design, you'll need to do a balancing act between these two factors.

Openness

Giving a feeling of clear, unfettered space, transparent panels are ideal as they allow the eye to roam to all corners of the bathroom. The screens contain water splashes while not forming an opaque visible block; thus, the room feels integrated rather than divided. You'll enjoy a spacious sense when taking a shower without feeling blocked in—and from outside the shower, the entire room will feel larger. Low-iron glass provides the highest clarity without a green tinge along the panel edges. 

This transparency and openness, though, does have a potential downside depending on your needs. The clearer screens are, the less privacy they provide for the person showering. One way to get around this is to install decorative glass.

Privacy

Frosted and patterned glass screens blur the view so that only general shapes are visible. Thus, during a shower, you'll feel more secluded and private. Choose between various etching designs and glass patterns, each of which offers a different degree of privacy. You could install a very cloudy and relatively opaque screen or one which only slightly obscures the view. The benefit of decorative glass is that it retains a sense of openness because you can somewhat see through the screens.

Some showers specifically deal with this balance between privacy and openness by using a decorative frosted design only along the middle section of the panels. The top and bottom parts, though, remain clear to allow for light flow. Overall, you have control over both the level of transparency and the scope of it across the glass. 

The Effect Of Framing

Besides the glass type, another vital element to consider when balancing your needs is the framing. Frameless showers using clear glass and discreet hardware become almost invisible. Even with obscure frosted glass, by eliminating heavy frames, the bathroom will feel more airy and bright without a distinct metal border around the shower enclosure. By installing frameless screens, you can retain a sense of free and open space without lessening the privacy of the enclosure. 

When selecting your shower design, consider how much openness and privacy you require and choose a glass type accordingly. Plus, if you go with less framing, you'll heighten airiness without impinging on privacy. 

To learn more, contact a contractor about glass shower screens.

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