What Is a Seamless Shower? All About the Airy Bathroom Trend

The shower is officially having its moment in the spotlight. According to Anne Colby, Houzz U.S. editor, shower upgrades continue to gain traction, with 84% of homeowners opting to include a shower in their bathroom renovation project. Wet rooms and curbless showers are popular choices, but another trendy option provides a similarly sleek look with the benefit of a door enclosure: the seamless shower.

What Defines a Seamless Shower?

The doors of a seamless shower are the defining characteristic of the bathroom fixture. "Seamless shower doors are typically made of all glass and have no metal frames," Colby explains. "For that reason, they are often referred to as frameless showers." In addition to the lack of framing, seamless shower doors have minimal hardware. The glass doors provide a clean, unobstructed view of the entire bathroom, lending a more spacious, open, and airy feel.

Popularity of the Seamless Shower

The seamless shower is becoming an increasingly popular shower choice for homeowners who want to create the appearance of a larger space, especially in smaller bathrooms. While the shower style certainly opens up a bathroom, the doors still differentiate the shower from the rest of the space. In addition to providing a clear enclosure, seamless shower doors help to contain water and minimize drafts, giving the modernized fixture high marks for form and functionality.

Another characteristic homeowners love about a seamless shower is its aesthetic flexibility. "A frameless glass enclosure lends itself to any style, whether it’s a clean, sleek design that appeals to modern tastes or a simple and understated one with an elegant and classic look," says Colby. "It’s also a great look for shower-tub combos because pros find that the tile is typically the star of the shower, and using a frameless door allows more transparency to let the tile shine."

Seamless Shower Pros and Cons

As with any design element, a seamless shower has pros and cons. Depending on your needs, these benefits and drawbacks will help you understand if the sleek and stylish shower trend is appropriate for your bathroom upgrade.

Pro: Versatility

According to Colby, both kitchen and bath designers on Houzz assert frameless glass is the most common shower door type. This is due to its ability to work within the footprint of most bath layouts while lending a clean, sophisticated look. 

Pro: Enclosed Design

With the growing popularity of wet rooms and the equally trendy curbless shower, traditional shower doors seem to be taking a backseat to these more modern iterations. However, a drawback of wet rooms and curbless showers is their lack of insulation from drafts. A seamless shower, on the other hand, provides a similarly open layout while sealing the shower area from undesirable wafts of chilly air.

Con: Lack of Privacy

"Privacy is a consideration with an all-glass shower, but there are many solutions," says Colby. She urges concerned homeowners to look beyond the clear glass finish of seamless shower doors. "Tempered glass can be sandblasted to create a frosted look, providing some privacy as well as looking good," she explains. 

Installation Considerations

Like most aspects of a bathroom renovation, professional installation of a seamless shower will be the least stressful way to execute the remodel. "Frameless shower installations often require custom glass pieces, so it’s helpful to work with a professional who can align and install the pieces to fit the space and ensure the silicone caulking will keep water inside the shower where it belongs," Colby says.

Beyond installation, an expert will consult on the best glass choice based on necessary safety considerations. A thick, tempered glass is typically the most resilient and durable choice. Talk with your installer, manufacturer, or designer to determine the right glass type to fit your style and functionality needs.

Cleaning Requirements

One of the benefits of a seamless shower is how easy it is to clean thanks to the minimal hardware you’ll have to scrub both on and around. "Professionals on Houzz recommend going with glass that has a finish that repels soap scum and water spots," says Colby.

However, even with an easy-to-clean surface, consistent cleaning is not only recommended but required if you want to ensure the health of your glass for years to come. "Without consistent cleaning, hard water and soapy buildup that accumulates on glass shower surfaces can cause etching and permanently damage the glass, so homeowners should be prepared to wipe down the shower after each use with either a squeegee or a microfiber cloth," Colby explains.