Synonymous with frameless shower spaces, The Shower Lab has been awarded with the Best Shower Enclosure accolade in the 2026 Ideal Home Awards for its 21.2H double-hinged bifold panel, part of The View Collection. The frameless 21.2H double-hinged bifold panel, by The Shower Lab, offers a luxurious, versatile wetroom solution, ideal for compact bathrooms, users with mobility considerations, and multigenerational homes.
Designed to honour the very best designs and innovations in the homes and interiors industry, the annual Ideal Home Awards recognise over 100 products in bathroom, kitchen, living room, dining room, bedroom and garden categories, with products also awarded for their sustainable efforts. Each category was judged by a panel of independent experts and the Ideal Home editorial team, with the Best Shower Enclosure category rewarding brilliant designs that offer the ultimate showering experience. The winners of the sixth Ideal Home Awards were celebrated at an exclusive ceremony that took place at the vibrant Coral Room salon bar, part of the iconic Bloomsbury hotel, on 28th May 2026.
The Shower Lab designed the 21.2H as a practical solution for compact spaces, allowing homeowners to benefit from both style and functionality in every space. The double-hinged bifold panels are constructed using premium 10 mm toughened safety glass that is treated with an EnduroShield coating and tested to EN12150 standard.
Unlike standard shower spaces, when not in use, the panels benefit from meticulously designed double hinges that allow the glass to fold flat against the wall, optimising and conserving space, which is vital where floor space is at a premium. The double-hinged bifold panels have also proved incredibly popular for those with mobility issues as the flush design removes the need for a threshold, eliminating a potential trip hazard, which also makes it ideal for multigenerational homes. When needed, the double-hinged panels effortlessly fold out, forming a splash guard, helping users maintain a dry space around the enclosure.
A standout feature of the View 21.2H is the sophisticated engineering of its unique hinges. The solid brass hinges offer unparalleled flexibility, allowing the glass panels to open both inwards and outwards, for a seamless and effortless use. What’s more, the View 21.2H is available in a range of sizes and configured with either a right or left sided opening to suit the individual’s needs. This flexibility ensures the installation is designed specifically to complement the bathroom layout rather than forcing the bathroom to work around the shower space.
To personalise the 21.2H, the hinges are available in 10 stunning finishes, including Brushed Gunmetal, Polished Gold and the soon to launch Brushed Bronze, ensuring there’s a finish to suit an array of styles and aesthetics. Further customisation is offered by The Shower Lab with its glass variations, including fluted options for added privacy, allowing consumers to opt for a shower space that perfectly complements their personal taste.
Jo Edwards, Sales Director for the UK Showering Division, Sanbra Ltd, says: “We are delighted to receive the Best Shower Enclosure accolade in the Ideal Home Awards 2026. Ideal Home is an authoritative, influential publication, and for our design to be recognised by the editorial team and expert panel of judges is a resounding endorsement for us at The Shower Lab. Originally the 21.2H was created as a bespoke design, however it became so popular, we included it within our frameless The View Collection. This was to ensure that those with compact bathrooms can benefit from an elegant wetroom, without compromising on the overall aesthetic or sacrificing on the quality of the products.
“At Sanbra Ltd, we are also thrilled that our installer-friendly Verve PRO 8 collection by Flair Showers was Highly Commended in the Best Shower Enclosure category. Receiving both the winner and the highly commended accolade is an amazing achievement and credit to our in-house design team that continually innovates, creating beautifully designed, expertly engineered, award-winning shower spaces.”
Sophie Harrold, Owner, Simply Bathrooms, comments: I’m delighted to see the View 21.2H win this award. It’s a product that I’ve specified time and again because it solves so many of the practical challenges homeowners face, particularly when space is at a premium.
“What sets it apart for me is how thoughtfully it has been designed. The doors fold completely back against the wall, which makes a real difference to how spacious a bathroom feels, while the lip-free entry creates a cleaner, more accessible showering experience. These are features that clients immediately appreciate once they start using the space.
“I also love the flexibility it offers from a design perspective. Being available in ten different finishes means it can work with almost any scheme, whether the look is classic, contemporary or something completely individual. It’s one of those rare products that manages to be both highly practical and genuinely beautiful, which is why it remains a go-to specification for so many of our projects.
“This award is a well-deserved recognition of a product that consistently delivers for both designers and homeowners.”
To find out more about The Shower Lab and its award-winning View 21.2H double-hinged bifold panels, please contact info@theshowerlab.com or visit the website https://www.theshowerlab.com/.
