Enclosing the shower area in the bathing area is a must. This allows you to protect the rest of the area from moisture. A curtain rod is installed in the bathroom as a reliable delimiter of the space. Its material and configuration can be different, and the choice depends on several criteria - the style of the room, the geometry of the bath, ease of fastening, long-term wear resistance, etc.
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Bathroom Curtain Rod: Materials, Shapes and Characteristics
At first glance, separating the bath and shower from the rest of the room is a fairly simple task. It is enough to install a crossbar, hang a curtain and start using the structure. However, this is not so. There are many features that depend on the material of the cornice, the size and decor of the room, as well as the configuration of the bath (shower).
In simple baths there is often a straight bar installed for curtains and performing a purely practical role - covering the walls and floor from splashes.
But for more or less design projects, where the geometry of the bathtub and the separated area can be individual, unusual designs are used - a semicircular cornice, oval, U- or L-shaped, as well as asymmetrical. Thanks to the bends, you can maximally protect places not intended for bathing. The use of steel strings is now a rare case, since a thin product quickly loses tension and sags, which looks unsightly.
The use of simple structures such as a straight rod (solid or sliding curtain rod) or a string is convenient in small rooms with a standard layout. A suction cup or bracket is used as a holder.
When installing rods, it is important that the hand can freely move the curtain, closing it, and be able to fold the fabric so that it does not interfere after washing. A dense, water-repellent material is chosen as a base for curtains. It is necessary to correlate the weight of the curtain and the strength of the fastening so that the rod can withstand the planned loads.
Cornices are made from different materials:
- metal (aluminum, chrome and alloy steel);
Metal models are considered the most practical. - plastic;
Plastic rods have an aesthetic appearance, affordable cost and low weight. - trees.
A wooden curtain rod is chosen if the owners of the apartment want to emphasize the originality and aesthetics of the bathroom interior design.
In design projects, there are combined options - steel or aluminum with natural material, etc. They are good for bathrooms with elements of eclecticism and color diversity. The range may differ from the overall design, but should fit in organically.
Important points:
- the product must repel moisture well (have anti-corrosion properties);
- The model is selected according to size, taking into account the height of the ceilings, bathtub and shower unit.
Curtains are hung on the cornice using rings (simple or with clips), hooks, loops or eyelets. The latter option is only suitable for thick fabrics and is more expensive.
The simple design of small bathrooms implies the absence of massive objects. In such rooms, it is better to use a polymer crossbar - solid or telescopic. For individual projects in large rooms, a curtain rod performs the function of visual zoning, so you need to immediately provide for design options, whether it will be classic, high-tech or art deco.
Types of rods for bathroom curtains
The typical difference in cornices allows you to install a more suitable design in a particular room. When choosing, it is important to know the features of the material, installation and performance characteristics so that the crossbar serves for a long time. If a temporary option is assumed, planned as a predecessor to the main one, then at first it is better to stop at an inexpensive model, during the installation of fasteners which the walls are practically not damaged.
Telescopic poles
A telescopic shower curtain pipe is usually made of plastic, although metal products are also available. The design feature is the "stringing" of the pipes. This allows you to adjust the crossbar to size during installation. If you are designing a corner, then choose the appropriate model.
The wall material for installing a telescopic tube does not matter much. It can be mounted on a painted surface or tiles. A convenient option is to install it on suction cups, since the structure is lightweight and can withstand its own weight and the curtains. Also, the rods are simply attached to the wall with wide ends and fixed along the length.
A telescopic curtain rod is equipped with rings for attaching the curtain; another type is not suitable, since the sockets will interfere with the movement of the curtain along the crossbar.
Advantages of bars:
- ease and speed of installation;
- versatility (suitable for most interior styles);
- the ability to adjust the crossbar to size without cutting it;
- cheapness of the product;
- no mechanical damage to walls during installation.
Disadvantages of telescopic curtain rods:
- only suitable for small bathrooms;
- not recommended for the design of corner structures;
- can only withstand light curtain weight.
Today, there are reinforced polymer products on sale that can withstand the increased weight of the curtain fabric. Metal holders and hangers can strengthen the structure.
Angle/L-shaped bars
Sometimes the bathtub configuration requires the installation of a certain type of curtain rod. Baths that are open on both sides – a short and a longer one – require an L-shaped fence to prevent the room from being flooded with water from the shower.
The corner rod for the bathroom curtain is installed on several or one hanger - this way the structure will be in a constant position, and will not bend under the weight of the shifted curtains. The upper fastening is not done if the room has a suspended ceiling.
The rod for the bathroom curtain – in this case, the corner one – is most securely fixed by means of brackets mounted on screws. Metal strings are used as hangers. Most often, one is made – on the open outer corner.
The size of the cornice varies depending on the specific area that needs to be covered. If the purchased design does not fit, it can be cut.
Advantages of corner products:
- can be adjusted to the size of the bath/shower;
- reliable.
Disadvantages of corner bars:
- without hangers they can quickly sag under the weight of the curtain;
- The method of fastening affects the integrity of the wall surface.
