You are going to get splashing and modest puddles on the bathroom floor, but, if you don't mind cleaning that up each time you shower, go for it. I have a doorless shower that is 5' X 7' and I still occasionally make a mess.

Another option is to make the whole room a wet room.

If you do a rainhead rather than a standard head and do a half wall with glass on top, you will likely be ok if you put a bath mat outside the shower. That is what we did. Our shower is wider than yours--about 47"--and the same five foot length. However the rainhead is what makes it work. We get a little bit of overspray but not much. You would likely get more but probably still ok. I will try to post a picture.

This post was edited by nycbluedevil on Sat, May 24, 14 at 8:09

Many thanks all for your thoughts.

We opted to separate the wet and dry areas (or as dry as a small place can be; it will be wet area and damp area) so looking at your comments and options, we'll go with a curbless shower area, with a frameless sliding glass door for this.

For the other which is just a shade broader @ 3'4 will try an open shower one.

nycdevil you have a lovely shower space- the colours in our bathroom are very similar to yours. Is yours curbed or curbless? I so wanted a seating ledge but given the space, will make do with a Japanese bathing stool.

Thanks. It's Botticino marble. It is much more beige and less pink in real life. We have a 4" curb at the front of the shower.