Have you just moved into a home or apartment and are faced with a window in your shower? If so, you’re probably looking for some ways to conserve your privacy while still enjoying the natural light and potential view. If you’re looking for some ideas on what to do with a window in the shower, keep reading!
What to Do with a Window in the Shower
If you’re not sure what to do with a window in the shower, start by analyzing the shape and size. The style, type, and how many windows there are will greatly determine the number of solutions available to retain your privacy.
With all of these things in mind, you can begin to take a look at options that may work for your situation.
Option One: Curtains
If you’re wondering what to do with a window in the shower and you don’t want to spend a lot of money finding a solution, you can always opt for curtains. We know what you’re thinking, curtains in a shower?
Yes, believe it or not, there are water-proof curtains available for shower windows all over the web.
Just make sure you opt for the ones that are not only waterproof but mildew and mold resistant as well. This is especially important if your bathroom doesn’t have a fan.
image by unsplash
Option Two: Frosted Glass
Another fairly easy and inexpensive technique to obscure a window in the shower is to replace the glass with frosted glass. Frosted glass is a type of glass that has a frosted finish.
A frosted finish means that it’s only slightly opaque and is difficult to see through, although possible.
Frosted glass can be found just about anywhere. We’ve even seen panels available on Amazon. The best part is, glass is easy to remove and install as long as you have the right tools and use the proper techniques.
image by unsplash
Option Three: Stained Glass
If you’re looking for a more decorative solution to your problem, you can opt for stained glass instead.
Stained glass is glass that has been painted and is likely in a shape or pattern. It’s not uncommon for stained glass to depict an entire scene or picture.
Stained glass is one of our most favorite options because you don’t necessarily have to replace the panel that already exists. You can even make your own stained glass window hanging to add and obscure the view inside.
If you are not feeling very creative, you can always opt for a stained glass window film.
Option Four: Glass Blocks
Have you ever been in a school, gym, or pool bathroom and seen glass that looked like a bunch of glass blocks? This glass that looks like ice is a style that is a popular option for changing areas and bathrooms due to the level of obscurity it can have.
It’s almost impossible to see into a glass block window unless you’re pressing your face against it. The best part about glass blocks as a replacement is that they are generally inexpensive and still allow in a lot of light.
Image via Pixabay
Option Five: Plants
Are you a plant lover? If so, plants are going to be the perfect addition to help add privacy to your shower window.
If you’re wondering what to do with a window in the shower, you should know that plants are a great option because of the sheer variety and their live nature.
Opting for plants that prefer moist and humid environments will be best. Just make sure that you pick a plant that doesn’t grow too large or make bathing difficult.
If you are looking for recommendations on shower plants to add we suggest the following:
- Aloe vera
- Bamboo
- Begonia
- Chinese evergreen
- Boston fern
Image via Unsplash
Option Six: Remove It
If you don’t care about losing the light and you’re a little handier than most, you can always opt to remove the window completely. Removing a window isn’t as hard as it may seem.
Many people who opt to remove the window entirely use it as an opportunity to add a mosaic tile in the place of the window to ensure the space doesn’t look too bare.
Just make sure that if you remove it all together that you still have a way to ventilate your bathroom. Leaving the door open while you shower isn’t going to help so make sure you have a plan to install a fan as well.
If you don’t, you run the risk of growing dangerous molds and bacteria you won’t even know about that could be harmful to you and the health of your loved ones.
Option Seven: Shelves
If you’re still bound on replacing the window altogether, one of the most popular options is to replace it with shelves or an indented spot for shampoo, soap, and other shower supplies. Shelving in a shower makes it feel that much more luxurious and is a great option for replacement.
The best part about replacing a window with a shelving insert is the range of freedom you have with everything removed.
Depending on the shape and size of the window you removed, you can always opt to do a slight bump out to add a shelf or create a modern and curved appearance.
