Why aren't we all hanging our shower curtains from the ceiling? I'm convinced this is the cheapest, easiest switch to make your bathroom look more chic

I hear designers talk all the time about how you should never mount drapes just around a window, you should take the pole higher than the frames and take the curtains all the way to the floor. It's a tried and tested hack to make windows look bigger and more elegant. So why has it taken me so long to work out that you can create the exact same effect with your shower curtain?

This shower curtain idea might seem incredibly elementary, but it actually can make a huge difference in the design and aesthetic appeal of a bathroom. Now, I have to be honest, I never thought twice about shower curtain lengths in the past. However, when I came across a recent video on Instagram demonstrating the aesthetic-altering effects of long shower curtains, I had to know more about this super simple design idea.

'This is a timeless and classic style that has been around for years and has the ability to really elevate a bathroom,' explains Gabriela Eisenhart of Silo Studio Design. She says that long shower curtains used to be a traditional bathroom trend, but lately she's been seeing this done in transitional bathrooms – that is, bathrooms that tastefully blend both modern and traditional interior design styles.

Typically, shower curtains measure around 72 inches in length. They hang from a rod mounted about a foot below the ceiling, and they fall to about a foot above the ground. But lesser-known, long shower curtains measure 84 inches or longer. They can be ceiling-mounted or hung from a rod hung very close to the ceiling, but the idea is to create a crisp, clean, and uniform look that stretches from ceiling to floor, just as expensive-looking drapes would.

Although it may seem like a small change, a long shower curtain can make a big difference in a bathroom. For starters, it creates a level of unexpected visual interest in the bathroom. 'A longer shower curtain infuses elegance into a bathroom while adding height, as it draws the eyes up, giving smaller bathrooms the feeling of spaciousness,' Gabriela tells me. 'This is the same concept as hanging drapery higher over your window frame.'

According to designer Wendy Smit. 'Ceiling-mounted shower curtains draw the eye upward and instantly create a sense of drama and height, she says. 'It’s a simple design move that transforms the bath into a more intentional, luxurious, and refined space.'

And according to Melissa Rosenberg of Rosenberg + Gibson + Sava Design, there are some practical benefits of ceiling-mounted curtains, too. 'Choosing a long, ceiling-mounted shower curtain eliminates the need for a shower rod and drilling into side walls,' she says. 'It also allows for improved water containment and privacy.'

Incorporating a long shower curtain – whether ceiling-mounted or on a rod close to the ceiling – is a foolproof way to update your bathroom without replacing it. It can give your bathroom a new, more stylish, and even bigger look without an entire renovation.

Although most bathrooms can benefit aesthetically from a long shower curtain, they're not recommended for every space – so consider the preexisting design of your bathroom and the use frequency of the space before making the upgrade.

For instance, if you're installing a shower curtain around a freestanding tub, consider the aesthetic appeal of the tub – you might not want a long shower curtain to hide that. 'If we are specifying a shower curtain for a freestanding clawfoot tub, we keep the shower curtain shorter to showcase the foot detail,' Melissa explains.

Aside from that, long shower curtains, simply put, are lots of fabric – which can get annoying if installed in your primary bathroom. 'I typically recommend them for guest bathrooms or bathrooms where the shower isn't being used daily,' Gabriela advises.

Although not a new idea by any means, a long shower curtain is a simple design choice that can give your bathroom new life. It'll make a small bathroom look bigger, and any bathroom look more expensive, and a simple bathroom look ten times more elegant.

But the best part? Long shower curtains are incredibly easy to find online, and I've already done the searching for you. Below, find six long shower curtains that can transform your bathroom for the better.

Lesson learned – if you want to improve your bathroom for under $100, all you need to do is get a long shower curtain. Chic style and effortless elegance, simplified.