Types of Shower Doors

Nothing can beat the instant excellence that a glass shower enclosure brings to the bathroom interior. The classic, polished feel, and the posh vibe that a glass enclosure brings into the bathroom are matchless. Moreover, the endless shower door options further enhance the design opportunities for bathroom improvement. From pivot doors to fixed doors, there are a plethora of shower enclosure options to choose from. 

If you are still stuck with outdated shower curtains, it’s high time for you to give your bathroom a much-needed makeover. Modern shower doors are more versatile, durable, and visually appealing than shower curtains. Moreover, glass shower enclosures are damage resistant while shower curtains are prone to mold and mildew growth. Therefore, shower enclosures are a more hygienic and contemporary way of enhancing the bathroom. 

Let’s discuss the most popular options for shower doors classified by door opening.

1. Pivot Shower Door
Pivoted doors are modern shower doors that take the utility of swinging doors to a next level. These doors are pivoted to the wall or another glass panel and allow for dual-directional operation. The shower door can swing in or out according to the user’s ease. Pivot doors are one of the great small shower door options as it doesn’t take up horizontal wall space. However, the pivot doors would require some floor space to operate so it’s important to take the required floor space in mind during installation. 

Advantages:

• Swing pen in both directions
• Available in multiple design variations
• Practical option for people with mobility issues

2. Sliding Shower Door

Sliding shower doors have a practical layout. There are typically two glass panels in sliding doors. One of them is fixed while the other one moves across the stationary panel on a sliding metal track. Due to the double panel operation mechanism, sliding glass doors require a wider space for installation. They can be installed with bathtubs, corner showers, and even standalone showers. 

 
Advantages:

• Easy operation mechanism
• Contemporary and sleek design
• Suitable for any bathroom interior
• Improves the home value

3. Bypass Shower Doors

They are among the most modern shower enclosure types. They follow the sliding operation mechanism but they are different from the sliding doors in their basic design. Unlike sliding doors, the glass panels in a bypass door are moveable. All the glass panels can move past each other on a rail track to allow entrance or exit. However, in sliding doors, only one glass panel can move while the other one is stationary. This characteristic of bypass doors makes them among the viable shower door options for people with mobility issues. 

Advantages:

• Easy to operate
• Practical option for elderly or people with mobility issues
• Uber-chic design

4. Hinged Shower Door

Hinged shower doors also follow a swinging operation mechanism like pivoting shower doors. However, the main difference between the two types of shower doors is that the pivot doors operate both ways while the hinged doors can either open in or out according to the user’s requirement. Whether a hinged door would swing in or out depends on the space availability and user preferences. The operation direction would be fixed during the installation. The hinges in pivot doors are also somewhat different from those of the hinged doors. Pivot doors are also more modern and expensive than their hinged counterparts. 

Advantages:

• Available in different style options
• Great option for small as well as large bathrooms
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5. Fixed Shower Door

Fixed shower doors feature a single stationary glass panel. The fixed shower enclosure style doesn’t take up much space and creates a clear division between the shower area and the bathroom. This is the most space-savvy style for the bathroom since the shower doors are immovable and don’t require any floor space for operation.

Advantages:

• Space-efficient
• Budget-friendly
• Simple and stylish