For the luxury home owner, the bathroom is one of the most important rooms of the house, and offers the chance to create a lavish sanctuary where you can spend some time soaking away the stresses and strains of life in the tub, indulging in some self care and come out of feeling refreshed and renewed.
Although there’s nothing quite like a long, hot soak in the bath, showers offer practicality on those days where time is limited – but what if your bathroom doesn’t have room for both?
Bath-showers – which combine the two – are a great way to ensure you can enjoy the best of both worlds, and feature a shower installed above your bath so that you can simply hop into the tub, turn it on and enjoy – but they do require some kind of barrier to prevent water from splashing out onto the floor and surroundings.
While once a simple shower curtain was the common solution, they are far from a sophisticated choice, and are prone to mold, which means they should be avoided at all costs in luxury properties in favour of more practical and aesthetically pleasing screens.
A bath screen is a much more effective remedy for the problem of splashing water, and works well for baths of all kinds – not just those with showers installed overhead. Typically made with a toughened glass panel, bath screens are both practical and stylish, preventing water from spraying out whilst you’re in there and adding a modern element to the bathroom décor.
It’s worth bearing in mind that not all bath screens are created equal though, and with various designs to choose from it can be difficult to know which to go for. The right screen for your bathroom will depend on the style of your bath, available space and functional needs – so to help you to find your ideal match, here’s a quick guide to the types and what they work best for.
Fixed bath screens
Also known as a static bath screen, a fixed bath screen is a glass panel that’s fixed in place and doesn’t move – usually secured to the wall on one side and the bath edge along the bottom.
Of course, a fixed screen shouldn’t cover more than a third to half of the bath edge, so there’s still enough space to climb in and out of the bath safely – all without the panel moving.
Framed bath screens are a popular design choice, as the panel (or multiple smaller panels) can be fixed within a metal or powder-coated frame to provide an extra décor element.
Curved bath screens
Another version of the fixed bath screen is the sail screen, sometimes called a curved screen because of its shape, which differs from a traditional square or rectangular panel.
Rather than straight edges all the way around, the panel is only straight on the two sides where it connects to the wall and bath edge, while the outer edge curves like the sail of a ship.
This is a more aesthetic choice for smaller bathrooms, where softer edges appear to take up less space. In situations with a curved bath edge, this would require a specialist screen.
Folding bath screens
A folding bath screen is a concertina-style design made up of multiple panels with pivot hinges that fold up against each other, so the screen can be folded against the wall.
Typically using three to five panels with metal profiles between them and plastic seals at the bottom to keep water inside the bath area, they can be opened and closed as needed.
While less room is required to access the bathtub with a foldaway bath screen, the number of joins can make cleaning more difficult, as there are more places for grime to build up.
Sliding bath screens
Another fixed bath screen variant is a sliding bath screen that uses two panels instead of one, which allows the second panel to slide out beyond the first and extend the barrier.
Like folding screens, there is usually a magnetic feature that clicks the sliding screen into place when it is fully extended, so you can easily make room to get in and out of the bath.
However, also like their folding counterparts, sliding screens can be harder to clean. Moisture and deposits can build up in between the panels when the second one is ‘closed’.
Hinged bath screens
If you want all the potential benefits at once – the sleek look of clear glass, maneuverability for better access, and ease of cleaning – then a hinged bath screen could be ideal.
Also known as pivot bath screens, these feature glass panels fixed to the bathroom wall using pivot hinges or a pivot hinged profile, allowing you to swing the screen outwards.
You can choose a framed or frameless style with subtle hinge fixings to match your bathroom fittings, be they silver, gold, or copper-toned – or even a bolder statement colour like matt black.
Choosing the right bath screen for your bathroom
When it comes to deciding on an over-bath screen, you’ll need to consider several factors. Think about the answers to these questions when making your decision:
- What are the dimensions of your bath and the bathroom?
- How much space do you have to get into and out of the bath?
- How much space is there to open or close a screen in any direction?
- If you would prefer a moveable screen, what would be the easiest way to move it?
- Do you prefer the appearance of more visible profiles or less visible fittings?
- How much time or effort are you willing to spend on cleaning it?
For example, a fixed screen may become an obstacle for smaller baths, while a pivot screen may not have space to open if the bath is right next to the sink, toilet, or door.
In some cases, it can be beneficial to build your own custom bath screen by ordering a toughened glass panel in your preferred dimensions and finish, then purchasing your chosen fittings separately to achieve the hinged or profile look that you like best.
