Should We Leave the Glass Door Out of Our Chicago Bathroom Remodel?

The advent of open showers has truly changed the way your bathroom can look and feel. Open, walk-in showers don’t have an obstructive curb, making them ideal for universal bathroom designs. They keep a bathroom as open and spacious as it could possibly be and a shower without a door allows beautiful tile work to shine - all without a frameless glass door to clean or maintain.

Of course, there’s rarely a perfect solution to any bathroom design dilemma, so today we’d like to cover the pros and cons of a shower space without a glass door or shield.

Pros of having a walk-in shower without a glass door or shield

Here are some of the benefits of a completely open shower area:

Door-free showers are a luxury bathroom feature

The idea of an open, walk-in shower design – sans door or shield – is luxurious. It’s a top-tier bathroom design feature that adds visual appeal.

Accessibility

In an era where home designs that facilitate aging in place are trending, a walk-in shower without a glass door or barrier makes your bathroom more accessible for people of all ages, and with all levels of mobility. This can be a major selling point down the road.

Nothing to clean or maintain

Perhaps the Number 1 selling point for many homeowners is that it’s less to clean or maintain. No need to get the vinegar spray out, to worry about hard water spots or to keep a squeegee at the ready.

It’s less expensive

If you’re worried about your Chicago bathroom remodeling budget, leave the glass door out of it. This one move can save you around $2000 in terms of product and installation.

Cons of a shower without a glass door or shield

Here are some of the reasons why a glass shower door or shield might be more up your bathroom design alley:

Your bathroom isn’t big enough

Even with accurately oriented shower heads, a nicely sloped floor and exquisitely-designed drainage – there’s still bound to be a bit of splash. That requires a larger bathroom space to ensure the water spray/mist doesn’t wind up on or in places you don’t want it to be.

Lack of privacy

Even a clear glass door or shield provides some modicum of privacy because water droplets obstruct the view - frosted or designer options go a step further. Since the point of a door-free shower is to keep things exposed – so will you be every time you take a shower.

You may get chilly

One of our favorite things about glass shower enclosures is that they block airflow and trap a little warmth and steam in the shower space. Open showers don’t have that kind of protection, so we suggest pairing them with heated bathroom floors so the bathroom remains a consistently comfortable temperature. You’ll also want to install an adequate ventilation system to regulate humidity and maintain healthy indoor air quality.

Would you like to discuss the pros and cons of shower without a glass or door shield with experienced Chicago bathroom remodelers? Schedule a consultation with the pros at Kitchens & Baths Unlimited or stop by our showroom.