Three Decorative Ways To Make Your Frameless Shower More Private

Frameless glass showers create a beautiful, seamless look in a bathroom. They open it up for a spacious effect. You may love this aesthetic but would like a touch more privacy for the shower. One way to satisfy both desires is to install decorative glass which evokes a polished feel while providing some obscurity.

The Obscurity Of Tinted Glass

One option that can create more privacy for the shower is tinted glass. Common shades include smoky bronze and grey, which complement many colour schemes. Other options include blue or green hues. The thicker the glass pane, the darker and less transparent it will look. The tints are produced when the glass is manufactured by adding particular mineral oxides to the molten glass mix. The iron in standard 'clear' glass creates a hint of green, which can be emphasised by adding more iron. (Low-iron glass is a result of doing the opposite.) Cobalt and selenium combine with the different elements to produce other shades. Dark, dusky tints, particularly in bronze and grey, create a stunning, smooth and helpfully opaque surface.

Textured Glass Camouflage

Another way to create a more private shower enclosure is to install textured glass; this might be a way to go if you want to create an arty look. You can choose different patterns for varying levels of obscurity. Possibilities include imprinting the texture of running water, bubbles or stormy clouds on the panels. Or, the glass could be patterned to mimic surfaces like brick or tiles. With this kind of glass, you can distinctly feel the impressions if you run your fingers across it.  

To create these designs, the malleable molten glass passes across textured rollers which imprint the surface. The alternatives can vary with different producers, and some might offer custom designs. To increase the obscurity factor, you could double-up this treatment with tinting.

Frosted Glass Cloudiness

Frosting glass is another way to create more privacy in your shower. There are many designs available, ranging from intricate decorative motifs to minimal, smooth, satin effects. The surface created by this treatment is more cloudy in parts, rather than patterned and bumpy. To generate the frostiness, either sandblasting or acid etching techniques are applied to one side of a glass pane. Masks and stencils control which areas go cloudy and to what extent. Because only one side of the glass is affected, the inner side of the final shower screen remains flat, which makes it easier to clean.

All three decorative treatments preserve the clean minimalism of glass. But they also obscure the shower screens to create a private enclosure. This is especially helpful if several people share the bathroom.

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