U Shaped Shower Enclosure VS L Shaped Shower Enclosure: Which Is Better?

An Introduction To Shower Enclosures

Shower enclosures are a common sight in most households, as they provide a safe and secure containment area for your shower. There are a massive variety of shower enclosures, from quadrant shower enclosures to rectangular shower enclosures, but one element of shower enclosures that is often overlooked is the shape defined by their amount of glass panels.

Namely, whether a shower enclosure is a U Shaped Shower Enclosure or an L Shaped Shower Enclosure. These types of shower enclosure are typical square or rectangular shower enclosures that form the shape they are named after. But what are the pros and cons of these types of shower enclosures and which one should you buy?

Read on as we examine everything you need to know about U Shape Shower Enclosures, L Shape Shower Enclosures and which you should buy.

U Shaped Shower Enclosure

First up, let’s tackle U Shape Shower Enclosures.

What Is A U Shaped Shower Enclosure?

A U Shaped Shower Enclosure is a shower enclosure that comprises of three glass panels that attach to the bathroom wall. This remaining bathroom wall is what helps the enclosure form a closed space and if you look at the three sided glass shower enclosure as its own entity, the three glass panels make a “U” shape, hence the name.

The Pros And Cons Of U Shaped Shower Enclosures

Like anything, there are pros and cons to the U shape shower enclosure, let’s examine them.

Summary

Simple Design

First of all, this enclosure is a very simple design. This simple nature of the three sided shower enclosure allows it to look smart and uniform in any home, making it a very universal design.

More Visibility

By utilizing three glass panels to form a box around the shower user, these three sided shower enclosures allow the user full visibility around their bathroom. This helps the shower enclosure feel more spacious and can help ease those who deal with claustrophobia.

More Space In The Shower

As the U shaped design typically takes up more space than others, as it features more glass, a lot of the time designers embrace this and make U shape shower enclosures large and easy to maneuver in. this is great for anyone looking for a comfortable and accommodating shower enclosure.

Only Requires One Wall

One great element regarding the u shaped enclosure is that it only requires one bathroom wall. This means you can install one of these three sided shower cubicles without losing much wall space.

Cannot Go In Corner

However, because of the three paneled nature of this three sided shower cubicle, it cannot go in corners which is a common space saving shower placement strategy. This means, if you are not careful when choosing a position for installation, you could end up with a lot of dead space.

Takes Up Space

As well as this, the downside of having a large shower enclosure is that they take up a lot of space. This can be inconvenient in a medium sized bathroom and impossible to manage in a smaller bathroom or cloakroom.

Uses More Glass

Plus, this enclosure uses up more glass than its L shaped counterpart. Because of this, if you are trying to cut down on materials used, this might not be the best enclosure for you.

L Shaped Shower Enclosure

Now, let’s move onto the other enclosure in question, the L shaped shower enclosure.

What Is An L Shaped Shower Enclosure?

An L Shape Shower Enclosure is composed of two glass panes that connect to the corner walls of a bathroom, to create the closed off shower space. These two paned shower enclosure designs resemble an “L” shape when it is looked at in isolation.

The Pros And Cons Of L Shaped Shower Enclosures

Let us dissect the pros and cons of the L shape shower enclosure.

Summary

Simple Design

Just like the U shaped design, the L shaped shower enclosure boasts a simple shower enclosure design that can fit into any style and any aesthetic. This makes it extremely practical, as it can be suitable for anyone.

Uses Less Materials

Another benefit of the L shaped shower enclosure is that it uses one less panel of glass than the u shaped alternative. Therefore, if you are looking to cut down on your use of materials, this could be perfect for you.

Easier To Install

As well as this, the L shape shower enclosure is extremely easy to install, this is because there is less to do when install an l shaped enclosure than there is when installing a more complex and parts heavy alternative.

Cheaper

Plus, the L shape shower enclosures tend to be cheaper, this is because they use less materials and are more suited to smaller rooms. So, if you’re looking to have a shower on a budget, this space saving and cost saving shower enclosure is the way to go.

Requires At Least Two Walls

However, one inconvenience of the L shape design is that it requires two walls to connect to. If your room’s door is located in the corner or if you already have fixtures in the corner of your room, this could be very inconvenient.

Generally Smaller Design

In addition to this, L shaped enclosures are generally designed to be space saving shower enclosures for smaller bathrooms, so if you are looking for a larger shower enclosure, you are less likely to find the one you want with this design. However, there are exceptions such as our 1500 X 1000mm L Shape Shower Enclosure The Ravenna 17.

Decreased Visibility

Only having two points of view from the enclosure can make the space feel much less roomy and can prevent you from getting a full look of the room. If visibility of the room and a feeling of spaciousness are important to you while showering, then you may prefer the U shaped enclosure.

Which Should You Buy?

Overall, the perfect shower enclosure for you naturally, depends on you. If you are looking for a spacious and luxurious shower enclosure to feature as the centerpiece of your luscious bathroom, then choose the U shaped shower enclosure. However, if you are looking for a smart and elegant, space saving shower enclosure to fit into the corner of your smaller bathroom, then pick the L shaped shower enclosure. You should always follow the context of your space!

Final Thoughts

Choosing a shower enclosure is always difficult, that’s why you must do your research, we have numerous articles designed to help you with this, including articles focusing on corner showers, bi-fold showers and many more, as well as an overall guide to picking shower enclosures. For more, check out the rest of our blog.