When you have a clawfoot tub in your bathroom, how should you hang your shower curtain? After all, this isn't your ordinary shower area that's why it merits a special discussion. We sought the experts' advice and here's what they have to say.
Shower curtains should be wide enough to cover the entire clawfoot tub and have the right length but not necessarily drop all the way to the floor. The curtains should also fall inside the tub to ensure that water is contained and be secured in place by using suction cups, magnets, or heavy items to weigh them down.
Keep on reading as we tell you more about the important things you need to know about shower curtains for clawfoot tubs. We'll also answer if shower curtains go inside or outside the clawfoot tub. Let's get this started!
Clawfoot Tub Shower Curtain
A clawfoot tub is a type of freestanding tub that rests on four feet. It can be made of acrylic or cast iron lined with porcelain.
It was initially designed as a bathtub so you can soak in a luxurious bath after a hard day's work. But now, it has also evolved to accommodate busy lifestyles. That's why we now have the tub-shower combo so that you also have the option to take a quick shower when the occasion calls for it.
Just install a shower pipe and shower head on the clawfoot tub so that you can have a versatile bathing experience.
Check out this clawfoot tub shower faucet and rectangular rod combo set on Amazon.
However, there are certain requirements to make this tub-shower combo work. Hanging a shower curtain will effectively help contain the water within the tub so that it won't reach the floor or other parts of your bathroom. This makes your bathroom safer and its maintenance so much easier.
The shower curtain will also give you privacy while you're taking a bath. And of course, your chosen design will help enhance the look of your bathroom as long as you choose carefully to complement the other elements in the room.
Installing the Clawfoot Tub Shower Curtain
You have to know the proper way of hanging the shower curtain so that it will serve its purpose well. Here are the important things you need to consider.
Shower Curtain Rod
It all starts with the right hardware or in this case, the shower curtain rod. A clawfoot tub shower requires a different kind of shower curtain rod. Since it is a freestanding unit, you need to enclose it all the way to avoid splashing water all over the place.
Your options include oval rings, square or rectangular, D-shaped, U-shaped, or bendable shower rods. Choose which one will work best with your clawfoot tub shower taking into consideration its placement in your bathroom.
Check out this square-shaped shower curtain rod on Amazon.
Mount the shower curtain rod at the right height. It should be at the same level or even higher than your shower head so that you can prevent water from coming out of the shower area. Check the installation instructions for the particular shower curtain rod that you're going to use.
What kind of shower curtain do you use for a clawfoot tub?
Clawfoot tubs don't come in a standard size. Smaller tubs can be around 54 inches while oversized ones can be about 72 inches. This means that there's also no standard size for their shower curtains. Here are the major factors to look into before you buy your shower curtain.
Width
You would need to measure the entire length of the shower curtain rod so that you would know the right size for your curtain.
You need to add about 6 to 12 inches to the measurement so that you can cover the clawfoot tub shower from end to end, without any openings, especially at the sides. Otherwise, water will be able to find its way outside.
Given the size of the clawfoot tub, your shower curtains should be around 180 inches wide so that they can wrap it all the way. Or if you have regular shower curtains, you would need about 2 to 3 of them so you can cover the whole tub-shower combo.
Find this 180-inch width clawfoot tub shower curtain on Amazon.
Length
Your shower curtain needs to be the right length. If it's too short, water might slip past it or it may close in on you while you're taking a bath.
Most clawfoot tub shower curtains measure between 68 to 70 inches long. But to be sure, you can measure from the top of your curtain rod to the floor and subtract about 5 to 10 inches from it.
You don't need to let the curtain fall on the floor since the water drains into the bathtub and the tub has legs to elevate it from the floor.
Top Treatment
You also need to check the top treatment of the shower curtains that you'll buy. There are panels with split rings that'll allow you to hang the curtains without removing the rod and even without hooks.
Or if you prefer curtains with buttonholes, you need to install hooks on your rod so you can insert them into the holes. The more hooks or grommets there are, the better your shower curtain will stay in place.
Click this link to find this shower curtain with snap hooks on Amazon.
Bottom
Lastly, you would need to put something at the bottom of the curtains to make them heavier. This will keep them anchored so that they won't go billowing on you while you're in the shower. It is irritating when the shower curtain does this while you're taking a bath.
Some curtains come with suction cups or magnets. If yours don't have any of these, you can glue a flat rock or similar objects that'll help you achieve this purpose. Some don't need the added weight at the bottom since the fabric is already heavy.
Find these magnetic curtain weights on Amazon.
Do shower curtains go inside or outside the clawfoot tub?
When hanging your shower curtains in your clawfoot tub shower, they should drop inside the tub or at least have the shower curtain liners inside if you're using them.
This will help contain the water within the tub. The splashes will go down the tub and drain there as well.
Investing in shower curtain liners will help protect your shower curtain. These liners are waterproof and resist mold growth which makes them perfect for the job.
You better get double hooks for your shower curtain rod where you can hang the liners on the interior side and the beautiful fabric shower curtains on the outside.
Check out these double shower hooks on Amazon.
When you have shower curtain liners, take this opportunity to choose great designs and colors for your shower curtain to tie up the look of your bathroom. There are many choices from fabrics to synthetic materials that can give your shower a luxurious and cozy feel.
Final Thoughts
When hanging shower curtains around a clawfoot tub, check their width, length, top treatment, and bottom so that they can stay in place properly and serve their purpose well.
If you want to know more about curtains, feel free to read the following posts:
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