Review of sliding curtains for bathtubs and how to make them yourself

Every person, when arranging their home, and in particular their bathroom, wants to create the most comfortable environment possible. After all the necessary repair work has been completed, the question arises about decorating the bathroom.

Not every homeowner can boast of an expensive bathroom with an unusual body finish. More often this is an ordinary bathtub, in which the external side is not decorated. How can you make your bath look more attractive?

For this purpose, there are special screens and curtains that are installed under the bathroom. Many people install screens, but if the bathtub is of a non-standard size or shape, a curtain comes to the rescue.

Bath curtains are usually made of the same material as regular ones and can be easily purchased at any specialty store. But if you need your bathroom to look original, you can make curtains yourself.

How to choose curtains for a bath and make them yourself - read on.

What characteristics are important

When choosing curtains, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

1. Moisture resistance . The material must be waterproof, because the bathroom is a place of high humidity. PVC is excellent, since curtains made of this material repel water better, unlike textile ones.
2. Durability . The curtain must withstand mechanical stress, especially if you plan to use it for a long time.
3. Light fastness . If the bathroom has a window through which direct sunlight enters, you need to choose a material that is most resistant to direct sunlight. But even if there is no window, it’s worth thinking about light resistance, because any material still loses color saturation over time. Properly selected material will please the eye for a long time.
4. Flexibility and plasticity . Modern bathtubs come in not only rectangular shapes, but also, for example, corner ones. As a result, the method of fastening may be specific, so care must be taken in advance to ensure that the material can easily change its configuration.

Stationary options

The structures are distinguished by their rigidity, they are excellent as a basis for facing with ceramics and mosaics . The main problem is the insufficient strength of the upper edge, which is installed under the side. It is solved by connecting two profiles using self-tapping screws.

In stationary versions, a recess is provided for the feet to comfortably stand when washing or cleaning the inner surface of the bathtub. This way your feet don’t rest against the screen, and you can move close to the front wall.

Recess options:

• flat cutout at foot height at the bottom of the screen;
• wall surface, beveled inward vertically;
• a niche, the bevel of which goes from the central horizontal line downwards.

To make a stationary screen, brick, plastic, MDF, and plasterboard are used.

Brick

The traditional type of masonry is red ceramic brick, but the screen can be made from foam concrete blocks. Aerated concrete is not used, because the material quickly absorbs moisture, and the bathroom is a damp room. When moving a bathtub, brick screens cannot be removed; they are simply dismantled.

Features of a stationary ceramic brick screen:

• To access the water seal, a window is made in the required part of the screen, the insert into it is made rotating on canopies, removable with magnets.
• The size of the inspection opening is a multiple of the size of the tile, so as not to cut - this version of the door does not stand out against the general background.
• They use internal loops that are not visible from the outside.

For masonry, take cement-sand mortar (1:3) or ready-made masonry mixture in bags in powder form.

MDF or plastic

The supporting frame is made of a metal profile from a plasterboard fastening system - galvanized elements do not deteriorate from moisture. They use metal with a polymer coating that protects against rust. Wood can be used, but it is pre-treated with antiseptics or soaked 3 times with drying oil.

Features of MDF lining:

• Finely dispersed fractional products contain resins, so they resist destruction from moisture.
• PVC lining is assembled piece by piece or solid sheets of plastic are used.
• Silicone or acrylic sealant is used to seal cracks.

Plastic panels can be disassembled if they are secured with self-tapping screws. When the lining is placed on glue, dismantling without destruction is impossible. They use starting strips for PVC, and after installing MDF, they use overhead corners.

Drywall

A classic option for constructing partitions, in particular, screens for a bathtub.

The installation principle does not differ from standard technology, with the exception of a few nuances:

• Access to the drain pipes can be achieved through removable elements.
• The frame is attached to the floor, side walls, and the top is lined with a double profile.
• When choosing the installation depth, take into account the thickness of the tile so that the screen is flush with the side of the bath; accordingly, the profiles are mounted taking into account the thickness of the plasterboard sheet.

In addition to tiles, porcelain stoneware and natural stone are used as cladding. For this purpose, glue with moisture-resistant properties is used. The finishing can be made of plastic lining, wooden panels, oilcloth, washable wallpaper.

Advantages of curtains

One of the advantages of curtains is that they fit perfectly into an interior that involves the use of textile materials. In this case, the atmosphere becomes very pleasant and cozy. Curtains will be especially relevant if the bathroom interior is in a retro style.

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It should also be noted that in the event of a plumbing breakdown, you will not need to dismantle the entire structure; you just need to move the curtain and install the profile.

Another advantage of curtains is that cleaning can be done every few months. Simply remove the curtain and wash it by hand or in the washing machine.

Why is a curtain better than a screen?

Why should you choose bath curtains instead of a screen?

• Firstly, by installing a glass screen, you lose the possibility of free access to the space under the bathroom.
• Secondly, ease of installation if the bathtub is of non-standard size. When decorating the interior, it is very difficult to choose a screen in this case.
• Thirdly, ease of installation and the possibility of making curtains yourself. A DIY bath curtain is a great opportunity to give free rein to your creative abilities. Moreover, a thing made with your own hands is doubly pleasant to use.
• Fourthly, saving money. A plastic curtain made by yourself is several times cheaper than a finished screen.

Bath podium

An elegant solution for spacious bathrooms. Here you are limited only by your own imagination. Like most blind stationary structures, the base of the podium covers the entire distance between the bathtub and the floor. It is laid out from bricks or blocks and finished with mosaics or tiles. The steps are covered with an anti-slip compound.

According to its design, a bathroom podium can be monolithic or frame. The first option involves one small step. The undoubted advantages of the monolith are its reliability and strength, as well as moisture resistance. But like all blind structures, it blocks access to communications.

To create a monolithic podium, formwork that is not adjacent to the walls is laid along the outer perimeter of the future structure. If the bathtub is installed, the drain is installed and all communications are in working order, the interior space is filled with concrete. The masonry mesh is slightly recessed on top. After the structure has hardened, you can proceed to finishing work.

The frame podium is hollow inside - it can be used for storage. The metal profile is additionally reinforced with wooden beams to impart rigidity to the structure. For the construction of steps, additional intermediate logs are used. The finished frame is covered with plywood or plasterboard and decorated.

Materials from which they are made

There are very few types of materials from which curtains are made:

1. Polyester – a frequently used additive in mixed fabrics. It is needed to ensure that the material does not wrinkle or fade during renovations in the bathroom. Curtains made of this material look like they are made of textiles, but they do not allow water to pass through. The advantage of such curtains is that they do not take up space when washed - you just need to hang them back on the fasteners.

2. Polyvinyl chloride – easy-to-use material. It does not tear, does not absorb dirt and is easy to clean. At the same time, if suddenly, when cleaning the bathroom, any cleaning agent gets on curtains made of such material, nothing will happen to them, because this material is resistant to the effects of such agents.

3. Textiles create comfort, but compared to products made from polyvinyl chloride, they wear out faster.

Installation of a capital structure

No less popular is the permanent structure that covers the bottom of the bathtub. It is made from chipboard, plywood, moisture-resistant plasterboard or even brick. The finished frame is covered with tiles or other finishing materials. Today you can find ready-made frames for cladding on sale.

This capital structure allows you to get under the bath if you suddenly need it, and in its central part there is a recess for the feet

The disadvantage of this design is its monumentality. If there is a need to get under the bathtub, this fence will have to be broken. Therefore, the design needs to have a fairly wide window with a door. This window, if necessary, will provide the ability to store the same detergents under the bathtub.

Taking into account the fact that the bathtub can also be used for washing, for example, in the central part of the structure you can make a small inclined niche for the feet so as not to rest your toes on the tiles.

How to do this, watch the video:

How to make it yourself

Having made a choice in favor of a curtain, people wonder how to make it with their own hands? The process is absolutely simple, even a beginner can do it.

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Sliding curtains for bathtubs are most often used, because they are very convenient to use. How to make a bath curtain with your own hands - read on.

List of required items:

• roulette;
• scissors;
• sewing machine;
• water-repellent material;
• Suitable fasteners (string or frame);

Algorithm of actions:

• Determining the size of curtains. It is necessary to measure the space under the bathtub (use a building level) and cut off the required amount of material. But don't forget about seam allowances. After all, in order for the edges of the curtain to look neat, they should be stitched on a sewing machine.

It is important to remember that if you plan not to pull the curtain, but to let it flow in waves, then the length of the cut should increase by 1.5 - 2 times.

• Determining the size and attaching loops. If the curtain will be attached to the cornice, then it should be taken into account that the size of the loops should be quite large. If string or wire is used, the loops can be several times smaller. The loops are attached to the top edge of the curtain.
• At the next stage, the guides are installed (mounted) on the walls. Check the bolts (or screws).

You can also try attaching the curtains with adhesive tape. In this case, one adhesive tape is sewn to the upper edge of the curtain, and the second is secured with a glue gun under the side of the bathtub, after which both Velcro strips are connected to each other.

• The final step is to hang the sliding curtains in place.

Many needlewomen, when making curtains on their own, also prefer to make a beautiful frill for the curtains. In this case, safety pins are also added to the list of necessary items. Making a frill is not difficult, here's what you need to do:

1. On the finished curtain you should make a mark where the frill will be located.
2. Select the width and number of frills. It must be remembered that the frills are slightly gathered, so at the initial stage they should be longer than the curtain itself.
3. Cut the strips and pin them to the curtain with safety pins and stitch them using a sewing machine. Ready!

If you plan to make several frills, you need to sew them on, starting from the bottom row.

Water pressure

Before installing equipment such as a tropical shower in your bathroom, you need to calculate the efficiency of water flow. As is clear from the size of the shower head, the consumption can be significant. The plumbing system must provide a sufficient amount of water for the tropical shower system to fully operate. As practice shows, the pressure requirements of wide shower heads are not too different from ordinary ones. There are water consumption standards for manufacturers of plumbing equipment, both Russian and foreign, which are not too different. The maximum water flow is regulated by filters or limiters built into the equipment, but what about the minimum values? For a high-quality rain shower system to fully operate, a pressure of at least 2 atmospheres is required, but you do not need complex measuring equipment. You just need to take a stopwatch and a container with a volume you know. For a soft shower, depending on the size of the nozzle, a flow of 5-7 liters per minute is sufficient, while for powerful jets you will need 9-15. If your system can provide such volumes, you can safely proceed to installing shower equipment. Otherwise, you need to increase the water pressure in the system by cleaning and replacing pipes, removing restrictors or installing special pressure pumps. In city apartments, such issues must be resolved by building management structures or water suppliers; water supply standards established by the state are quite capable of coping with a tropical rain shower system.

Types of fastening

There are three ways to secure the curtain:

1. String mount . This is the most common fastening method. But it should be remembered that it is only suitable if the bathtub has a side, under which you can easily hide the entire structure.
2. Metal frame . Very convenient fastener, as it is durable. These metal curtain rods have a special anti-corrosion coating and come in different shapes. They can be straight, oval or round.
3. Baguette with nuts . Ready-made kits are sold in stores, which simplifies the process of designing a bathtub for people who do not want to create a mounting system themselves.

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Screens with pallet

A few words should be said separately regarding shower screens with a tray. The screen can be installed not only in the bathroom itself, but also in any other room. In this case, we can recommend purchasing a structure with a pallet. Pallets come in various sizes, so you can choose the right model according to your own preferences or the available space. The depth of the pallets can vary, so you can always choose the optimal one. Depending on the room and customer preferences, you can select pallets of various shapes:

• square;
• rectangular,
• in the form of a sector of a circle;
• semicircular.

There are ready-made sets of screens with pallets on sale, from which you can choose the one you like best.

Regardless of the model chosen, when installing a screen, the shower room not only becomes more convenient to use, the interior also benefits. Currently, the screen is no longer perceived as an element of luxury, but performs its utilitarian function, while remaining a stylish element of bathroom design.

Decoration

Decorating curtains is a very creative process. Here you can give free rein to your imagination and use whatever you want. Various interior elements are often used for decoration; these can be beads, stones, braid, rhinestones, lace, shells, buttons and even puzzle elements. Also, if you have certain skills, you can use cross stitch or satin stitch when decorating.

Application

Any person knows what applique is from childhood, so you can use your skills in this matter to give bath curtains an unusual look.

To create applications you will need a simple set of items - scissors, paper with the desired images, glue and waterproof varnish. The process is simple - you need to cut out the desired images, glue them to the curtain and secure it on top with waterproof varnish.

Decoupage on plastic

Decoupage is a very common type of decorative and applied art among creative people. A set of items for decoupage is also available to anyone - PVA glue, acrylic paint, waterproof varnish and decoupage cards.

Decoupage stages:

1. The first step is to paint the curtain with acrylic paint of a suitable color and wait for it to dry completely.
2. At the next stage, you need to prepare decoupage cards - cut out suitable images and moisten them with water.
3. Next, mix the glue with water and prime the varnished surface.
4. Now you need to act quickly - pictures moistened with water are placed on the surface of the curtain before the glue has time to dry, and smoothed out.
5. All is ready! All that remains is to cover the decoupage with several layers of waterproof varnish. There should be at least three such layers.

From this article we can conclude that bathroom curtains are an inexpensive and practical solution when decorating a bathroom. A bathroom curtain is not only an easy-to-install and use interior detail, but also an excellent object for demonstrating your creative abilities.

Selecting curtains for different rooms

In the living room or hall

Installing curtains in the living room adds coziness and tenderness. They serve not only for decoration, but also for functional separation. In the classics, curtains for an arch can save you money on ordering doors of a non-standard size. For convenience, the material is hooked up with lambrequins with fringes.

Hanging curtains in the hallway is an interesting design move. They will transform the house, add style and comfort.

To the bedroom

Curtains for bedrooms should be gentle, muted shades. This will allow you to relax before bed. You can decorate them with glass beads and iridescent threads.

To the nursery

For children's curtains on the door frame, various types are used: regular muslin, rainbow, with beads, fabric with images of cartoons and favorite activities.

To the dressing room

The modern design of the doorway of the dressing room is done with dense models. The curtain should not let in light rays and allow you to see the contents of the shelves.

To the kitchen

A curtain has been used instead of a kitchen door for a very long time. In the present kitchen, thread or textile fabrics are hung

It is important to choose a material that absorbs kitchen aromas less, and also install a strong hood

To the pantry

The design of the pantry, as well as the dressing room, should hide many things from prying eyes. Therefore, dense monochrome materials or with a thematic pattern are selected.