Give your bathing space an industrial vibe

Like the industrial look of Ellie’s walk-in? Here’s how to give your room a similar vibe

If you’ve fallen hard for steel-framed windows and doors, why not embrace the look on a more modest scale in your bathroom? Metal-framed shower screens look equally at home in modern and traditional schemes, so you can work the trend whatever your style.

How is the grid achieved?

At entry level, the black lines are screenprinted onto the glass. It’s pretty convincing but specks of black can flake off really low-budget products, so take care when fitting and using. For durability, a digitally printed grid is the way forward – try Roman’s Liberty range, which comes with a lifetime warranty. For realism, go for metal. Usually made from aluminium or steel, the frame is fixed to one side of the glass. Ensure that it is on the outside, so you can squeegee the interior after showering.

Can I get the look for less?

Prices have dropped in the past year and now start from around £200 for an 80cmwide screen. Quality materials will bump up the cost. Screens made from anodised black steel are robust but expensive; go for powder-coated aluminium to save pennies. Glass thickness is another factor – anything thicker than 8mm is going to be dearer.

What features are worth having?

The biggest tell of a low-end screen is cheap-looking hinges and screws. Seek products with concealed fixings that are colour-matched (ie, black). Easy-clean glass, such as Aquashield, has a protective treatment to prevent the build-up of limescale and shampoo residue. The glass will stay shinier and the need to clean is reduced by up to 70 per cent.

Is a steel-framed screen better than an enclosure?

A single screen will be cheaper, but some people prefer the cocooning privacy of an enclosure. Walk-in enclosures are a hybrid of the two, offering more protection than a single screen and a better sense of space than a full enclosure.

Should I opt for a tray or tank the floor?

Tanking gives a really sleek, contemporary look but it is labour-intensive so will cost more, in both time and money, than a tray. It’s better to source a really slim-line tray (around 2.5cm deep) that will suit the modern look, without the hassle.

‘STEEL-FRAMED SHOWER PANELS ARE EXTREMELY VERSATILE – THEY CAN ALSO BE USED AS A ROOM DIVIDER OR TO SCREEN OFF THE WC’

RUTH CORBETT, HOUSES EDITOR