The Simple Shower Curtain Trick Designers Use to Make Bathrooms Look More Expensive
It's a small swap that makes a big difference
Shower curtains can make or break your bathroom design. The material, print, and length all come into consideration, but have you thought about the height you're hanging them at?
Think of your shower curtain ideas like you would the window treatments in your living room or bedroom – hanging them from ceiling height to floor level makes a room look larger and more elevated, and the same applies if you want to make your stylish shower curtains look more custom and luxurious.
It's the designer secret we should all be using in our own bathrooms, and it's an easy, affordable swap. Here's why full-length shower curtains are the answer to luxury bathroom schemes, and how to get the look quickly and easily. You'll wonder why you never tried it sooner.
'We love using shower curtains, particularly in children’s bathrooms, where a glass enclosure can make bathing little ones unnecessarily cumbersome. They also offer a wonderful opportunity to introduce softness, color, and pattern into a room otherwise defined by hard surfaces,' says Anna.
Too often, shower curtains are viewed as purely practical features, with a bit of thought given to the color or pattern. But it's a design feature that should be just as considered as the wall color or the tiles you introduce – it has just as much influence over the atmosphere and aesthetic of your bathroom ideas.
'Taking a shower curtain all the way to the ceiling instantly makes a bathroom feel taller and more considered. Rather than reading as a functional afterthought, it becomes an architectural element that softens the space and adds a sense of luxury. The continuous drop also creates cleaner lines and gives the room a more bespoke feel,' says interior designer Nina Litchfield.
A full-length shower curtain running from the ceiling is a great way to make a small bathroom look bigger, too, as it eliminates the gap above the curtain that can make a room feel stubby. It's a detail that changes the way your eye is drawn around the room, especially where lower ceilings or small windows need to be accommodated.
'In this 17th-century cottage, there was no room for a standalone shower, so it runs over the bath. A glass screen went in for practicality, then a pinch-pleated striped curtain over the top. In a room that's otherwise pale blue throughout, it's the darkest, richest thing in there, and that alone transformed it,' Kate explains.
'If you're designing in a small space, with a lower ceiling and no cornice, for example, then to take the shower curtain to the ceiling is a clever trick to consider. This works particularly well if the bath is located in an alcove. The eye is drawn upwards to the ceiling, which creates the illusion of more height rather than chopping up the vertical space with a gap above the curtain, which you get if you use a pole,' says Jess Daw of Daw & Co Interior Design.
'Pay attention to length and fullness,' adds Rebecca Bridges, founder of HOUSE OF DRENNAN, who notes that the finer details are key to a high-end look. 'The curtain should nearly reach the floor and have enough fabric to create beautiful folds rather than looking stretched across the rod. We like to pleat ours just like drapery. Hardware matters, too – a pretty rod and drapery rings are an easy way to elevate the look.'
There are a couple of installation options here to create a seamless finish. Where possible, choose a curtain track that mounts directly on the ceiling, as it creates a hidden fixture with no visible attachments. This Flexible Bendable Ceiling Curtain Track from Amazon can be curved around showers that don't sit in a straight line, like a freestanding tub, for example. If flexibility isn't a concern, the VEVOR Ceiling Curtain Track Set from Target is a great option, with an easy-to-customize length.
In this playful bathroom, the floral wallpaper pattern has been carried onto the floor-to-ceiling shower curtain, creating an immersive and custom feel.
If a ceiling track isn't possible in your bathroom, you can still create a chic floor-to-ceiling shower curtain look with a regular wall-to-wall curtain pole. Tension rods are ideal if you need something easy to adjust or if you're renting – just make sure you choose a design that can withstand the damp conditions, like this Ivilon Spring Tension Rod from Amazon.
No shower is complete without a beautifully designed shower curtain, and it's a choice you need to get right to get that elevated floor-to-ceiling look. 'Bathrooms are utilitarian by nature, all hard surfaces and, more often than not, everything in them is new. A shower curtain is one of the simplest ways to warm one up. It's a large expanse of fabric in a room that has very little, and it softens the space in every sense, including the way it sounds,' explains Kate Cox, co-founder of HÁM.
'Material and construction matter as well. We generally avoid 100% linen, which can stretch and sag over time in a humid environment; cotton blends or performance acrylics tend to hold their shape better. Whenever possible, we also look for double-width fabric so the curtain can be made without a center seam. A generous amount of fullness, a properly weighted hem, and a separate waterproof liner will help the curtain hang beautifully while remaining practical for everyday use,' explains interior designer Anna Knight.
In this vintage-style bathroom, a patterned shower curtain adds a new layer of interest, while the ceiling-mounted installation makes the room feel taller.
Having a separate shower curtain and liner is preferable for a blend of unrivaled style and function, but you'll need to be intentional about how you hang them so the liner isn't visible. To make the process easier, use a double shower curtain rod, like this Double Curve Adjustable Shower Curtain Rod from Lowe's, which can be bent to follow the lines of a rounded ceiling or alcove opening.
When it comes to choosing the right design for your shower curtain, designers recommend choosing something that feels harmonious with the rest of your bathroom. 'We often favor subtle woven textures or delicate prints that feel more like curtains than traditional shower screens, helping the bathroom feel warmer and more inviting,' says Nina.
This design proves a classic shower curtain pole can look just as elevated, especially when a beautiful brass finish is chosen. It becomes a decorative detail in itself.
'A plain fabric with a simple contrast trim to the leading edge and base, or a ruffle hem, feels more elegant,' adds Jess. 'If you want something more playful, a stripe or pattern can work really well if the tiles are quieter in their design.'
Whichever color, pattern, or design you choose, execution is crucial to make floor-to-ceiling shower curtains look truly luxurious. Try to keep the curtain rings or attachments hidden for a more custom look, and make sure your curtains are the perfect length – not too far off the floor, but not pooling at the bottom, either.
'Like any drapery, a shower curtain almost always looks more considered when it is taken all the way to the ceiling,' Anna concludes. 'The additional height creates a sense of drama, makes the room feel taller, and gives the treatment a more tailored, custom appearance.'
Shop Shower Curtains
Swapping from a standard shower curtain to a design that flows from the ceiling is an easy way to make any bathroom feel a bit more luxurious and considered, even if you're designing on a budget. To find the perfect design, check out our edit on the best places to buy shower curtains.
Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.
