Folding shower screen or curtain?

[Malahaha]

I am about to refurbish a small bathroom in a flat I'll be renting.
I personally would have preferred a walk-in shower but my daughter persuaded me to go with a tub instead, so people can have a choice and parents of smaller children need a tub. So OK.

The tub is right next to the basin. So putting up a screen in one piece is no use as it cannot be folded away to allow access to the taps. So it would have to be a folding screen. I've had one in a previous home and they are annoying; hard to get the pieces all aligned along the tun edge. But maybe modern ones are better?

I do want a nice modern bathroom. I think a simple rail for a shower curtain is the most practical but it does seem outdated. What do you think?

My reasons: I am currently living in rental accommodation. It was a brand new flat when I moved in but there was no shower screen in the main bathroom. I asked my landlord to put one in and he did.

However, for some reason it was not possible to put in the kind that swings open, though there would have been ample room. unlike in my flat, above. So he fixed it to the wall! It does not swing open!

This is SO impractical. It's not possible to get to the taps except by climbing into the tub. So filling a bucket for cleaning etc is very annoying, and if you had kids you want to bathe almost impossible! I wish I'd asked for a curtain rail instead!

We are building a very small second bathroom and have decided to go for a nice shower rail with curtain instead of a folding screen. Like you there won't be room for full screen to open out and to be honest I'm really worried about my children playing around with a folded screen and breaking it. So we've decided to go for a curtain instead.

I have a small bathroom with a shower over the bath and opted for a shower curtain rather than a shower screen. It's easier for me to wash a shower curtain than to clean a shower screen. Also, I have a white bathroom and it makes the room more cheerful to have a number of different coloured shower curtains which I wash and swap over regularly. I do think shower screens look more modern though.

I have a folding screen and I love it. Curtains are hard work and I cannot stand when you get attacked by the bloody thing sticking to you if you're not careful.
If you had trouble before getting the screen aligned I would think it possibly wasn't set low enough? Ours sits perfectly on the bath edge with one pull as the bath holds it in place. Our first attempt was a MN or two too high and it was faffy to line up.

**mm or two too high, not MN.

curtains can be washed or replaced easily.
screens will look grubby quickly if in hard water area and not cleaned properly.
plus expensive to replace if they shatter.

Thanks to all! I do agree that curtains are a nuisance when they attack!

But at least they are cheap to replace!

Screens look elegant at first but do get grubby quickly. I once spent hours removing limescale residue from my shower screen at home. I now use a squeegee after every shower but I can't rely on any tenants doing the same. They look awful after a while.

I'll probably go cheap. As a tenant, would you mind terribly if there's a curtain and not a screen? Deal-breaker?

I'd prefer a curtain to an unpractical screen. like when the screen is too short and the shower sprays everywhere

I wouldn't have one in my own house, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker if i was looking for a rental. Just makje sure you get a new one when you change tenants, old shower curtains are really gross and creepy!

I actually prefer shower curtain, think it's easier and more practical. I also work in an industry where we regularly hear about randomly exploding shower screens injuring people so that puts me off them.

Although the only rental I've lived in that was a shower curtain one didn't have one up, we were expected to provide our own which is fair enough, I wouldn't want to use one used by a previous tenant

If you decide on a shower curtain, try to find a bath where the edges slope down towards the bath to direct the water into the bath. A large chain store gave me a bath with horizontal surrounding edges and the water that ran down the wall behind the taps ran along and on to the floor. Sorted now, but annoying at the time.

I would go for a shower screen. Nicer fittings look better quality.
On a personal level I would be more house proud about having a shower screen but maybe that's just me!

@BuiltForComfortNotForSpeed

If you decide on a shower curtain, try to find a bath where the edges slope down towards the bath to direct the water into the bath. A large chain store gave me a bath with horizontal surrounding edges and the water that ran down the wall behind the taps ran along and on to the floor. Sorted now, but annoying at the time.

That's very interesting -- I'll look out for it. Thanks. Yes, I'm going to buy a lovely new one to start off with and they can replace it as they wish!

We had the same problem. Look up Merlyn secureseal 5 fold bath screen. Looks nice, good quality and does the job. Folds completely out the way without overhanging the bath at all and ensures the bathroom doesn't get wet when showering.

If you're renting it out I'd go for a shower curtain. Cheaper and easier to replace if it gets broken!

Also more hygienic to dispose of between tenants- depending on the length of lease obviously!

Shower curtain! Easy to replace. Cheap. Easy to maintain and better at keeping water in the bath!

Shower screens, especially folding ones seem to let the water get everywhere.

I have 2 curtains so that I can close right round the bath. For privacy (only one bathroom and toilet and if needs must...) but also because we seem to spray water everywhere when showering!

Weighted shower curtain won't attack you.

I replaced a folding shower screen with a shower curtain. Can just wash it. Hated to folding one - always felt dirty where it folded and along the seal.

I would prefer a shower curtain that a folding screen.

I know a lot of MNers have a Thing about them, but I’ve never seen what’s wrong with curtains. Washable, easily/cheaply replaced, and typically better at keeping the water inside the bath. And no awkward contortions needed when cleaning the bath.
We’ve had them in both bathrooms for many years.

After a search on here for a similar problem I came across the outasight shower curtain. It looks good and I'm planning to buy one.