© 2024 All Rights Reserved.
Find out everything you need to know about
Shower Curtains
Follow this complete shower curtain buying guide to find out everything you need to know about bathroom shower curtrains including how to measure a perfect shower curtain size for your bath tub or shower stall, how to hang your shower curtain, whether to include a curtain liner or not, and tips about what not to do.
Shower curtains soften your bathroom decor and allow you to add some of your own unique personality into your bathroom design so buy a different one to decorate and enhance each bathroom in your home. One for your master bathroom, kids bathroom, guest bathrooom or small apartment bathroom. Each curtain will add that personal touch that turns a house into your home.
SIZING
How to select the right size for your shower curtain.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Shower Curtain WIDTH: Measure your shower curtain rod length and add 10″ – 12″
Shower Curtain HEIGHT: Measure the distance from the top of your shower curtain rod to the floor – then deduct the length of your hook size – and then deduct an additional 1 “. This will give you a good idea of what length curtain to buy. Remember you may be able to adjust your curtain rod height and it’s also ok to have a slightly shorter curtain than what you would prefer if you can’t find the perfect length.
Ozscape Designs offers custom size curtains for unusual shower curtain needs.
THE LONG ANSWER to Shower Curtain sizing
Follow this simple guide of shower curtain width and height measurements:
Standard shower curtain sizes:
The industry standard for shower curtain sizes fall somewhere between the following
70″ – 72″ Width x 70″ – 72″ Height
These standard shower curtains are designed to fit a standard 60 inch long bath tub.
Check the following table:
| TYPE | DIMENSIONS (inches) |
| Popular standard shower curtain size | 72 x 72 |
| Extra-wide bathtub | 84 x 74 |
| Shower Stall | 54 x 78 |
| Extra-tall | 70 x 84 |
| Floor to ceiling shower | 72 x 96 |
How to measure for your own Shower Curtain Width.
It is aesthetically pleasing to have a shower curtain with generous folds that creates a lovely drape and it is also practical to have a curtain which is wide enough to prevent water spillage at the sides that can cause mold or bacteria to build up on tiles and floor coverings.
If you don’t think you have a standard bath tub or shower stall, the easy way to estimate your required shower curtain width is to measure the length of your shower curtain rod and add approx 10 – 12 ” in width to allow for generous folds and ensure no water escapes on either end when showering.
TOP TIP
Buy two matching shower curtains if you can’t find one wide enough for a custom size. That way you can pull them both together to stop side water spillage, and have generous folds for an aesthetically pleasing look. The more folds the better.
Shower Curtain Height.
It is not ideal for shower curtains to hang touching the floor as this might allow moisture, mold and mildew to build up. Ozscape Designs shower curtains are mold and mildew resistant so this also helps to avoid this problem.
How to measure for your own Shower Stall Height.
To calculate the right shower curtain height for a shower stall we recommend that you measure from the top of your shower curtain rod to the floor and then subtract (the length of your shower curtain ring minus 1″) and then subtract an additional 2″ to keep your curtain off the floor.
For example:
Top of Rod to floor measures 78″
Shower Ring length measures 3″
Shower Curtain height measures 74″
78 – (3″-1″) – (2″) = 74″ shower curtain height.
Standard Shower stalls are typically 50″ W x 78″ H although some stalls can be wider.
The Ozscape Designs 71″ x 74″ curtain is a good choice for this type of shower recess. It allows a generous drape and the curtain will not pool onto the floor.
How to measure for your own Bathtub Shower Curtain Height.
This is much easier to calculate.
To calculate the right shower curtain height for a bath tub follow this guide.
Measure from the bottom of your curtain rings if you are using them – to the floor. Subtract approximately 10 inches to determine where to hang your curtains. This allows for the curtain to hang inside the bath tub when showering or outside the bath tub when bathing or not in use.
TIP: Tie – backs
Tie backs are useful to hold the shower curtain to the side when not in use. These will make the shower curtain appear shorter so you may wish to hang your curtain rod 1 or 2 inches lower to keep the draped curtain outside the rim of the tub when tied back.
TIP: Keep the following in mind when drilling holes for your shower rod brackets:
Be mindful of the following
- Shower hook length – shower curtain rings and hooks create a distance between the rod and the top of the curtain, adding to the overall length of your curtain
TIP: It’s worth deciding which rings you want before installing a curtain rod.
TIP: Keep the following in mind when drilling holes for your shower rod brackets:
Be mindful of the following
- Shower hook length – shower curtain rings and hooks create a distance between the rod and the top of the curtain, adding to the overall length of your curtain
TIP: It’s worth deciding which rings you want before installing a curtain rod.
Plastic or Polyester?
Plastic sounds like the obvious choice for a shower curtain. It’s water resistant, robust and good from a budget point of view. However plastic does not resist mold and mildew which builds up and droplets can form water marks and cause clouding over time. In addition plastic curtains do not drape nicely which is unattractive and with time they become brittle.
We recommend polyester fabric shower curtains.
Ozscape Designs Polyester fabric shower curtains are heavy, luxurious, strong and durable. They have a lovely drape, are water repellent and have been treated to resist mold & mildew. They do not require a curtain liner and are machine washable so have a longer life span.
Other fabrics such as canvas and burlap are sometimes available for use as a shower curtain however they are not as practical as polyester because they do not dry quickly and can be damaged over time if left damp. They would require a curtain liner for protection.
TIP: Keep the following in mind when drilling holes for your shower rod brackets:
Be mindful of the following
- Shower hook length – shower curtain rings and hooks create a distance between the rod and the top of the curtain, adding to the overall length of your curtain
TIP: It’s worth deciding which rings you want before installing a curtain rod.
Plastic or Polyester?
Plastic sounds like the obvious choice for a shower curtain. It’s water resistant, robust and good from a budget point of view. However plastic does not resist mold and mildew which builds up and droplets can form water marks and cause clouding over time. In addition plastic curtains do not drape nicely which is unattractive and with time they become brittle.
We recommend polyester fabric shower curtains.
Ozscape Designs Polyester fabric shower curtains are heavy, luxurious, strong and durable. They have a lovely drape, are water repellent and have been treated to resist mold & mildew. They do not require a curtain liner and are machine washable so have a longer life span.
Other fabrics such as canvas and burlap are sometimes available for use as a shower curtain however they are not as practical as polyester because they do not dry quickly and can be damaged over time if left damp. They would require a curtain liner for protection.
Curtain liner or not? How to hang the shower curtain and the liner.
A curtain liner is only a necessity if
- your shower curtain is not water resistant or water proof
- you want to add an opaque liner to a see through plastic curtain for privacy.
- you would like your shower curtain to hang permanently outside the bath tub whilst showering.
Whilst bathing in a bath tub the shower curtain should hang on the outside of the tub as you don’t want it soaking in the water getting wet and restricting your movement in the bath.
Whilst showering in a bath tub with a water resistant or waterproof shower curtain (and no liner) it should hang inside the tub so that all the water runs off down the curtain into the tub and not onto the floor.
If you are using a curtain liner AND a shower curtain, the liner should hang inside the bath tub whilst showering therefore protecting your shower curtain and keeping any water run off inside the tub. This way the shower curtain itself can hang outside the tub giving a soft drape and aesthetically pleasing look and feel.
Shower Curtain BENEFITS?
Bathrooms are often a neglected room in your home. The hard surfaces necessary for repelling water and keeping the humidity and dampness at bay can often cause the bathroom to feel cold and unwelcoming. Fabric shower curtains soften the cold feel of many bathroom designs.
They are an ideal way to inject pattern and color into a monochrome area and can be strategically draped which creates an illusion of a larger space which is very beneficial if you have a small bathroom.
Curtains have the added benefit of drapability and can be tied to one or both sides when not in use, taking up less physical space than a solid screen.
Shower curtains come in many shapes and sizes and are cost effective. Ozscape Designs offers custom made sizing for those who don’t have standard requirements.
They are easy to install and can be swapped out quickly with little expense when you become tired of it or substituted with a new design as your children grow and develop new interests. It is the quickest and easiest way to give your bathroom a refresh.
The abundance of patterns and colors available these days allow you to mix and match your bathroom decor so that your bathroom towels and bath rugs all co ordinate to create a modern designer bathroom with little effort.