DIY Tips For An Elegant Extra Long Shower Curtain

While shower curtains have come a long way in terms of their design — fabric, pattern, and color options are bountiful — they haven't quite evolved the way we've wanted them to when it comes to their size. Thin, short curtains can cheapen the look of your bathroom in the same way that a single piece of fabric pulled across a window does in your living room. As with traditional curtains, hanging your shower curtain at ceiling height and adding volume will help to create a luxurious look in your bathroom. The trouble is that finding a curtain larger than a standard 72-inch square is tough. The solution, however, is fabulously simple: skip the shower curtain altogether and convert a pinch pleat window dressing into the ideal solution. 

Obviously, a standard curtain absolutely does the job of keeping water from spraying all over your bathroom. However, hanging it low enough to keep your bathroom floor dry might also be making your shower curtain look cheap. And it's more than an aesthetic issue if you've got extra high ceilings (or extra tall people). With a couple of simple modifications, however, you can turn a standard window treatment into a luxurious shower curtain. Using a pinch pleat style curtain will make for the easiest conversion, and you can create extra volume by using a wider-than-necessary curtain. Carefully selecting the right material will help you manage the delicate balance of light and privacy and make cleaning a breeze.

Priority number one, of course, is choosing the correct shower curtain size. It's a decision somewhat more nuanced than you might think. Of course, you need a curtain that will wholly cover the open space. Going a little bigger will give you a more luxe look – Akin to layering the drapes on your windows rather than just stretching a couple of pieces of fabric across the glass. Why not add a few inches to the width and give your shower that decadent feeling, even when the curtain is closed?

Selecting the right window covering material to convert to a shower curtain comes down to more than just your taste and style. For instance, consider transparency. If there's a window in your shower, you want that precious natural light filtering into your bathroom. Additionally, you'll probably want to select a material that's machine washable. Finally, going for a pinch-pleat style curtain will give you the best results for this project without a sewing machine.

The actual conversion of your window treatment to a shower curtain is as simple as using the pinch pleat hooks (which likely came with your curtain) to hang the drapery on the shower curtain rings. Hang the liner at the appropriate ring intervals (since you probably don't need extra volume in the liner) so that it hangs flat inside the shower and only your curtain billows out into the rest of the bathroom. It's that easy. So, instead of trying to pick the best shower curtain to upgrade your bathroom, just DIY your own design.