The One Place Where A Window Is Better Off Without A Treatment

When it comes to interior design, many homeowners choose to cover their windows with a common window treatment. This could be blinds, shades, or curtains — essentially, anything to provide privacy and a source of cover from the sun. While this is a good rule of thumb for most windows, there's one special place that is better off without a treatment: a shower window. Even if the shower window is the only source of light in the bathroom, it'll be specially designed so that you don't need to worry about ruining treatment after treatment trying to maintain your privacy.

While you might think that a shower window should definitely be covered with something to provide privacy, this window is actually much better off without any fabric or hard treatment. Curtains will end up soggy and covered in mildew, and blinds will often end up warped due to the humidity levels in the shower. Since shower windows are specially designed with privacy in mind, adding a window treatment is often unnecessary and can even detract from the benefits a shower window offers.

Having your shower windows bare is a practical decision that helps keep your bathroom cleaning to a minimum. First, the constant moisture, steam, and direct water exposure in a shower are a big no-no for most standard window treatments. Fabric curtains can't handle the constant humidity that a shower provides, which means you'll be dealing with a mold and mildew issue. Wood blinds will warp and crack with the heat and humidity, and any metal parts used for window treatment installation can rust because of the moisture. Since window treatments in this location are so difficult to keep clean, they can easily trap soap scum and mold growth in your shower. This creates an unclean (and potentially dangerous) environment, since mold and mildew can cause respiratory issues and allergies, and accumulated soap scum can provide a breeding ground for bacteria.

Additionally, many shower windows are already designed with privacy glass, meaning that adding a window treatment to them is simply unnecessary. You can even frost your windows for maximum privacy, creating a bright, personal space without the need for a physical curtain or shade. Many houses that have windows in the shower have them strategically placed high up so that they are above eye level from the outside, again meaning that a window treatment is simply not needed.