8 Best Shower Curtains 2022 | UK Interior Designer Reviewed

1. Choose a Design That Matches Your Bathroom Decor
2. Decide Whether to Hang Your Curtains With Hooks or Eyelets
3. Select Shower Curtains Made From Mould-Free Materials
4. Pick a Curtain Made From Recycled Materials

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.

1. Best for its looks - John Lewis & Partners, Fish Recycled Polyester Shower Curtain
2. Best for its usability - Croydex, Hookless Shower Curtain
3. Best for family bathrooms - KAV KAV, Duck Shower Curtain
4. Best for its bright sunny design - Litthing, Lemon Shower Curtain

This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.

mybest UK product recommendations are reviewed and curated by our writers in-house. We focus on in-depth research and analysis of product reviews to carefully select the best products available for the best prices.

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

Our ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.