Skip Dark Shower Curtains: The Shade That'll Make Your Bathroom Feel Bigger

Small bathrooms can sometimes feel cozy, but they're just as likely to feel cramped and claustrophobic. Renovations to make your bathroom actually larger can be costly and time-consuming, so why not make some simple design changes to change how your bathroom feels instead? There are several ways to make a small bathroom look bigger, but your shower curtain is a good place to start. A dark shower curtain can make your bathroom feel even smaller, so swap it out for a white or pastel one instead.

Darker colors tend to absorb more light, making the space feel darker and smaller overall, while light colors generally have the opposite effect. This is the same reason why it's generally recommended to paint the walls in a smaller room a lighter color. When a shower curtain is closed, it can almost become an additional wall, closing off your bathtub or shower and creating a panel of uninterrupted color. Making the panel lighter can make your bathroom feel more airy and open. Your shower curtain doesn't have to be stark white to capture this effect, though. Since light and dark are a spectrum, you just need to keep in mind that a lighter shade will be more effective than a darker shade of the same color. This generally applies even if you're using a shower curtain alternative, such as a fabric curtain or glass panel. Choose a light, simple fabric over a darker one, or a clear or lightly frosted material over a dark, tinted one.

Start by looking at your existing bathroom color scheme and picking a color that's already a part of it. If you already have lighter colors in your bathroom, you may be able to match it exactly. Otherwise, opt for a lighter shade of an existing color. For example, if you have a green and brown bathroom, a pale green or creamy tan shower curtain might be a good fit. If you have a bold pattern on the walls, pull from the colors but not the pattern itself. The darker colors and bold lines can undercut the effect of the light color on your curtain and create a chaotic look.

If your bathroom already has a primarily dark color scheme, there are still a couple ways you can make a light shower curtain work. Since lighter walls are generally better at making a small space feel bigger, you may want to paint your bathroom. You could also add a few accents in the same lighter color as your shower curtain to the room, creating a more cohesive look while keeping the overall aesthetic of your bathroom in tact. However, if you're resistant to changing the rest of your bathroom at all, opt for a clear shower curtain. They can make your bathroom seem larger just like a solid pale shower curtain without interfering with your current aesthetic.