Shower curtain inspiration


16 Stylish Shower Curtain Ideas

Design: Black Lacquer Design, Photo: Mary Costa

Anyone can wax poetic about the romance of a claw-foot tub, but rarely does anyone have anything that nice to say about a shower curtain. Memories of thin plastic sheets in communal dorms, locker rooms, and shared apartments have given shower curtains a bad rep over the years. To most, a shower curtain is a necessity—and never a delight.

We urge you to shrug off your preconceived notions and think of them as a chance to add texture and balance to your bathroom. Shower curtains are the centerpiece of small bathrooms, and they offer ample opportunity to instantly upgrade any bathroom.

Sure, you can't soak in it nor will you pay attention to it mid-shampoo. But, every time you or a guest walks in, it will be there waiting to make an impression. Invest a little time and thought and browse these 16 stylish shower curtain ideas to get you started.

01 of 16

Design: Etch Design Group, Photo: Cate Black Photography

Echo the color of your tile with a simple shower curtain that has just a border of detail. If you already have great color in your bathroom, this shower curtain will look more personal while still letting your other design choices take center stage. The vertical border also doesn't compete with the curved tiles.

02 of 16

Design: Etch Design Group, Photo: Cate Black Photography

The tight lines of detail on this shower curtain evoke formal parchment and leather-bound first editions. Adding a bit of darkness to the white curtain helps the room flow and guides the eye to travel from tile to curtain to tile.

03 of 16

Design: Etch Design Group, Photo: Cate Black Photography

A pink bathroom will never go out of style. Because it rests just above the tub and is a couple shades darker, the design on this shower curtain acts as a frame for the tile and the gorgeous copper spouts. Keeping it in the color family keeps it cohesive.

04 of 16

Design: Etch Design Group, Photo: Sophie Epton

A textured white shower curtain feels at home in a bathroom that's already busy (in the best way) with wallpaper, colored tiles, and built-in shelving. It adds just enough visual interest, and the cloth warms up the bright-white tile. 

05 of 16

Design: Black Lacquer Design, Photo: Mary Costa

This curtain has us questioning if it's a ball gown or a shower curtain. It doesn't matter—we're amending our goals of owning a vintage claw-foot tub to owning a vintage claw-foot tub with a dramatic, floor-sweeping curtain like this one.

06 of 16

Design: Kimberlee Marie Interiors, Photo: John Granen

Don't want to fully commit to color? Opt for a dip-dye curtain. Bonus points if you take care to line it up to your valve.

07 of 16

Design: Michelle Lisac Interior Design, Photo: Jennie Corti 

Remember what we said about that thin plastic sheet? This textured white shower curtain is the solution. It's clean and simple, and the slight texture keeps it from looking shiny or stark next to all of the white tile.

08 of 16

Design: Michelle Lisac Interior Design, Photo: Jennie Corti 

A shower curtain with a large pattern or scene can be whimsical but still tasteful, especially if you choose natural designs in neutral color palettes, like these sparse trees or a palm toile in gray.

09 of 16

Design: Studio Ten 25, Photo: Shayna Fontana 

At first glance, this shower curtain looks more like couch upholstery than it does anything else, but the thick weave and pattern as well as the rich color beautifully contrast the room and geometric lines of the tile.

10 of 16

Interior Impressions

A waffle weave shower curtain reminds one of a plush, luxurious hotel robe, and it can add a bit of coziness to a small, windowless bathroom. Plus, it looks great with gold hooks.

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ERIN WILLIAMSON DESIGN

Nothing can compete with a copper claw-foot tub. It's an unmovable, unstoppable force of design and luxury, and the rest of the bathroom just has to fall in step.

Heather gray curtains keep this vintage bathroom grounded in the present, and their shortened length makes so that they don't distract from the pièce de résistance.

12 of 16

TYLER KARU DESIGN + INTERIORS

Matching your towels with the same fabric and color of shower curtain is a pro-level move. The weight and warmth contrast the cool blue tiles, helping to make them pop even more. The brownish rust color also unites the wood with the rest of the room.

13 of 16

ASHLEY MONTGOMERY DESIGN

The sheerness of this curtain prevents it from blocking the window, and it casts a soft, filtered light in this classic black and white bathroom. The horizontal pattern keeps it from being too sheer though, or otherwise, you'd be distracted by the outline of shower knobs and such.

14 of 16

DAZEY DEN

If you're painting your bathroom a bold color, you might want to avoid choosing a solid shower curtain. It can divide up the space and make it look blocky, which you especially want to avoid when you're blessed with such high ceilings. like this bathroom by Dazey Den.

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DESIGN: MINDY GAYER, PHOTO: VANESSA LENTINE

This curtain's white top and bottom help make the ceiling feel taller than it actually is, as they perfectly line up with the tub-shower combo and almost blend in. The proportions and the ultra-thin stripes keep it from being too loud next to the art and tiled floor, too.

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DESIGN: MINDY GAYER, PHOTO: VANESSA LENTINE

You don't have to choose a plain shower curtain if your bathroom has dramatic tile. Pair a large-format pattern with a smaller, more delicate pattern, and you can have the best of both worlds.

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Warning: You’ll want to spend a lot longer in the bath

The best shower curtains do more than just shield your bathroom floor from an endless spray of water: They can also completely transform the space. Think about it: Hanging nearly floor to ceiling and spanning several feet, they’re more of a fifth wall than an accessory. 

We have to point out that choosing a shower curtain is one of the rare times you can go as bold as you like: Shower curtains can be changed out in seconds, unlike wallpaper, paint, or tile. With that in mind, the possibilities are limitless. Read on to discover the best shower curtains that will instantly upgrade your bathroom. 

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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Bath curtain: 80 photos, selection tips ". But things are no longer the same: in recent years, the shower curtain has undergone a real evolution and is no longer considered a dubious accessory. Modern models look stylish, they are easy to fit into almost any project. There is an alternative - frame structures. Let's talk about it. nine0003

Choosing a curtain for the bathroom

Why is there a curtain in the bathroom
Views
— Soft
— Rigid
Soft curtain materials
— Vinyl
— Polyester
— Natural textiles
Cornices and curtain holders
— Cornices
— Holders
Design
Types of rigid curtains

Social networks of designer Marina Kunitsyna

It performs several tasks at once. The main ones can be formulated as follows. nine0003

  1. Protection. The main task is to protect the floor, furniture, textiles, plumbing and other surfaces and objects in the room from water and soap.
  2. Zoning. This is especially important for large and combined bathrooms. The curtain allows you to separate the bathing area, making it more private.
  3. Decoration. A curtain or a screen can hide the flaws of the room, complement the overall style or become an accent, complete the interior, add coziness.

Today there really is plenty to choose from. But first you have to decide which bath curtains will be better in your case: soft, frameless, or rigid, framed.

Soft

Social networks of the architect Evgenia Matveenko

These are well-known PVC or textile sheets. They have their own advantages.