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With the vast range on offer today, you'd be silly not to at least take a look at your options! From funny designs that'll make you smile every bleary-eyed morning to stylish fabrics that'll rejuvenate a dull bathroom, there are a million and one ways to style your curtain rail. But, seeing as wading through the options can be a formidable task, we've written this guide packed with lots of handy tips.
We've also included a list of our ten favourites to buy in the UK from online stores such as Amazon, John Lewis and Argos. You'll find everything from extra long curtains, ones with hooks as well as hookless designs, luxury waterproof styles and curtains in every colour from yellow, to green, to blue. Let's dive in! Moreover, we partnered with interior designer Belen Dakak to review and fact-check the article to deliver the best information.
Belen is an interior designer (residential and retail design), having worked for top retail brands including Estee Lauder, Seasalt and John Lewis, as well as working with private clients on residential projects and RoomLab, an online interior design platform.
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
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Belen is an interior designer (residential and retail design), having worked for top retail brands including Estee Lauder, Seasalt and John Lewis, as well as working with private clients on residential projects and RoomLab, an online interior design platform.
Belen is also a landscape garden designer with an RHS Level 2 in Principles and Practical Horticulture.
One of the best ways of guaranteeing you'll fall in love with your new shower curtain is to ensure that it fits perfectly in your bathroom. Find one that complements an established design scheme, and not only will you adore your new curtain, but you may also love your bathroom a little bit more too.
One tried and tested means of ensuring this is to look for complementary colours. The process is pretty simple – if your bathroom uses a blue colour scheme, go for a shower curtain in a similar shade. It'll fit in as perfectly as the final piece of a jigsaw and give your bathroom a satisfying, unified feel.
If you want to take things a step further, you may also want to find a curtain with corresponding shapes or designs. These can be a little trickier to find, but if your bathroom's design utilises a lot of squares, for example, there's nothing quite like the result you'll get if you find an accessory that mirrors.
If you're struggling to find something in the right colour, or you don't care too much for ensuring that your bathroom adheres to a single colour scheme, you may want to instead look for a design that elevates your mood.
Prints of marine life or tropical leaves are great for transporting you to another location and are particularly effective when you're standing under a stream of hot water. Bright, cheerful patterns and colours can lift your mood, too – priceless when showering before or after a hard day's work.
Or you might want to go for something explicitly comical that makes you laugh. Believe it or not, shower curtains are the perfect canvases for such images. During our search, we found shower curtains with references to the film Psycho, and even ones decorated with the complete periodic table!
There are two methods for hanging a shower curtain. The distinctions are subtle, but to the keen-eyed, design-conscious folk among us, they can make all the difference in the world, and they're certainly worth discussing.
The most common are white plastic loops that slip through small holes in the top of the curtain and then over the pole. They're usually included with the shower curtain, but it's always worth a check. Otherwise, they can be bought separately at pretty much any DIY shop.
On the other hand, eyelets are large, built-in holes that slide over a pole to support the curtain. The distinction is very subtle, but many people prefer the tidy look of the inbuilt eyelets. They will, however, require a detachable shower pole for you to be able to slide them on.
Their purpose means that shower curtains endure a lot of water and, over time, this water, if left untreated, can turn into mould and mildew. Apart from looking undesirable, these fungi can pose a risk to your health. PEVA is a plastic-like material designed to mimic vinyl without the harmful chemicals often found in plastic or vinyl and are naturally water repellent.
While wiping down your curtain and making sure to extend it after use is somewhat effective, the easiest method is to opt for a mould and mildew-resistant product that has been treated or made with a mould-resistant material such as PEVA.
The primary downside of a mould-resistant curtain is that they're not necessarily made from sustainable materials. If you're particularly committed to the environment, however, don't worry – you'll just need to give your curtain a rinse now and then to keep it free from nasties. Better yet, look for those that are machine washable.
Shower curtains are one of those things that we can't avoid buying, meaning that, in the past, even the most passionate environmentalist had to feel the guilt of splashing out on something made from unsustainable plastic. Luckily, that's no longer the case, as many shower curtains are now made from recycled materials.
Usually, this material is recycled polyester, and you'd be hard-pressed to tell, as there's no apparent difference between the sustainable models and the standard alternatives. Sustainably sourced materials are even being used by top designers and sold in many department stores. Other environmentally-friendly materials include fabrics like hemp and linen that naturally repel water.
