Realtor Shares Glass Shower Door Feature That Everyone Seems To Hate: 'Oh Dear'

Home trends are always changing to match the needs of homeowners. Sometimes, the changes are big, but other times, they're small features to increase a homeowner's quality of life. As a person who loves to hunt down those little details that make the day-to-day so much easier and add them to her dream house plans, these small changes are my favorite. Unfortunately, they don't always work out well in reality. 

On TikTok, realtor @beckyvolandt shared a clip of a home for sale near Lake Oconee, Georgia, in late December 2025. The video is short and focuses on a particular feature in the shower: a small window that opens up on the glass door to allow someone to reach in and turn the knobs without having to step in and get wet. The short clip is overlaid with the text: "Another 2026 home trend?"

However, what the realtor thought was a feature that could join other stunning shower trends set to completely take over in 2026 is looking more like a feature most people will want to avoid. User @top.discus responded to the video with, "Oh dear.. I fit the valves where you can reach without getting wet with the outlet [at] the other end of the tray.." Additional responses mention things along the lines of: "That's so useless," "Just an extra annoying piece to clean," or an even simpler "Absolutely not."

Luxury realtor Becky Volandt felt like this could be a fun new 2026 trend, and the initial thought might be to agree. After all, no one enjoys stepping into a shower and getting blasted with cold water when you turn it on. But the impracticality of the design makes it much more of a hassle than a helpful tool. The biggest concerns in the comments appear to be cleaning it and leaks. "Add more places where water can drip out, fabulous!" says one well-liked comment, while another responded to the video with, "Cool idea but I don't need any more obstacles for my squeegee."

I feel these comments do raise some good points. One of the easiest ways to clean a glass shower wall is to simply take a squeegee and wipe it down after use. Or, you can keep glass shower doors clean and streak-free for longer with a simple addition — a coating. However, even then, the window will need more detailed cleaning, especially around the hinges. As someone who deep cleans her bathroom regularly, adding another task does feel like just too much, especially for such a small benefit. Additionally, because the glass cannot be flush with the rest, there is a chance of leaks, just like a shower door can leak without a seal. Another issue would be people not checking if the window is fully closed before showering.

One commenter on the video sensibly asked, "Couldn't you just put the valve on the opposite wall?" I have to agree. There are other, more practical ways to turn on the shower without getting wet. I can see how, if the knobs are on the opposite side of the door, this little window could be useful. However, if I have enough of a say and the money to add one of these to a shower, then I think I would rather just have the door closer to the knobs so I can reach in and turn on the water. Glass shower enclosures are expensive, even costing upwards of $2000, so to add this window to your home is a major expense, and for that cost, you could probably choose a more sensible option.

A better choice, though a little bougie, is to get a smart shower. This allows you to turn on and adjust your temperatures via a monitor from your phone or with your voice. It's a little extra, but it gets rid of all the problems that make this annoying window a necessity. Or, you could simply think twice before choosing a glass shower door, and go with something easier to clean and more functional.