A trademark of sleek, modern, and minimalist bathrooms, it’s no secret that open, doorless showers are going to be the next big design trend. Open showers have no shower door or curtain separating the shower from the rest of the bathroom. An open shower can make your bathroom feel like an exclusive spa or a luxury hotel. While these showers can be great when they occupy larger spaces, there are several reasons why you should avoid installing a small open shower in your bathroom. You may have heard that a doorless shower can make the room feel larger. However, there are considerable drawbacks in terms of privacy, water splashing everywhere, and mold growth — all of which can be exacerbated by a small space.

Open concept showers offer aesthetic benefits, are easy to clean, and are good for people with mobility issues because the shower is continuous with the bathroom floor. Removing the barrier between the shower and the rest of the bathroom can create the illusion of space, and this openness might make the shower design seem particularly appealing for people with smaller bathrooms. However, you might regret installing an open shower in a small bathroom renovation.

The most obvious potential issue with an open shower is water splashing everywhere. Without a shower door or curtain, the whole bathroom can end up wet, particularly in a small shower. Even if the shower floor slopes toward the drain, water can escape or be flung by your arms and wet the floor within a six-foot zone outside the shower. In a small bathroom, this can translate to soaked walkways, countertops, mirrors, toiletries, and more.

Water containment problems can also lead to mold issues. Mold thrives in dampness, especially in smaller spaces with less airflow, so a small open shower can provide the ideal environment for mold and mildew to grow. The inherent humidity of a small bathroom can make it harder to eliminate mold and stop it from returning.

Another common complaint is the lack of privacy that comes with not having a shower door or curtain. Privacy can be a personal issue; some people feel fine showering without a curtain, while others may feel exposed in an open shower. This can be an even bigger problem if you have a small open shower because anyone else using the bathroom at the same time will have to be close by. Another often overlooked function of a shower door or curtain is keeping the warmth inside your shower. With the absence of a door or curtain, drafts in the shower can be a problem, especially in winter.

If you are renovating a smaller bathroom and want to avoid the drawbacks of a small open shower, a standard shower is usually a better choice. A shower curtain or glass shower door will keep the water and warmth inside the shower. However, there are still some brilliant walk-in shower ideas for small bathrooms. Modern glass showers can look very airy and open, and they can still be installed with a curbless entry for a modern appearance and easier accessibility.

Some homeowners have their hearts set on an open shower for the aesthetics. If you want to avoid the problems caused by a small, open shower in your bathroom reno, while maintaining the open and airy feeling, you may want to consider customizing your design to get the benefits of an open shower without the mess. You can keep the water from spreading across the entire bathroom floor by installing a large glass partition, a glass block wall, or generous thresholds. Angling the doorway away from countertops can reduce your frustrations.