5 Space-Saving Shower Enclosures That Make Small Bathrooms Feel Bigger

Creating a perfect small bathroom can be challenging. You often have to choose between what you can fit and what you can’t. A shower enclosure is often considered not a suitable option for small bathrooms. However, it’s far from true. When it comes to choosing a shower enclosure for a small bathroom, the shape and size can make all the difference.

In this blog, we will discuss various shower enclosure types and sizes, including shower door options that can make a perfect small bathroom shower enclosure.

Top Small Shower Enclosure Options

Here we have various shower enclosures suitable for compact bathrooms..

• Quadrant Shower Enclosures

The top small bathroom shower enclosure choice is a quadrant shower enclosure, with their curved design can fit into the corners. This is a perfect use of corner spaces that often remain vacant. Additionally, curved fronts and the use of corners minimise the footprint in the main bathroom area, making them a space saving option. Quadrant enclosures are available in various sizes and shapes, such as offset quadrants with one longer side, allowing you to have a more spacious shower experience.

• Pros: Excellent space utilization, soft aesthetic, good range of sizes.
• Cons: Can be slightly trickier to clean the curved glass, requires a corner installation.

• Bi-Fold Shower Door Enclosure

While pivot shower doors might be a classic choice for a bathroom, they are not considered to be a space saver due to outward swinging, requiring clearance space. Instead, a bifold shower door that is foldable into itself is preferred. The ingenious folding mechanism shower door, when attached to a quadrant or rectangular shower enclosure, requires no clearance space for opening. Therefore, there is no chance of the door obstructing a toilet or basin. So, an enclosure fitted with a foldable shower door is recommended for a small bathroom.

• Pros: No outward swing, great for very tight spaces, sleek modern look.
• Cons: Can have more moving parts (though modern designs are very robust), potential for dust traps in the folds.

• Sliding Shower Doors

Sliding shower doors can be another space-saving option for bathrooms where space is limited. While they may not save you as much space as a bifold shower door does, they can still make the bathroom feel less occupied. Experts recommend them for alcove or larger enclosures where space efficiency is a priority and a bifold door is not an option.

• Pros: Smooth operation, less obtrusive than pivot doors, easy to clean, good for wider openings.
• Cons: Track can accumulate dirt, still requires the door width for access.

• Walk-In Showers

A walk-in shower enclosure might seem like an ambitious choice for a small bathroom. However, a carefully planned walk-in enclosure with a single fixed glass panel can make your space feel open and spacious. The absence of door and floor level shower with clear glass does not obstruct the sight, making walk in a perfect choice for a small bathroom.

• Pros: Minimalist aesthetic, easy to clean, highly accessible, creates a sense of openness.
• Cons: Requires excellent drainage and waterproofing, potential for splashes if not sized correctly, may need a slight curb.

• Corner Entry Shower Enclosures

When it comes to choosing a small bathroom shower enclosure, a corner entry shower enclosure can be a great choice as an alternative to a quadrant shower cubicle ( that also fits into the corner). A corner entry enclosure is often a square or rectangular-shaped enclosure that has a wider entry point in the middle of the front. A sliding shower door is often the choice for such shower spaces.

• Pros: Excellent corner fit, wide entry, good for those who find quadrants too restrictive.
• Cons: Can have more visible framing depending on the design.

Ending Thoughts

A small bathroom does not mean you can not install a shower enclosure. All you need is to choose the right shape, size and shower door, and you can enjoy a perfect shower experience with a compact bathroom. A quadrant shower enclosure, if you have a small bathroom and a corner entry shower enclosure, in case of availability of some room, can be a suitable choice in such a situation. Make sure you choose the right shower enclosure size according to the space available in your bathroom.