Shower Curtains: The Ultimate Buying Guide

So, you’re in the market for shower curtains and you are wondering how to find those perfect curtains to match your bathroom. You’ve come to the right place – by the time you’re done reading this guide, you’ll know more than you ever wanted to know about shower curtains, liners, shower curtain rings and curtain rods. Let’s get started!

Shower Curtains - Balancing Practicality with Style

Shower curtains serve a very practical purpose, but finding that perfect shower curtain is about more than just practicality! Let’s face it, the real purpose of shower curtains are to keep water off of the bathroom floor and to maintain privacy. But I digress. Let me start with the practical considerations before jumping to what too look for in stylish shower curtains.

Shower Curtains 101

The truth is that you use your shower curtains everyday (at least, let’s hope you do). Think of your shower curtains as a “system” comprised of many parts, each of which come together to form a barrier between you and the rest of world, while also reflecting your personal style and tastes. The basic components of your shower curtain system are comprised of the shower curtain (primarily decorative), the curtain liner (primarily functional), the shower curtain rod, and the shower curtain rings.

Through daily use each of these components will be exposed to soap and water, which could eventually lead to mildew buildup and mold. Here’s one basic tenet to keep in mind: Go for quality! High-quality shower curtains and accessories are easy to maintain, will last a long time, and provide both decorative and practical utility.

Finding the Right Shower Curtain Style and Material

There are a lot of quality and style factors to evaluate when shopping for shower curtains. Some of the quality basics include quality of the material, detail in the stitching and grommets, and overall maintainability. Good shower curtains typically cost anywhere from $20 - $100.

There are a wide variety of materials to choose from, including fabric, plastic and vinyl. If your bathroom is formal and is fully accessorized, you’ll want to choose a curtain made from fabric such as cotton, linen or even silk. If the bathroom is informal – and primarily used by kids or guests – you may want something that is more fun and perhaps more colorful. eBay offers a huge variety of styles and colors to suit all tastes!

High quality stitching and grommets are also important. Good stitching – especially double stitching – means that your curtains won’t fray at the edges. OK, so what’s a grommet? I thought you’d never ask. Grommets are used to reinforce the holes in your shower curtain, and are typically made from plastic or metal (think of them as the eyelets in your lace-up shoes). Grommets make it simple to hang your shower curtain with rings. Most importantly, grommets provide structural integrity and prevent your shower curtains from tearing. Regardless of whether your shower curtains are made from vinyl, plastic or fabric, make sure your curtains come with grommets.

Liners for Shower Curtains – It Can Get Complicated

You’ll definitely need a liner for your shower curtains. Liners ensure that curtains stay dry and that there is a protective barrier that can deflect moisture. And while liners will need to be replaced more often than curtains, you should still go for quality. Look for the same features such as good stitching and rust-proof grommets. Good liners typically sell for $10 - $25, and come in standard or heavy duty quality (10 gauge or higher) grades. Quality liners will also come with magnets that will help keep the liner in place.

PVC, PVE, or Fabric Shower Curtain Liners?

A frequent complaint about liners is that they are made of vinyl, and vinyl is made from chemical resources that are not environmentally friendly. Also, most vinyl liners are hard to clean and get disposed of, thus ending up in landfills.

Unfortunately manufacturers have not released many good alternatives to traditional PVC vinyl liners. Some companies manufacture liners made from PVE and polypropylene, which is slightly friendlier on the environment.

One way to minimize disposal of your shower curtain liners is to find ones that are made from fabric (often seen in hotels) or to find curtains that are mold and mildew resistant, which means they are less likely to be thrown out. Fabric liners are easily washed and are simple to maintain. Mildew resistant vinyl liners can be wiped clean, also tend to be mold resistant. You’ll often find gimmicks on shower curtain liner packaging, such as “anti-bacterial” and “fire retardant”. Why on earth would you need a fire retardant shower liner?!

Find some shower curtain liners right here on eBay:

• PVC Shower Curtain Liner
• Fabric Shower Curtain Liner
  
• Ikea Shower Curtain Liner
  

Liners Come in a Myriad of Colors

Just like shower curtains, liners come in all sorts of colors. My recommendation is to choose something that will let some light through in order to lighten things up – go for clear, white or beige. If you choose color, find something that complements your curtains.

Rings for Your Shower Curtains – Beauty is In the Details

If you’ve seen Planes, Trains & Automobiles , you’ll remember Del Griffith (played by John Candy) as a shower curtain ring salesman, selling his rings as jewelry in order to raise enough money to make it back to Sheboygan in time for Thanksgiving Dinner. The good news is that these days you don’t need to find a salesman – there is a huge selection of rings for shower curtains right here on eBay!

Good rings on a shower curtain are analogous to nice cufflinks on a crisp dress shirt. You don’t need them, but having them sets you apart from the crowd. And now that you’ve found the perfect shower curtain, you’ll want to make sure they hang in style. Think quality – after all, you spent a considerable amount of time finding the perfect shower curtain and you should not compromise on rings.

Lots of Ring Options Available for Your Shower Curtains

The good news is that you have a ton of options. To narrow it down, you’ll want to consider the material and color of your shower curtain and the type of curtain rod that you have.

Dress It Up With Style and Color

If your shower curtains are made of silk or a similar fine-weave fabric, you should look for thin, high-end rings to match the quality of your curtain. If your shower curtains are plastic or made from a coarse fabric, choose a heavier set of rings that can hold the appropriate weight of the curtain. And don’t forget to consider the thickness of the ring to ensure that it will fit the eyelets on your curtain; the last thing that you want is to have great looking rings that don’t fit your grommets.

As for color – that is entirely up to you. If you want the rings to blend with the curtain color or pattern choose a color that either matches or is complementary. If you want to accent your shower curtains, choose a color or material that matches the accessories in your bathroom.

Decide Between Metal Rings and Plastic for your Shower Curtains

What type of material, you ask? A good rule of thumb is that a metal rod should be matched with metal rings, and a plastic rod should be matched with plastic rings.

You’ll find that good quality metal rings often come with hinges, which make unclasping and hanging the ring around the rod much easier. Also, high-end metal rings often come with rollers, which make sliding the curtain back and forth much easier. If you choose metal, don’t go for nickel-plated. Rather, go for solid steel rings that will resist rust.

Rods for Shower Curtains – Need to Replace Yours?

The goods news is that shower curtain rods come in a wide variety of styles, sizes and finishes. Many of them are also adjustable, which means that you don’t need to worry about exact measures if you are retrofitting a rod in an older bathroom.



Your typical choice in material will be plastic or metal. If you choose metal, make sure that the rod is either pure chrome or at least double-chrome-coated. Otherwise the rod peels over time, leading to rust and to friction when the rings slide over the rough spots that are peeling. If you choose plastic, make sure that the rod is sturdy enough and that it will hold up to every day usage.

The Right Shower Curtain Rod Can Create More Space!

Did you know that the right shower curtain rod can actually help you create more space in the shower? By using a curved or crescent-shaped rod, you could improve leak control and create more space beyond the rim of your tub. These rods tend to be a bit more expensive, but they’re worth the price.