Jim The Bathroom Guy

If you love clean, modern bathroom design — but hate cleaning glass — then the rising trend of no-glass shower screens might be your perfect solution. Rather than installing a traditional glass panel, homeowners are choosing a tiled brick wall shower screen for a more seamless, stylish and practical bathroom upgrade.

Mate, what I can tell you is that in theory, this all sounds great, but there are some big downsides I will cover below.

• What Is No Glass Shower Screen
• Cons and Pros Of Glass Free Screen
• What Layout Is Ideal For This Trend
• How Much Does It Cost
• My Honest Advice

What Is a No-Glass Shower Screen?

A no-glass shower screen is exactly what it sounds like — a brick or tiled wall used instead of a glass shower screen. These walls are typically between 600mm–1200mm wide and up to 2200mm tall, finished in tile or Seamless coating finish (microcement, venetian plaster or polished concrete)

Why This Trend Is Growing

More homeowners and renovators are shifting away from glass screens because:

Easier Cleaning & Maintenance

With no glass to scrub or wipe down, tiled walls drastically reduce your cleaning workload — no soap scum, water spots, or fingerprint marks to battle. Glass is super porous with thousands of tiny holes that need to be filled

Feels More Natural in the Space

A solid wall creates a softer, more cohesive look — especially with quality tiles — compared to a large glass panel that can feel abrupt or disconnected.

If completed with a microcement style finish, you can create an entirely seamless finish. With curved finishes to create that Organic Modernism hig end look.

Pros & Cons of Going Glass-Free

Here’s a look at the real advantages — and the trade-offs — so you can decide what’s right for your bathroom:

Pros

• Much easier to clean than glass screens.
• Always looks consistent — no water spots.
• More natural, integrated look in tiled bathrooms.

Cons

• Can make small bathrooms feel smaller if the wall is too big.
• Reduces natural light flowing through the shower area.
• Typically higher cost due to extra waterproofing, tiling and labour.
• Walls have natural movement that may cause cracking in grout or trim overtime

Is a No-Glass Shower Right for Your Bathroom?

If you’re renovating and want:

• A minimalist, modern look
• Reduced cleaning and upkeep
• Seamless tile design from floor to shower wall

…then a brick or tiled shower wall can be a great choice.

However, if your bathroom is very small or relies on natural light coming into the shower area, you might want to balance aesthetics with openness — sometimes using a smaller nib wall or combining a partial glass panel can help.

Why Glass Shower Screens Are So Hard to Keep Clean

Glass shower screens look sleek at first, but they’re one of the highest-maintenance parts of a bathroom. Water droplets dry on the surface and leave mineral deposits, soap scum builds up quickly, and even treated glass still shows streaks and fingerprints.

Unless you squeegee it after almost every shower (few of us do), it never really looks clean for long. Tiled walls, on the other hand, don’t show spotting the same way and are far more forgiving. With fewer visible marks and no transparency highlighting every smear, they stay looking fresh with far less effort.

What Layout Is Ideal For A Shower Wall

As mentioned above, small bathrooms are ideal for a no-glass shower wall, but it’s definitely not off-limits in larger spaces. Ideally, you want the shower wall away from a window, as this can affect privacy and light.

It’s also best to position the wall away from the bathroom entrance, otherwise the space can feel like a narrow corridor. The “sweet spot” layout is one that sits comfortably away from both the window and the door — although this isn’t always possible in every bathroom.

Whenever possible, try to maximise natural light in your layout, as it makes a big difference in open, glass-free shower setups.

Below is an example of that sweet spot bathroom.

How Much Does A No Glass Bricked Shower Screen Cost

This is the million-dollar question (well… not quite, but you get the idea).

If you look at a pre-made fixed panel glass screen, you’re generally around $350. In comparison, replacing that with a built shower wall can add anywhere from $1,500 to $3,500 to the cost.

The price difference mainly comes down to how the wall itself is finished. If you’re using standard tiles like 600×600 or smaller, costs stay on the lower end. But if you choose large porcelain panels, feature tiles, or finishes like microcement, the price will definitely increase due to the added materials, labour, and installation difficulty.

Adding recessed (hidden) niches can also increase costs by $500–$1,250, depending on the installer and complexity.

Honest Final Word

No-glass shower screens — a.k.a. brick or tiled shower walls — aren’t just a trend. They’re a practical, design-forward solution that solves one of the biggest annoyances in bathroom upkeep: cleaning glass.

Let me be honest, because this part is important. Shower walls look amazing in the right bathroom, but they’re not ideal if your space is very small or doesn’t have much natural light, as the wall can make the room feel darker and more enclosed.

In those cases, my advice is to go with a half wall instead. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a half wall — they work almost just as well while still keeping the space feeling more open.

I love the look of a full shower wall in person, but the key to making it work is to tile it in the same tile as the rest of the bathroom walls. That’s what creates that seamless, calm, sanctuary-style feel instead of the wall looking heavy or stuck on.

If you want an easy cleaning bathroom TAP here for my GROUTLESS BATHROOMS GUIDE

Disclaimer: It’s important to note that all our advice is general in nature and all bathrooms are unique, so speak to your local qualified tradesman for the best advice and make your own informed decisions after seeing a specialist tradesperson.

Looking for some more bathroom renovations for inspiration. Check out my Instagram page below with tons of helpful pics and video guides

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