U-shaped bars
Such cornices are similar in shape to corner ones, but are more difficult to install. Unlike them, U-shaped rods cannot be attached only to walls; hanging holders (at least two) are required.
U-shaped structures are used for oval or round baths installed against the wall on one side only.
Rods of this type are made mainly of durable steel. In individual orders, bronze or gold coating can be used.
Advantages of U-shaped cornices:
- reliability;
- maximum splash protection;
- If installed correctly, the curtains can withstand a lot of weight.
Disadvantages of the design:
- custom order required;
- more expensive than regular cornices.
Half Round/Curved Bars
In non-standard bathrooms with designer baths, it is difficult to choose ordinary curtain rods - they will not fully perform their practical function. Therefore, when decorating them, figured crossbars are used - semicircular or with several bends. It is important that the rings strung to move the curtain do not linger on the turns of the pipe, but freely pass the relief section.
A rod designed for a bathroom curtain can cover one or two sides of the bath or be located along the perimeter. This depends on the location of the object - whether it is located away from the wall or not.
A shower arc that closes the water source on both sides is popular. The curved cornice can be made of chrome-plated steel, brass, plastic, bronze. However, PVC is used less often, since the probability of the structure sagging is too high, especially when using heavy curtains. If they are used, then you need to choose a pipe rather than a flat option, since there is a high probability of the material cracking under load.
Complex rods usually come with installation instructions. If you are installing them yourself, you should study them carefully and only then proceed to implement your plans.
A bathroom with tiled finishes implies the peculiarities of installing the cornice. You cannot attach the product at the joints - the material can easily crack and crumble.
Curtains are hung on rings or curtain rod hooks. Before installation, it is necessary to measure the height at which the crossbar will be mounted. Usually, at least 20 cm is left between the ceiling and the curtain rod.
Please note! For round or elongated bathtubs, showers with open sides, closed structures are used, which are attached to hangers. They use not one, but two curtains.
Non-standard cornice shapes are usually made to order, since they are almost never found on sale.
String rods
This type of cornice is used in small rooms. Its use is intended to lighten the interior, creating maximum space. The product fits organically into the environment.
High-strength steel is used to make the rods. Due to the thinness of the structure, the string is almost invisible against the wall - the curtain itself comes "to the foreground". Hooks bent on both sides are used as holders for the curtain. Eyelets and rings are not suitable.
Advantages of a string curtain rod:
- low cost;
- efficiency and ease of installation;
- strength;
- long service life.
Disadvantages of strings:
- sagging of the cornice under the weight of the curtain;
- unpresentable appearance in large bathrooms.
Double curtain rod for bathroom
Parallel cornices are installed to increase the functionality of the crossbars. Both rods can serve as a curtain holder, which slides apart like a curtain. Or one of them serves for a curtain, the other for drying laundry.
The convenience of double rods is highly valued in families with children – small items can be hung on the cornice. The material is chosen based on the principle of non-marking – plastic or stainless steel.
A double curtain rod is attached in the same way as a single one – on a sticky part or screws with brackets. Which crossbar to choose for the curtain – internal or external – is determined based on ease of use. When hand washing, it is better to release the rod closer to the bathtub so that the water flows into the bath. When machine washing with a spin cycle, it is more convenient to use an external curtain rod.
You can combine the cornices by shape - round section and flat, like a curtain for rooms. The first will act as a crossbar-dryer.
You can find paired curtains on sale, but often there is a need to adjust them to the size of the bath. They are made mainly to order.
Advantages of double curtain rods:
- multifunctionality;
- durability.
Disadvantages of the designs:
- complexity of installation;
- relative high cost.
Curtain brackets/holders
There are different types of bathroom curtain mounts. A flange or bracket is usually used as a holder. For straight, corner and semicircular rods, two such mounts are used - on the walls.
With their help, a cornice is installed, the curtain on which will close the shower along part of the perimeter.
The round flange is two rings - external and internal, inserted into each other and covering the ends of the bar. There are holes for fastening to the wall. The flange covers the installation site and makes the crossbar externally integral, aesthetically pleasing.
Curtain holders are made from various materials. They may differ from the rod base. It can be a metal, wooden or plastic holder. Moreover, polymer brackets are produced quite durable today.
Important to know! Do not install cornices with hangers on stretch or suspended ceilings.
When choosing rods, focus not only on the potential reliability of the fasteners, but also their aesthetic appearance. You can install products in gold, bronze or silver, streamlined or square, angular. In design projects, there are carved fasteners, as well as with a relief outer part. It is important to know how durable the coating will be, since cheap spraying often quickly peels off under the influence of moisture and the product becomes unsightly. However, some projects may involve special "aging" of the material for retro interior designs.
When installing a curtain rod and selecting fixtures for the bathroom, it is necessary to consider how the structure will look in the overall environment.
Video: Cornice for a bathroom – installation (bending the profile in an arc).
A selection of photos of bathroom rods of different types and materials:
