If you're like me, you probably think shower curtains are a hassle. They are a pain to move around; they easily get dirty and full of mildew; and if you don't use them right, you end up with water everywhere. If you're thinking there has to be a better way; you're right. A bath screen is a glass or plastic piece that fits onto the side of your shower and blocks the water just like a curtain would. The benefit is that they're much easier to use and keep clean. They also work better if you have a really strong shower spray.

There are several different types of bath screens, and it's important that you choose the right one. The first type is a full bath enclosure. This is similar to a typical sliding shower door; except it goes around your entire bathtub. They are easily cleaned and block water from escaping better than a shower curtain. You should get this type of screen if you have flooring that can't get wet or a bathtub that is no enclosed by walls on three sides.

If a big bulky frame isn't your thing, you should look at frameless over-bath screens. These screens are for baths that are surrounded on three sides. They cover the half of open side that the shower is on. They're more visually appealing than traditional bath screens because they don't have big metal frames. The problem I with these screens is that water can splash around the outside or through spaces between the screen and the tub. These screens are best for bathrooms with tile or flooring that won't get water damaged. Frameless screens are available fixed, or with a hinge so they can open and close.

The previous types of screens generally work best in larger bathrooms because they can take up a lot of space and seem too big in a small area. For smaller bathrooms, you should consider a folding multi-panel screen. These can be pushed up and stored in a small area by your tub, or pulled out to cover the same space as a frameless screen. This way they only take up space when you're using them.

Hopefully you've learned a lot and are ready to go out and find the perfect screen to improve your bathroom.