Here's why people are hanging shower curtains in their gardens... and it isn't for outdoor bathing

When I first heard of garden shower curtain ideas my initial response was curiosity. What exactly was this trend and why were people hanging shower curtains up in their gardens?

The idea is to use water-repellent, patterned shower curtains, which essentially work as optical illusions, to create a sense of space, add a view, and improve the overall look of an exterior wall or fence.

They're easy enough for anyone to put up, with most people simply attaching them with a staple gun. There are of course other methods to cover a garden wall, natural climbing plants being one, paint being another. 

However, garden shower curtains are certainly one budget garden idea that has captured the imagination of many people, with one Facebook appreciation group having more than 22,000 members. 

7 of people's garden shower curtain ideas

"Shower curtains are purposefully made for wet environments, making them suitable to use within a garden design where the elements can be extreme at times," says landscape designer Tom Clifford.

"However, they can be susceptible to wear and tear over time, so to keep your shower curtain in its best condition as a cheap fence idea try cleaning it every few months," says Tom.

Here are some ways people have created shower curtain gardens. 

1.  Attached to an exterior wall 

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Debbie Cattanach chose to put two curtains up on her exterior garden wall to create more interest. The motif depicts a wisteria-covered country home with bay windows. Potted and hostas and ferns have been placed in order to blend the curtain and hide any edges.

"All I would say about this shower curtain craze is that it is quick, cheap and very effective! Choose a scene to match your surroundings and definitely iron out the creases before you attach it," recommends Debbie.

"Dress it with accessories to give it a more 3D effect, then you can’t go wrong. They can transform a dull and drab area to a beautiful space you will enjoy. And the cherry on the cake is you can easily change ‘the scene’ with a change of curtain," says Debbie.

Shop garden shower curtains

2.  To add a rustic style to a seating area 

It's possible to cut areas out of your shower curtain in order to accommodate things like wall-mounted security systems or garden lights as this homeowner has done.

"How you attach a shower curtain will depend on what surface you are attaching to and whether you want it to be a permanent feature. For wooden surfaces like a pergola or gazebo a heavy-duty staple gun will work, but can tear the shower curtain in high winds or when you take it down," says DIY expert Steve Jenkins. 

Tina Lousie simply used very strong double-sided tape to fix it onto her fence. Try Double Sided Tape Heavy Duty 3 m, Strong Double Sided Sticky Tape, Double Sided Carpet Tape Clear Tape Nano Tape at Amazon.

Steve Jenkins

Steve is Homebuilding & Renovating's DIY content editor, and has been a writer and editor for two decades. He is an avid DIYer with over 20 years of experience in transforming and renovating homes. He specialises in painting and decorating, but has strong all-round building skills, having previously worked in the industry for 10 years.

3. To give the impression of more space

Some shower curtain gardens depict scenes that people use to create the illusion of more space like this example by Lou B Lally.

"I remember seeing a post a couple of years back on social media about garden shower curtain ideas but totally forgot about it. Also at the time I had small fence panels, but I then got a dog and found that he could jump the fence," says Lou about her shower curtain scheme.

"When I had 6ft fence panels installed, the memory came back to me. I was sceptical at first as to what it would look like in person. A friend put screws in the top of the fence for the curtain holes to hook onto. I then pinned the bottom down with tacks."

"I got some fake ivy online and cable-tied it to the top of the curtain. I ordered loads of different curtains and finally settled on the ones I’ve got now. To say I’m quite pleased with the result is an understatement," says Lou.

4. Bring the impression of more planting into your garden

In lieu of a garden border filled with climbing roses trained up a trellis fence, one individual used a garden shower curtain with a rose trellis motif can create the impression of this.

"I saw one on social media and joked with a friend that I was going to try this. I looked on Amazon and found the roses - there were several to choose from but this design was my favourite," says Claire Theodore about her scheme.

"I didn’t want to staple gun them so just used small screws and screwed them in gently by hand. Then I used solar fairy lights and poked them through the shower curtain holes. I had no idea it would look so amazing," says Claire.

Claire chose JOOCAR Design Shower Curtain, Rustic Decor Rosemary Roses Flower on Fence, Waterproof Cloth Fabric Bathroom Decor Set with Hooks at Amazon. 

5. To turn a pergola into a virtual retreat

"Using the shower curtain in my gazebo helps create my own little piece of paradise in my garden," says Susan Melrose.

Steve Jenkins suggests adding curtain rings to a pergola or gazebo if you can. If you don’t he suggests you attach a curtain pole to accommodate the curtain rings to support a shower curtain.

Susan stapled hers all the way around. "It's been up for almost 2 years now and it still looks as good as new."

6. Open up a narrow side garden

Small gardens and narrow side returns can easily look confined and become forgotten areas of the garden. For Liz Jowett, a shower curtain was a way to turn hers into a useable seating area.

Since putting up this French-chateau-style shower curtain on her fence, Liz Jowett has been inspired to add new accessories to style up this narrow garden area even more.

"I now have 2 more curtains for the opposite side facing the blue windows. I went with a brick wall with fern hanging," says Liz.

7.  To blend structures into their surroundings

Stark structures can jar in a scheme, and if you don't have the time or means to train climbers up it, you might consider a garden shower curtain like Susan Lee did.

"I saw the idea on Facebook so I decided to have a go at disguising the plain side of our shed, using a shower curtain I purchased online and a staple gun. It was really easy to attach and the effect is an instant transformation," says Susan.

"Alternative options for putting up a garden shower curtain include placing a screw at either end of the shower curtain, threading a washing line through the loops and tying at each end," says Steve Jenkins. 

"Or, use the screws and shower curtain loops to stretch the curtain across the surface. Add an extra screw in the middle to stop sagging. If fitting to a wall use a masonry drill bit and rawl plugs to fix the screws," says Steve. 

FAQs

Can I use a shower curtain outdoors?

"Yes. Shower curtains are designed to repel water, so they can deal with rain. However, exposure to bright sunshine will fade the colour/design on a shower curtain eventually. A shower curtain typically won't last as long outside as it would inside," says DIY expert Steve Jenkins. 

As well as shower curtain gardens there are other creative ways to cover bare walls. Check out our guide to living walls for another way to add visual interest.