My parents house had a semi-open shower like that. It was fine, under the shower head... but I’ve never been one to enjoy hot-all-over steamy-whole-room showers anyway. I would certainly like a more open shower....in thinking about it, I’d also appreciate a heated towel warmer and then a heated flooring element. To me, that would be worth it, and then the open shower would be wonderful.

We recently took out a tub and put in a shower. I wasn’t sure if I wanted only a glass panel or if I should add a door. So the contractor made sure that the wall where the door would attach had the proper support. We installed the glass panel, and about a month later we did decide to add the door. However, we were able to steal attic space to make the shower 40” wide instead of the typical 30” of the tub’s footprint. If you install a door you might feel more cramped If your shower is narrow.

If you’re not sure right now, you could start with the panel (have the glass person measure for the full enclosure while they are there), and add it later if you decide to. Just be sure to ask contractor to make sure wall can support it.

Yes, I didn't like it at all and felt cold.

We had a partially open shower in our old home and finally hung a shower curtain because the draft of cold air on wet skin was AWFUL. And by "cold" air--I mean it was the regular ambient temp of 70 to 74 degrees--but while drafting on wet skin it was cold and uncomfortable.

We had a door less walk-in shower with a 27" opening in our old house. It was cold, drafty, and a generally miserable shower experience. (Houston area with indoor temps around 74-76*) We hung a shower curtain and solved the problem. I purposefully designed a shower with a door for our new build.

Cold dark cave:

New build, warm and bright: