Today, an apartment or house without a bathroom is already a rarity. This is not a luxury, but an everyday necessity for maintaining body hygiene. The owners pay no less attention to its improvement than the rest of the premises, since a lot of time is spent there. I want it to be cozy, comfortable and beautiful. The shower room, decorated with materials made using new technology, with a set of stylish accessories, has a beneficial effect during the hours of taking water treatments. Among the necessary design elements are curtains.
Plastic curtains are one of the most practical options for bathroom zoning
The meaning of curtains
Curtains for the bathroom perform an aesthetic and practical role. They divide the room into a water treatment area and a “dry” area, protecting the rest of the bathroom or shower room from water splashes and at the same time they are a design element. For a long time, curtains were made of water-repellent fabric or soft polyethylene film. In the absence of others, these curtains suited consumers. They are cheap, and it was not expensive to change them often when they became unusable. But soft products have one unpleasant feature: during the water procedure they stick to the body, causing irritation to the bather.
Plastic curtains do not have many of the disadvantages of soft curtains.
How to choose
When choosing plastic curtains, you should consider the following recommendations:
- First of all, you should decide on the design of the curtains; they should fit organically into the bathroom and be combined with its design;
- Choose the option that suits you based on color and type of plastic material;
- Decide on the design. The doors should fit into the room, they should not clutter it;
- Buy products from trusted manufacturers. It’s better to select a model in advance, study its characteristics and reviews.
If you take into account all the important recommendations and tips, you can choose the right plastic curtain for your bathroom. The main thing is that it should be in harmony with the interior of the room, divide it into zones and provide maximum comfort. Choose a suitable model in advance and study its main characteristics.
New for bathrooms
Today, plastic curtains for the bathroom have appeared in the assortment. Their installation will cost the client more than their soft counterparts, but their service life is much longer. Transparent or translucent plastic is firmly fixed in the frame, and the person washing no longer experiences the inconvenience that soft curtains create. The new product looks presentable and has already taken root in people’s everyday lives. Its cost is not much higher than soft products, and the longer service life compensates for the initial costs.
Plastic products are inexpensive and look quite attractive.
There are many options for plastic screens, differing in size, shape and color.
Plastic curtains for the bathroom come in different types:
- stationary;
- sliding;
- swing;
- folding.
In turn, they vary in width and shape, which can be rectangular, asymmetrical and angular.
For a corner bath, a curtain made of narrow sections is suitable
For some bathtub models, special curtains are produced that follow their curvilinear bends.
Making a shower curtain: choosing material
In some situations, it can be easier to make a shower curtain with your own hands than to waste time visiting markets and shops.
What qualities should a curtain material have:
- Strength. The most durable are vinyl products, and the least durable are polyester. PVC film quickly loses color when exposed to direct sunlight.
- Moisture resistance. Textile products have the least moisture resistance, but acrylic or polyester are perfect.
- Bath configuration and location. If the bathtub is in a niche, then the cornice will rest against the walls on the sides. All other options require a curved cornice and curtains made of lightweight materials.
It is advisable to select bath curtains in accordance with the overall stylistic direction of the room.
The curtain fabric can harmonize or contrast with other interior elements.
A little patience and perseverance will help you add some zest to the bathroom interior by making a designer bath curtain.
Also interesting: The countertop above the washing machine is an excellent solution
Making a rigid curtain
To make a rigid stationary curtain for the bathroom, you need to purchase profiles suitable for sliding systems at the construction market or in a store. They will become the base of the shower curtain.
For doors, you can choose a narrower profile. Assembly consists of installing the springs on the floor and connecting the profiles to each other in the required sequence.
The space inside the frame can be filled:
- polycarbonate;
- acrylic sheet;
- plastic panel;
- special plastic that imitates glass.
If this option turns out to be too complicated, you can make everything simpler:
- buy an inexpensive accordion door;
- disassemble it into its component parts;
- remove rollers and guides from the structure.
Then make a new curtain for the bathroom by inserting panels from any material you like into the old guides.
Features of varieties
Stationary curtains are a fixed structure. It performs the function of protecting against moisture getting on other objects well, but the plastic monolithic product requires some caution, as it strictly limits human movement within the enclosed space. Careless sudden movement can damage the structure.
When choosing a curtain model, take into account the size of the bath, shape and overall style of the room
The simplest models will fit any rectangular bathtub
The sliding option is most preferred by buyers, because the bulk of the population in our country lives in small apartments. It is designed like a wardrobe. The doors, equipped with a roller mechanism, move freely in one plane. This design is very suitable for small bathrooms and combined bathrooms, because it does not hide a single centimeter of a cramped room and reliably holds splashes inside the structure. The most vulnerable point in the sliding version is the roller device, which can break. If treated with care, a plastic bathroom curtain is guaranteed to last up to 5 years.
Sliding curtains made of plastic are lightweight, which compares favorably with structures made of tempered glass
A sliding screen will reliably protect the room from water splashes
A swing curtain is a kind of door. In the open position, it takes up space and can block access to a mirror, sink or shelf for detergents, so installing it in a small bathroom is impractical. It is suitable only for spacious rooms. It is not in demand in small-sized “Khrushchev” and “hotel” apartments, despite the fact that the opening mechanism of this option is the simplest and most reliable.
The swing design requires free space in front of the curtain
Folding plastic partitions are also very convenient for small bathrooms and toilets. This type is also called “accordion”. The curtain is multi-leaf, the number of flaps in it may vary. When folded, it takes up little space and does not interfere with access to other bathroom equipment. It folds easily with one movement of the hand.
The design of folding plastic curtains is considered not the most reliable and requires careful handling
The accordion curtain can be placed on a bathtub of various configurations
The reason for installing plastic curtains is their positive characteristics:
- functionality;
- good service life;
- ease of care;
- aesthetic appearance;
- affordable price;
- ease of installation;
- presence of protection against microorganisms.
Plastic has the ability to hold its shape. Thanks to its plasticity, it can be given a configuration that follows the contours of exclusive bathtubs according to a unique design idea. But you should remember the fragility of the material. He's afraid of being hit. From them, the plastic can crack and even lose some fragments. But it should be noted that compared to glass partitions, plastic analogues are safe even if destroyed. It also deteriorates from detergents. Soap suds cause streaks and cloudy spots. To avoid premature damage, the partition must be wiped dry after each water procedure.
To wash plastic, use only mild cleaning agents that do not contain abrasive components.
Reliable fastenings significantly extend the service life of the structure
When choosing a movable structure, it is worth checking the possibility of purchasing components separately
Based on all that has been said, it is clear that plastic curtains have their positive and negative sides. Each buyer, having familiarized himself with them, can make his own personal decision.
Transparent plastic gets scratched quite quickly and loses its attractiveness
Matte surfaces retain a presentable appearance longer
When choosing a curtain with a matte surface, you need to take into account that such material transmits light poorly. Additional lighting may be needed
One way or another, rigid structures still look more aesthetically pleasing than their fabric and cellophane counterparts, while they are stronger, more durable and reliably protect everything outside the structure from moisture. The surface of the curtains is treated with a special antibacterial agent to prevent the formation of mold and the proliferation of microorganisms.
A curtain with an aluminum frame will last longer
Choosing what to pay special attention to?
If you already have a rough idea of what your bathtub should look like with plastic curtains and have decided on the type of curtains, then before purchasing, give the design you like a final check. All moving parts of the structure, if any, must move freely, without the slightest distortion - this is very important, so don’t hesitate, check it right in the showroom. The entire service life largely depends on how well the moving parts are made. Be guided by wisdom: the simpler the better. Elaborate and overloaded structures usually break down faster. Pay attention to the paintwork; it should be resistant to mechanical damage; if it already has scratches and abrasions, then it is better to refuse such a purchase.
Photo: plastic curtains in bathroom interiors
We install it ourselves
Installing plastic curtains, if you look at it, is not a tricky matter. Usually, in the instructions that come with any such curtain, there are clear instructions, following which you can easily achieve the final result. But first things first.
We study the instructions, usually it contains a step-by-step diagram of the assembly process, with the names of all components - you should rely on it. First of all, we assemble the frame - the basis of our device. Then we proceed to fix the connections using fasteners and secure the plastic sheets in the frame. Now, we install the movable opening elements (rollers) and attach the assembled units to the edges of the bathroom. We make markings on the wall for attaching the frame, after which we drill holes at the marked points and screw the frames. The main work is done, all that remains is to seal the joints, you can do this using liquid silicone-based sealant, and adjust the opening system - the curtains are installed and ready for use, enjoy them to your health.
Well, for those. For those who don’t often have to pick up a drill, here are some useful tips:
- The profiles are attached to the wall with dowels, the necessary holes in the side are made using a drill, and the diameter of the drill should be one size smaller than the diameter of the screws;
- If you have to drill tiles, then for greater safety, so that the drill does not slip, cover this piece of tile with adhesive tape;
- You shouldn’t rely on your eye; it’s better to make marks with a marker; even a slight misalignment can damage the entire structure.
Well, the main advice is - don’t rush, lay out all the components in front of you, sort them, study the instructions and only then start assembling, because it’s not for nothing that they say: if you hurry, you’ll make people laugh.