Don’t be afraid to head to sites like Pinterest for inspirational ideas for built-in shower shelving!
image by pexels
Option Eight: Shutters
If you put shutters together using various hardware, you can make yourself a miniature room divider that actually works perfectly for shower windows with ledges.
A shutter can be coated with waterproof paints, primers, and more and give you the chance to design and customize them to fit your style best.
The best part about using shutters is the fact that you can simply remove them when you’re not using them, and you never have to lose your light or view.
You can find shutters at local hardware stores along with online. There are hundreds of options available ranging in all colors, size, and style, so you’ll have no problem finding exactly what you need.
We can’t help but love this option due to the fact that it’s one of the most affordable and stylish options on our list.
Option Nine: Outdoor Tree
If none of these options sound appealing to you, or you simply don’t have space in your shower or the materials needed to remove or replace your window, there are still solutions available to you.
If you love the look of your window, the light, and the view, you likely want to keep your window as is. One of the solutions for you is to add a tree or something to obscure the view inside on the outside.
Just make sure that if you opt for a tree to obscure the window that you consider how close it is to the house and how large it will get to ensure it won’t damage the foundation of your home.
You also don’t want to pick a tree that works for the first few years but then grows tall enough that only the truck is there to obscure you instead of the leaves and branches.
It’s also imperative that you think about how the tree behaves in different seasons to avoid embarrassing situations when all the leaves fall off in fall and winter.
Image via Pixabay
Option Ten: Sliding Pane
If you don’t have a fan in your bathroom and open your window every time you shower or bathe, you can opt for a sliding pane glass window to help ensure your privacy.
We love a frosted sliding pane because it allows half of the window to stay the same. If you’re not willing to sacrifice your view or the amount of light you have coming in, a frosted sliding pane window replacement is an excellent choice.
The sliding pane doesn’t just have to be frosted, that is simply our preferred choice. You can also opt to make one of the sliding panes stained glass, textured, and more. The sky’s the limit when it comes to customizing sliding glass panes.
Why Do Showers Have Windows?
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You may be wondering why showers even have windows to begin with. Well, the truth is, many bathrooms don’t have proper ventilation, and bathrooms without ceiling fans can retain moisture.
Notice how each time you take a bath or shower the mirror fogs up?
That fog is due to moisture, and this moisture is what sticks around for mold and other bacteria to grow and multiply around your bathroom.
Windows help take the moist air out and reduce the potential of mold and other damages due to moisture retention.
Are Windows Better Than Fans?
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With all of that being said, windows aren’t the best method for ventilating a bathroom.
If you want to remove the most moisture out of the air, you’ll want to use a bathroom fan. The reason you can’t just use a window is the fact that there’s also moisture in the air outside.
This is especially true if you live in a warm environment that suffers from high humidity. Luckily, installing a bathroom fan is easy, and you’ll find a wide range of step-by-step DIYs to do that online.
If you live in a dry climate with little to no humidity, like Arizona, you may not need a bathroom fan depending on your specific location and the daily weather.
Can You Replicate Natural Lighting?
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One of the arguments against getting rid of a shower window is the fact that windows let in a lot of natural lighting. Natural lighting is the best and most flattering form of lighting, especially in a bathroom.
Many people actually prefer natural lighting to artificial lighting and try to utilize it as much as possible for the health benefits as well as to save money on their energy bill.
If you’re looking to remove your shower window completely, you may want to look for a way to replicate natural lighting in the space. One of the best ways to replicate natural lighting is by using lights and lamps.
They even make lightbulbs that are more similar to natural lighting than artificial lighting. If you’re going to miss that soft morning glow from the sun, take a look at the numerous inexpensive options you can find across the sites like Amazon.
Conclusion
No matter which technique you decide to use for your renovation project, make sure you keep real estate trends and perceived property value in mind, especially if you are thinking of selling anytime in the near future.
Windows are a key selling point for many buyers and sometimes adding to instead of replacing or removing is a better option. Just make sure you do your research and follow all tutorials strictly in order to avoid any renovation mishaps!
Featured Image via Pexels
