12 Best Types Of Glass For Shower Doors

Today, showers are often viewed with an air of simplicity. They don't require as much time (or water) as baths, and there's often less moving pieces: no soaks, no Epsom salt, no bath bombs. However, what seems like a simple part of a daily routine is actually the result of centuries of innovation, a variety of civilizations contributing to cleanliness with inventions that eventually shaped the modern shower. A fully-functional appliance that allows us the freedom to focus more on aesthetics rather than mechanics alone. Enter the glass shower door.

While showers have existed for centuries, glass shower doors did not become common until the late 1900s, once tempered glass was widely available. Today, your options aren't limited to just framed versus frameless glass showers. Instead, you can pick from a variety of glass types, deciding what should be a priority in your bathroom. Perhaps you prefer the open feel of traditional clear glass, admiring its slightly green hue. Or, maybe, you'd rather a decorative, textured option that's as visually appealing as it is functional.

Overall, choosing the perfect shower doors for your home's bathrooms depends on your preferred and existing aesthetic. After all, even similar types of glass don't look the same, allowing you to customize your bathroom to your preferences. However, there can also be some day-to-day advantages, such as satin etch's ease-of-cleaning or rain glass's ability to hide smudges.

When it comes to glass for shower doors, clear glass is an icon. It's minimalist, timeless, and can easily fit into any type of bathroom aesthetic, so much so that it's one of the most popular picks for glass shower doors. Because these shower doors are clear, they can amplify lighting and help maximize visual space. Standard clear shower glass often has a slight green hue due to its iron content. Don't worry if you're not a fan of this color. There are two types of these shower doors: your standard clear glass and low-iron glass.

If you like the overall aesthetic of a clear glass shower but wish you had something with additional clarity that eliminates the green hue, look no further than low-iron glass. When glass is made, iron is often included during the melting process. With a low-iron shower, the amount is reduced, giving you a clear shower with no green coloration. If you want the openness of clear glass while showing tile details or exterior views more accurately, low-iron glass is a popular choice.

The openness of a clear shower door, whether standard or low-iron, can be nice, but there may be instances you prefer more privacy instead. In that case, you may prefer a frosted glass door. Frosted glass offers a middle ground between clear shower doors and fully opaque glass doors. Some light is still allowed in, creating a bright atmosphere, but there's enough etching to provide a translucent appearance that lends to greater privacy. Although this can make it difficult for guests to see any decorative tiles or features in your shower, it can be useful in shared bathroom spaces where privacy is a priority.

On the other end of the spectrum from clear shower doors sits the opaque shower door. Rather than being lightly etched for personalized privacy, these are coated for complete coverage. This dims the transfer of light, creating a cozier aesthetic in your shower, while also providing a retreat from any wandering eyes. These can be the preferred choice for communal bathroom spaces or bathrooms with notable windows where total privacy is more important than showing off the entirety of your shower's interior.

Bamboo-patterned glass is one of several decorative options for shower doors. This is a door that has the image of growing bamboo designed into the surface of the glass, while the background sports a frosted design. As a result, glass doors with this pattern blend clear and frosted appearances for a balance of light and privacy. Because of their unique visual appeal, they can make a good choice in bathrooms with a fitting theme. If your bathroom style changes in the future, however, this highly specific design may be harder to match.

Rain glass offers a decorative alternative to opaque and frosted glass shower doors. When rain glass doors are made, the glass is cut and designed in such a way that it appears to have streams of water, even when it is completely dry. As a result, rain glass offers added privacy without detracting from the visual appeal of your shower, even if you may not be able to view the interior with as much clarity as a clear or low-iron glass door.

As mentioned earlier, standard clear glass has a subtle green hue caused by iron content. With tinted glass, you can enjoy the same effect while tailoring the color to your existing aesthetic. Tinted glass doors can come in a variety of colors, from gray to rose gold to blue. Whatever color you decide on is applied in such a way that your vision isn't obscured in your shower, providing the same openness as a clear door. However, any exterior lighting in your shower may be reduced, especially with darker tints.

When looking at most shower glass varieties, you'll see differences in color or texture. However, you can also shop around for differences in shape. Curved shower doors can be a unique option in your bathroom, replacing typically straight lines with rounded edges. These glass doors are designed to help save space in your bathroom, making a smaller bathroom feel and look larger. Some homeowners add this type of glass when seeking a spa-like aesthetic.

Few visual elements can create the same sophisticated, artistic appearance as stained glass. A stained glass shower door brings that same statement-making quality into the bathroom. Stained glass can feature traditional designs or take a more modern route, helping customize these pieces to your bathroom's existing aesthetic. They also work as an alternative to frosted and opaque glass doors, giving your shower more privacy without sacrificing the preferred visual appearance of your bathroom.

Do you love the appearance of a glass shower door but wish it didn't need to be as high-maintenance? Choosing a frameless shower over a framed option can often help cut down on the workload, but you can create a lower-maintenance shower through the glass you pick as well. Coated glass doors come with a specialized surface treatment. This is designed to make cleaning easier by reducing the amount of build-up on your glass, thanks to its ability to repel water. The coating also helps prevent streaks on your glass shower door.

Satin etch is similar to frosted glass in that it provides privacy without being fully opaque, but these two types of glass aren't the same. Instead, satin etch takes a more decorative approach. Because satin etch has a smooth finish rather than a rough texture, it can make it easier to clean since there are fewer areas for water to linger while showering. It also ends up being translucent, providing both privacy and ample light in your shower. In some cases, satin etch may be considered a type of patterned glass.

Fluted glass is another type of patterned glass, like bamboo or rain glass. It features vertical lines that run from top to bottom, creating the flutes that it's named for. Because the glass itself is still clear, fluted glass doesn't provide as much privacy as other options but highlights the entirety of your shower and adds ample lighting. The vertical flutes, however, do create a blurring effect. While it does not offer full privacy like opaque glass, pairing fluted glass with other privacy measures can create a balanced solution for some.