We get it: when it comes to your overall bathroom aesthetic, shower curtains might seem like an afterthought. But while they are certainly functional, shower curtains can also offer a nice moment to flex your design skills. From simple colors (to let bolder room hues stand out) to beautiful, vibrant patterns and shades, there are plenty of shower curtain designs to pick from.
Below are stylish shower curtain decorating ideas that’ll wow your guests and turn up the design volume in your bathroom.
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Go for Beautiful Florals
If your bathroom comes in lots of beige and muted tones, consider adding a busy but beautiful shower curtain full of floral patterns. Then, make sure some of the other features in the bathroom, like your bathroom’s towels, include some pops of color from the curtain to tie everything together.
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Keep It Simple
In this mainly white bathroom, a cloth shower curtain in a simple beige hue adds some visual interest while keeping the overall bathroom design choices minimalistic.
Pick cream towels like the ones shown here to complement the curtain, then top it all off with a dramatic, but still beige, rug for a lasting dramatic effect.
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Add Length
Got a lot of ceiling space? Show it off with a dramatically dark shower curtain in a gray or black color that highlights your white shower tile and rich gold hardware.
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Complement Blue Paint
Let the beautiful blue walls of your bathroom speak for themselves by using a sleek white shower curtain.
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Personalize With Funky Patterns
Inject an otherwise plain bathroom with instant pizazz when you pop in a shower curtain full of funky patterns. This small bathroom has an eye-catching shower curtain big on style.
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Try Tile
If you have an outstanding tile color you’d like to show off, consider a clear shower curtain. This way, attention will remain on the tile or other shower features.
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Bring in Weight
Not only is this curtain in a bright white color, but it also comes in a heavy cloth material, which adds a sense of weight and drama to the scene.
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Wrap Around the Tub
Even a stand-alone clawfoot tub can use a great curtain. Plus, allowing the curtain track to run all around the tub’s perimeter adds a classic look without feeling stuffy.
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Draw the Eyes Downwards
Don’t be afraid to draw attention to the floor. The bold black line on this white curtain points down, encouraging viewers to check out the beautifully tiled floor, which might not always get the most attention in bathrooms.
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Double Down
If you want to add some drama to the tub, opt for a double shower curtain. The owner of this bathroom went even more theatrical with the daring white and black checkered print that grabs the attention in this mostly dark bathroom.
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Make It Feel Ethereal
Emphasize your showers with great lighting. Instead of using a dark curtain that will trap the light from a bonus window, choose a light and airy shower curtain that will evenly disperse sunlight all over the room.
This will not only keep the space well-lit, but it will also offer an almost otherworldly, or romantic glow.
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Think About Colorblocking
Blend your shower’s historical elements, like a midcentury modern-inspired orange tub, with more modern touches, like a bright orange shower curtain and wall art.
Colorblocking like this is an easy way to update your space while leaning into the personality of the home already there.
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Select Toiletries to Match
Another way to pair the shower curtain with objects in the room is to select a table of toiletries that matches it in terms of color. This shower curtain comes in similar shades of gray and white as the curtain.
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Bring in a Bright Pattern
A bright, vibrant shower curtain draws attention away from a mostly white bathroom. But to make sure the pattern still fits with your decor, add a pop of color matching the curtain by using wall art in a similar color.
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Warm It Up
Cooler-toned tile can sometimes feel too cold. One way to warm the tile up is to add a hue with an orange or yellow undertone. This shower curtain comes in a warm brown shade and its cozy towel-like texture adds the impression of warmth as well.
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Add Some Lines
If you have a floor tile that comes in stripes, think about pairing it with a striped shower curtain. Doing so makes smaller bathroom spaces feel curated with decor and architectural features harmonizing.
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Balance Different Shapes
If you have plenty of shapes in your bathroom decor from a circle mirror to octagon tiles, be sure to juxtapose them with a solid color shower curtain or one with a simple pattern. In other words, adding shapes to the curtain as well might make the entire bathroom decor feel too matchy-matchy.
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Choose Fresh Contrast
White brightens a room and adds an element of contrast when paired with patterns. If your bathroom floor has a nice pattern, give the eye a rest by popping in white decor nearby to balance out the pattern.
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Pop in Fringe
You can also elevate a shower curtain with some decorative fringe at the bottom. This will make the piece feel elegant, a nice touch when your bathroom already has statement-making gold hardware.
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Go Green With Houseplants
Got lots of houseplants in the bathroom? Pick a shower curtain that utilizes plenty of plant imagery for a full urban jungle feeling in your space.
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Throw in the Towels
To create a unifying design, match the shower curtain with other elements from the bathroom. This shower curtain has the same color as the towels.
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Showcase a Simple Motif
Small accents will go a long way in making a big statement. A subtle and simple motif like this recurring pattern on the shower curtain is a great design element to perk up a mostly white bathroom.
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Match the Tile
If you have a bold-colored tile and very few complementary pieces in your bathroom, think about matching the shower curtain to the tile's color. This shower curtain has a small amount of pink to match the pink tile, proving you don’t need to use a lot of color in the curtain to create a unifying effect.
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Play With Patterns
Generally, bathrooms can be places where you can experiment with color, pattern, and style. So don’t be afraid to add character to your smaller-sized bathroom by choosing a colorful patterned shower curtain that doesn’t necessarily match the floor or other decor.
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Match the Wood
Got some brilliant wood accents in the bathroom? Don’t lose the cozy effect of the wood. Instead, add to it by using a shower curtain that has tones similar to the wood species and colors you already have.
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Layer the Bathroom
A simple way to add a sense of layering in the bathroom is to match different elements.
For example, this shower curtain’s color matches the mirror and the curtain rod. The striped colors also create a sense of clean lines that layer well against the other linear surfaces in the room.
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Upgrade to the Next Level
This effect can be achieved in many ways. But one way to create an instantly bold style is to add a bright colorful tub and pair it with a similarly bold shower curtain.
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Think Outside the Box
Add some vibrancy to a chic bathroom by hanging a shower curtain with lots of bold, atypical bath designs. This shower curtain is made to resemble typical tattoo designs.
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Go Extra Long
If you have a large bathtub in the bathroom, go with a shower curtain that's long so it covers the tub all the way down. It will also add a dramatic flair to the rest of the design when it's not being used.
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Tie It Back
Some showers may have unique hardware, so if you want to naturally show it off, install a tie-back so you can easily put the shower curtain to one side. Go for a shower curtain that matches the rest of the space's color palette to create a cohesive look.
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Bring in Waffle Texture
If you have busy shower tile and floor tile, give your eye a rest with a neutral tone. A cream-colored and waffled shower curtain offers a bit of respite without being as stark as white.
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Go All White
Sometimes you can’t beat a classic color. A white shower curtain matches practically everything, not to mention it balances well against wood accents and any greenery.
What can I use as an alternative to a shower curtain?
Shower curtain alternatives include sliding or fixed glass doors; frameless glass partitions; and half-walls with fixed glass panels on top. Choose clear or frosted glass depending on how much privacy you want.
How long should a shower curtain be?
Standard shower curtain length is between 70 and 72 inches, with shorter and longer options available. Keep your shower curtain length 2-5 inches above the floor to avoid mildew build-up.