Frameless shower doors are a timeless and elegant addition to any bathroom decor. On the other hand, traditional framed enclosures also add style and value to your home. Which one should you choose?

One of the biggest bathroom design issues for many homeowners is choosing the most suitable style for their space. After all, shower enclosures aren’t just for holding back water; they also impact the overall style of the room. Selecting the right style for your bathroom will require careful thought about the look you want to achieve. The following considerations can help you in the decision-making process.

Framed Glass Shower Doors

Framed glass doors are the most common type of shower enclosure, having been around much longer than the frameless style. These doors have metal frames that provide structural support and strength to the glass panels.

While framed cabinets of years ago had limited styling options, today’s framed doors are available in more than a dozen different metal finishes, including brushed chrome, polished brass, antique nickel, and oil rubbed bronze. The glass can also be personalized, and owners can choose from several tinted, patterned, etched and frosted options. Framed glass doors can reflect your sense of style and can be just as elegant as frameless enclosures.

Frameless shower doors

The glass look of frameless doors appeals to many homeowners for its high-end designer look and feel. These doors use heavy-duty glass and minimal hardware to bring an open feel to the bathroom, allowing other design elements to take center stage. For homeowners who have put in the effort to create a beautifully tiled shower, frameless doors may be the best option to showcase your design.

Like framed doors, frameless styles can incorporate frosted or etched areas to provide privacy and complement the rest of the room’s décor. Many different hardware finish options are also available, and homeowners can select from a wide variety of door handle styles.

Considerations for choosing a style

When determining what type of shower enclosure you’d like for your bathroom, consider the overall look you want. If you’re doing a complete remodel or rebuild, you can match the room’s decor to the style and hardware of the door. But if you’re just replacing or installing new shower doors, think about the rest of the bathroom when making your selections.

A framed glass door could, in some cases, provide a more consistent feel in a bathroom that hasn’t been updated for a few years. Also, with some shower configurations, a metal frame will be necessary to hold the glass.

However, in many homes, frameless shower doors can be both practical and stylish, giving the bathroom a sleek, modern look. More and more homeowners are choosing frameless styles to increase the value of their homes. Because they provide a sense of luxury and extravagance, frameless doors are quickly becoming a must-have for new home buyers. This makes them a wise investment for homeowners.

The shower stall you choose should showcase your personal design style in keeping with the rest of your bathroom décor. Contact a shower door specialist in your area for advice on choosing between the many framed and frameless shower door options.