Hemp is also naturally anti-bacterial, so it will help reduce mould build-up as well. The result? You can shower in style and with peace of mind. There's something particularly poignant about buying a marine-themed shower curtain that you know is made from recycled bottles that otherwise would have contributed toward polluting our oceans.
Perhaps it's something primitive in us, but when it comes to decorating, we often make connections between our bathrooms and the ocean, with many people opting for a beach or marine-themed décor. This curtain, decorated with blue and yellow fish, is sure to fit that bill.
Plus, the amazing thing is that, because this shower curtain is made from recycled polyester, you're actually contributing towards helping keep our oceans clean. It strikes the perfect balance between novel and traditional and has sufficient practical features. Hence, it's our number one pick.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that there's only one way to hang a shower curtain – after all, those plastic loops are so abundant! The alternative is with a 'hookless' shower curtain that instead slides straight onto a supporting pole.
The distinction might be subtle, but to some, it makes all the difference. Actually, we're rather fond of it, and we think it looks much tidier than the traditional plastic hoops. The cling-resistant weighted hem will ensure it hangs beautifully, too.
Asked to consider an item that best symbolises the bathroom, most people would undoubtedly think of the humble rubber duck. Hardly surprising, as they've graced children's bath times for nearly a hundred years! All of this goes to say that there's nothing better to decorate your shower curtain with.
Offering the perfect blend of traditionalism and light-hearted humour, this curtain would fit well in family bathrooms or could even be used as a waterproof liner if it's not opaque enough for your needs. It's made from 100% PEVA, and it's incredibly cheap too, so you really have no excuse!
There's no doubt that yellow is one of the happiest colours there is, and studies suggest that the smell of citrus fruits can make us feel energised. This quirky lemon-covered shower curtain, then – while not smelling of citrus – is undoubtedly one of the jolliest there is.
Despite being affordable, this curtain has all the desirable practical features, and it'll last a while too, with a double-sided, waterproof design for durability (and perhaps privacy!). Whether your bathroom is contemporary or classic, this sunny colour scheme is sure to cheer you up in the morning!
If you need an extra long shower curtain, you may find yourself struggling to find an adequate solution. No longer is that the case, as this option from John Lewis, stretching nearly two metres in length, is sure to do the trick.
Unlike standard shower curtains, it'll wrap around a freestanding bath with ease. While the plain white design perhaps isn't anything to shout about, there's no doubt that it'll fit well in most bathrooms, especially those going for a minimalist vibe.
For the particularly design-conscious among us, a shower curtain that complements the rest of your décor is something to be sought after. If your bathroom utilises a blue and white colour scheme, then this mosaic-print accessory will provide the perfect partner.
Aside from its colour scheme, this shower curtain also features a unique design, with an assortment of cascading shapes that fall from the top and gather at the bottom. It's a fresh, lively option and, at such a low price, it's definitely worth considering. The only downside is that it isn't made from eco-friendly materials.
Giving new meaning to the idea of 'baring at all', this shower curtain gives the illusion of a friendly bear taking a wash behind it. It is sure to put a smile on your face every morning as you prepare for a busy day.
As well as being mould-resistant, this polyester curtain is washable, weighted at the bottom and comes ready to hang with twelve hooks to slot through its rust-resistant eyelets. The novelty design won't be for everyone, but if you're someone with a sense of humour, this may be the ideal shower curtain for you.
Let's be honest, shopping for shower curtains doesn't tend to be fun, and most of them are pretty dull. If, however, you want a shower curtain that veers from the traditional plain white, you'll love this one, which features. pretty much every colour under the rainbow!
Better still, it's made entirely from recycled polyester – the equivalent of four plastic bottles – meaning you can shower with a clear conscience as you enjoy the bright array of colours. Again, it is not mould-resistant, but it is machine washable, which is always a plus.
Absolutely! 1 cup of vinegar can be used in replacement of baking soda. Just use the same cleaning method as mentioned above, just swap out those two ingredients. And don't worry, the smell won't stay around for long!
No! Whatever you do, do not put your fancy new shower curtain in the tumble dryer. Shower curtains typically have a plastic or vinyl coating which will melt in the dryer and not only ruin your curtain, but probably your dryer too!
If you've ever come across a pink coating on your shower curtain and thought nothing of it, think again! All of that pink is essentially mould, that has been thriving in the humid, hot conditions of your shower. As soon as you see any pink, give your shower a good clean!
Written and researched by Ben Willimett
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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