Have you ever purchased a shower curtain, hung it up, and discovered it’s too short? The standard 72″ size doesn’t work for everyone, so I’ll show you how to make a shower curtain longer.
It’s frustrating to find the perfect shower curtain only to discover it’s too short for your space!
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Luckily, there’s an easy and inexpensive way to deal with this dilemma!
If you have not experienced this situation, you may wonder why anyone would lengthen the curtain.
Here are a couple of reasons why!
Why would you need to Lengthen a shower curtain?
There are two main reasons why you may want to lengthen your shower curtain.
Let’s discuss them both!
Most stores only stock Standard Shower Curtains
Did you know most stores only stock the standard size 72″x72″ curtain, which is short if you have high ceilings in your bathroom?
When we moved into this house, we brought a like-new shower curtain.
We quickly realized it was way too short because the ceilings in this house are two feet taller than our home in Kentucky.
When I shopped for a new curtain, I discovered the stores only carry the standard 72″x72″ size.
You can find extra-long options online, but the styles are limited and more expensive.
If you are looking for a specific design to match your bathroom, it can be challenging to find the right one.
I discovered it’s cheaper to fix the one I already have than buy a new one!
Make your bathroom look more aesthetically pleasing
Did you know you can make your bathroom look taller and bigger by raising the curtain rod higher and letting your curtain hang almost to the floor?
Doing so creates the illusion of more space and makes your bathroom look taller.
How much should you lengthen a shower curtain?
If you want your bathroom to look grander, hang your curtain from the ceiling to the floor.
If you are concerned about mold and mildew developing, leave 6 to 12 inches between the ceiling and the rod.
I love the look of a shower curtain that touches the floor.
However, it gets in the way when vacuuming and mopping, so I prefer to hang it at least one inch above the floor.
Ways to make your shower curtain longer
You have two options to lengthen yours.
Drop it from the Rod
First, you can add length to your shower curtain by lowering it from the curtain rod.
This post by Apartment Therapy shares three cheap hacks to lower a shower curtain using this method!
Add Fabric to the Bottom
The second way to make your shower curtain look longer is to sew additional fabric to the bottom of your current curtain.
This is an easy and affordable way to fix the problem!
Our curtain is so short the first option won’t work!
So, we will add fabric to ours!
Let me show you how!
Steps to make a shower curtain longer
Before I share the steps I used to lengthen my shower curtain, I want to let you know that I am a beginner sewer!
I have no business teaching anyone how to sew because I learn as I go!
So if you know how to sew, you will probably laugh at this tutorial, and if you don’t, maybe you’ll think I’m a genius, lol!
Either way, this is how I accomplished this DIY!!!
Gather
Gather or purchase the following items to complete this project:
- Shower curtain
- Fabric or a second shower curtain
- Pompom trim
- Tape measure
- Scissors or rotary cutter
- Sewing machine
- Thread
Choose Fabric and trim
It’s time to decide what to use to lengthen your shower curtain.
Most people use a second curtain or a piece of fabric.
I found an inexpensive one on Amazon during Prime Days.
It was much cheaper than buying a new extra-long curtain.
The easiest way to soften the seam between the different fabrics is to add trim.
I decided to purchase pompom trim to add between our two shower curtains.
Determine rod placement
Decide what height you want to hang your curtain rod.
Use a level to make sure it is straight across.
Measure
I thought my original curtain was 72×72, but I was in for a big surprise when I measured it.
It was 72′ wide but only 65′ tall. No wonder it looked so short.
Maybe it shrunk when I washed it, but how could it shrink that much in height and not width?
It’s a mystery!
To figure out the length of the new curtain, take the following measurements:
- Height of ceiling – 108″
- Distance to the ceiling from the rod – 12″
- Height of the curtain rod and rings- 2″
- Height of the original shower curtain – 65″
- Distance to the floor – 29″
I am going to cut the second curtain at 29 inches.
After I prep and sew the second shower curtain to the first, it will hang one and a half inches above the floor, as you can see in the steps below.
Prepare the second shower Curtain
Cut the second shower curtain to your determined length.
Fold the fabric over one inch and use an iron to steam a crease.
Then fold the frayed end inside and steam a second crease, making it 1/2 inch high.
Trim any stray strings.
Attach the curtain Panels
Pin the new curtain to the back of the original curtain to create a 1/2-inch seam allowance.
Sew the two curtains together in a straight line.
Add a decorative trim
Next, I sewed the pompom trim! It’s so cute!
Hang the curtain
We love how this turned out!
The trim is the perfect touch and makes the curtain.
Here’s our boring builder-grade bathroom before!
And this is what it looks like now, thanks to this fun DIY project!
We recently decluttered this bathroom! Click if you’d like to see how we organized the drawer, cabinets, and countertop!
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Blessings, Donna and Rich
Pin It For Later
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**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
Genius, Donna!!!!! That’s SO COOL!! I think the pom pom trim really ties both panels together. It looks so cute!! I think I want to try this in my hall bath…it will be on the ‘winter project’ list. Pinned!
Thank you Rachel! I’m so glad you like it, I thought it turned out cute! You should try it, that would make a great winter project!
What a great way to save a shower curtain, Donna. It looks so good. I just finished your post on organizing the bathroom too and it was fabulous! We recently ordered a shower curtain for Loblolly and I was amazed at the process. It felt like ordering window treatments. Here’s to making things easy! Hugs, CoCo
Yes, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out the measurements and whether the liner on the inside fits as well! I’m enjoying all the changes you’re making at Loblolly! Thanks for stopping by!
I love the way your shower curtain turned out Donna, and happy you were able to save it. Our ceilings are so low on the second floor, I do not even think they are 8 feet, but you know what? You could use your tips here to create a whole new look in the bathroom too even though I have the low ceilings. Love it!
Hi Cara! That’s a good point, this is a great way to add something extra special to a shower curtain or personalize it in a unique way! Thanks and have a great day!
What a great idea! I love how you didn’t try to match the fabric but created your own design. Plus, the pom poms! My shower curtain is definitely too short, and I like to hang mine a bit higher as well. Glad I found this!
Hello, Larisa! I’m so glad the post was helpful to you! The pompom trim really added interest and helped blend the two curtains together! Have fun lengthening your shower curtain!