Bring style and flair into your bathroom with the latest creative glass trends

Whether you’re redesigning an existing bathroom or starting from scratch, you’ve likely got glass on your mind. As a staple material in bathrooms the world over, it’s not a question of ‘if’ you will use glass, but ‘how’. With 30 years of experience designing and manufacturing glass for Kiwi homes, Haynes Glass have seen thousands of bathrooms transformed through creative glass applications. To help you bring your dream bathroom to life, ArchiPro spoke to Haynes Glass’ Gareth Hayne for his advice on the best ways to use glass in the bathroom, the latest trends in bathroom glass, and how you can use the Haynes Glass custom design service to add a unique touch to your space.

Shower screens: style, functionality, and trends

When choosing a glass shower screen for your home, one of the first things to consider is the layout and size of the bathroom. “These factors will determine the type of shower and screen that best fits the space; whether it’s a fixed panel, sliding door, or pivot door,” Gareth explains. “You’ll also want to think about the design style of your bathroom, the level of privacy you need, and the ease of cleaning and maintenance.”

For smaller bathrooms, a single glass shower screen is best, as it prevents water from splashing out of the shower without obstructing light or space. In-line and cubicle showers work well in larger spaces, Gareth says. “You can achieve a nice, contemporary look with a fixed panel and hinged pivot door on these showers. Hinged door showers have a cozy enclosure, and provide good water catchment, too.”

In bathrooms with other fixtures or furniture close to the shower area, a sliding door shower is ideal. Since additional clearance isn’t necessary for the door to swing open, it’s a great way to maximise space and streamline functionality.

Recent trends have shown a rise in colourful hardware. “We’ve noticed that homeowners are increasingly seeking custom options, such as coloured hardware finishes, to match other fixtures in the bathroom, and complement their bathroom design style,” Gareth says.

“Reeded, tinted, reflective, and frosted glass is also trending — providing privacy while still allowing filtered light, as well as adding a striking visual feature to the bathroom.”

Curved glass is also having its moment, with corner glass panels used to add a unique touch to the shower area. Clients have also been opting for low-maintenance glass coatings that resist water spots and soap scum. “These coatings make cleaning and maintenance easier. Haynes Glass offers a solution called Everclear for added convenience.”

Haynes Glass shower screens are available both framed or frameless and can be made to custom shape and height specifications to fit the style of your bathroom.

Mirrors: style, trends, and custom design

Aside from their primary function as a reflective surface, mirrors can make your bathroom appear more spacious, and complement your design aesthetic through the use of frames, lighting, and custom shapes. When choosing a mirror for your bathroom, Gareth says it’s important to ensure the mirror is sized appropriately for the wall, and in relation to the vanity or sink. 

When looking at the style of the mirror, be sure to choose something that complements or intentionally contrasts with other decor elements in your bathroom. This can be the mirror’s frame, shape, colour, or other decorative elements such as lighting.

“Our mirrors can be made with built-in features such as LED lighting or de-misters, which add to both their functionality and aesthetic appearance in the space,” Gareth says. 

“Safety may also be a top priority for you, especially if you have children or elderly individuals using the bathroom, so opting for a vinyl, safety-backed mirror will reduce the risk of the mirror breaking into dangerous shards.”

The use of organic forms and unconventional shapes in interior design is growing in popularity, and what better way to make the most of this trend than a custom mirror.

“We can do a range of custom shapes, from rectangles, circles, arches, and ovals to ‘puddle’ shapes. These create a great focal point in the bathroom and can fit many different bathroom design aesthetics. Our custom options also extend to sizes and finishes, including coloured tints and sandblasted patterns,” Gareth explains. 

Other trends include LED backlighting — popular due to its sleek, contemporary look and functionality as additional lighting in bathrooms and dressing areas — and oversized mirrors, often with unique shapes or statement frames, used to create bold focal points in homes, hotels, and other commercial spaces. 

With advice and support from the experts at Haynes Glass, your bathroom will be home to a beautiful, functional shower screen and mirror in no time.

Learn more about Haynes Glass on ArchiPro.