Oval Shower Curtain Rod

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Designed to match with free-standing baths in a traditional style, an oval shower curtain rod will echo the shape of your tub. It will also allow your curtain to surround your bath from all angles so there are no awkward and pesky gaps. From vintage bronze styles to shiny chrome, a freestanding tub rail will help you enjoy a relaxing bath in peace. Our design experts have picked out a few of their favorite oval shower curtain rods below for you.

Mia Jones Interior Design Expert

Mia is a freelance bathroom designer and writer with over a decade of professional experience. From space planning, cabinetry, storage solutions, and tile design to hardware and fixture selections, she knows a thing about creating baths that strike a perfect balance between functionality and aesthetics.

12 Recommendations and 145 Ideas

Updated 12/07/2023

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Oval Shower Curtain Rod

Buying Guide

Can you use an oval shower curtain rail in a small bathroom?

An oval shower curtain rail can work just as well in a small bathroom as it can in a large one, and it creates the illusion of more space. There’s no need to let a small bathroom restrict your sense of luxury and unique design ideas.

If you have a bathtub that is not surrounded on three sides by walls, you’ll have no other choice but to opt for an oval shower curtain to protect your bathroom from getting wet when you want to shower.

The shower rod and curtain’s curvature can create the illusion of a larger space inside the tub and are more pleasing to the human eye than a standard straight rod and curtain. Choosing an oval shower curtain rail can set your bathroom apart and make it a novelty in your home.

There are several mounting options for your small bathroom. Since you may be limited on where to place your bathtub, ensure you choose a mounting configuration that allows you to secure the oval shower curtain rail to a wall stud for added stability.

Where should you place an oval shower curtain rail?

An oval shower curtain rail is best suited to freestanding tubs. Such solution results in the most pleasing look.

You should install it directly over your tub to keep your floor from getting wet. An oval shower rail that is big enough to fit around the size of the tub is recommended as it will do the best job at keeping floors dry and also look great while doing so.

What type of metal is best for your oval shower curtain rail?

When it comes to choosing an overall shower curtain rail, there are lots of factors to consider. Some of the available materials include brass, stainless steel aluminum, and even some plastics.

However, what you need to consider before investing in a shower curtain rail is that bathrooms are steamy and wet environments, so one of the products that you should stay away from is mild steel. This is because they tend to rust quite quickly, meaning you'll need to replace them sooner than you think.

One way to test whether a shower curtain is made of mild steel, is to simply get a magnet and touch the surface of the rail with it. If the magnet sticks, then it's mild steel, and you should not purchase it.

The best alternatives to mild steel include brass, which is highly malleable and durable; stainless steel, which is highly resistant to rust, and corrosion; and aluminum, which is soft and malleable but also lightweight and very corrosion resistant. So our recommendation would be aluminum which is the most favorable all-rounder.