For years, the frameless glass shower door was the undisputed champion of bathroom design. It was sleek. It was modern. It made every renovation reveal feel vaguely spa-like. And if you watched enough home makeover shows between 2015 and 2023, you probably started to believe that a bathroom without a giant sheet of glass wasn’t a bathroom worth having.

But lately, something interesting has been happening.

Designers are quietly replacing those expensive glass enclosures with something far softer, more charming, and surprisingly practical: shower curtains.

Yes. Shower curtains.

And before you picture the sad plastic liner from your college apartment, let me stop you right there. These are not those shower curtains. The new generation feels intentional, decorative, and—dare I say—kind of sophisticated.

Pattern Is Having a Major Moment

Part of the appeal comes down to one simple fact: people are tired of safe bathrooms.

For years, the formula was nearly identical—white tile, black fixtures, frameless glass, maybe a floating vanity if you were feeling adventurous.

Now homeowners are embracing wallpaper, color-drenched walls, checkerboard floors, and vintage-inspired details. A patterned shower curtain fits naturally into that shift.

Take this bathroom by Studio DB, for example. The dramatic red floral curtain doesn’t simply hide the shower—it acts as a focal point, echoing the room’s bold color palette and layered patterns. Paired with the whimsical wallpaper and lacquered vanity, the curtain feels less like a bathroom accessory and more like a custom textile installation. It’s the kind of space that would lose much of its personality if a sheet of frameless glass were substituted in its place.

That’s the real appeal of the trend. A shower curtain offers another opportunity to introduce color, pattern, and texture into a room that has traditionally been dominated by hard surfaces.

Think of it as artwork for your shower.

And unlike tile, you can change your mind next year.

Butter Mom Bathrooms Were Made for Linen Shower Curtains

If you’ve been noticing more linen shower curtains lately, it’s not a coincidence. They fit perfectly with the Butter Mom bathroom aesthetic, which is all about creating a bathroom that feels warm, comfortable, and actually lived in.

The easiest way to get the look? Skip the standard plastic curtain and choose a fabric one with a little personality. Ruffles, subtle stripes, soft florals, or a relaxed linen texture instantly make a bathroom feel less builder-grade and more thoughtfully designed.

A few designer tricks worth stealing:

• Hang the curtain higher than the shower rod needs to be. It makes ceilings look taller and gives the bathroom a custom feel.
• Choose a fabric curtain with fullness. A slightly gathered look feels softer and more luxurious than a flat panel.
• Pair it with warm finishes. Think brass hardware, wood vanities, woven baskets, and fluffy towels.
• Don’t be afraid of texture. Linen, cotton, and ruffled details are exactly what make Butter Mom bathrooms feel cozy rather than sterile.

The biggest reason this trend works? It brings softness back into the bathroom. While glass shower doors tend to disappear, a beautiful linen curtain becomes part of the decor, adding warmth and character without requiring a full renovation.

Sometimes swapping out a shower curtain really is enough to make the whole bathroom feel different. You can dind this Ruffled Linen Bathroom Curtain at Etsy.

Vintage Bathrooms Never Really Left

If you’ve spent any time scrolling through designer portfolios lately, you’ve probably noticed another recurring theme: vintage-inspired bathrooms.

Traditional homes, English country interiors, cottage-style spaces, and even many contemporary projects are embracing elements that feel collected rather than ultra-modern.

A fabric shower curtain feels right at home in these spaces.

In fact, in many historic homes, a curtain often feels more authentic than a giant slab of frameless glass.

It creates the relaxed, lived-in feeling that so many designers are chasing right now.

From Sofas to Shower Curtains: Our Ongoing Obsession With Stripes

If there’s one pattern that never seems to fall out of favor, it’s stripes. We recently spotted striped sofas among Pinterest’s most-saved decor trends, but the appeal of this classic motif extends far beyond the living room. From bedding and rugs to wallpaper and shower curtains, stripes continue to show up in every corner of the home.

Ιn this bathroom, the curtain does much of the heavy lifting. The rest of the room is relatively simple—white tile, pale blue paneling, warm wood cabinetry—but those soft vertical stripes add rhythm and keep the space from feeling flat. They also draw the eye upward, making the room feel taller and more airy.

It’s a reminder that stripes don’t need to be bold to make an impact. Whether they’re showing up on a sofa, an accent chair, or a shower curtain, they’re one of those rare patterns that somehow feel both current and completely timeless.

Useful Tips Before Buying a Shower Curtain

• Pay attention to size and placement. A shower curtain that is too narrow or hangs too low can make a bathroom feel unfinished. Choose a curtain that is slightly wider than the tub so it forms soft folds rather than stretching flat, and consider mounting the rod a little higher than usual to create the illusion of taller ceilings. Ideally, the curtain should fall close to the floor without dragging.
• Fabric almost always looks better. Even in a budget bathroom, a fabric shower curtain tends to give a softer, more finished look than a plastic one.
• Consider a double-curtain setup. For the best combination of style and practicality, use a clear waterproof liner on the inside and a fabric curtain on the outside. The liner keeps water where it belongs, while the outer curtain adds warmth, texture, and personality to the room.
• Think about what you’ll see every day. A shower curtain takes up a surprising amount of visual space. In many bathrooms, it’s essentially the largest decorative element in the room, so choose something you’ll still enjoy looking at a year from now.
• Washability matters. No matter how beautiful a curtain is, you’ll appreciate it much more if it can be tossed into the washing machine every few months.
• Don’t underestimate texture. Sometimes a simple linen-look or subtly textured curtain adds more character than a busy print or bold pattern.

Will Glass Doors Disappear Completely?

Probably not.

Glass enclosures still make sense in many bathrooms, especially walk-in showers where water containment is a priority.

But what we’re seeing is less of a rejection of glass and more of a broader shift in how designers think about bathrooms.

People want spaces that feel warmer, more personal, and less like luxury hotel bathrooms copied directly from a Pinterest board.

Patterned shower curtains help achieve that.

They’re softer. They’re more affordable. They’re easier to change. And perhaps most importantly, they bring a little personality back into a room that has spent years trying very hard to be minimalist.

And honestly? It was about time.