Here’s the Easiest Way to Make a Small Bathroom Feel Enormous

Sometimes a simple fix is all that’s needed to give a room a second life. The little things count most—like giving a room a new coat of paint, changing the drapes, or swapping out the shower curtain. Ta-da: a new vibe.

This super-simple hack dramatically changes the look of your bathroom in a matter of minutes: Raising your curtain rod. It helps your bathroom more than you realize, totally changing the look of the room and making you feel like you live in the lap of luxury. Here’s why you should nudge your shower curtain higher.

This tiny change is rooted in practical reasons: Moving the tension rod up just a few inches keeps your shower curtain and liner from dragging along the floor and prevents unsightly bunching.

Depending on your shower’s proximity to a window, hanging the tension rod higher allows natural light to reflect off of the curtain. This brings more light into a small space, making the shower and the room feel more airy.

A higher rod calls attention to the room’s overall design and gives it an elegant, glamorous feel. It elongates the walls, ceilings, and other architectural features of the space and calls attention to otherwise-unnoticed details. Depending on the tiling and wall color, it also can help your ceilings feel higher.

This quick hack also makes the inside of your shower look and feel bigger. Raising the rod makes the gap between the top of the curtain and the ceiling smaller, giving your showering space an intimate—but not cramped—feel.

Deliberately hanging the rod higher creates a more tailored and put-together look for your bathroom. A higher rod lets your shower curtain serve as focal point, and can help break up different textures used in the room.

When you decide to move the rod up, there are also a few things to keep in mind. First, consider changing the rod you’re using: It may be time for an upgrade. There are two kinds of rods: fixed and tension rods. A tension rod lets you adjust the length with the adjustable spring tucked in the center. A fixed rod isn’t adjustable and requires a bit more finesse when it comes to installation, but it is still easy to hang—but be sure you’ve decided on the perfect height beforehand.

We love this curved chrome rod, which gives off a clean and polished look. The curvature creates a more-spacious shower… and gives the liner less opportunity to stick to you, which is an added bonus. If you’re after something more traditional, this straight fixed rod in polished nickel offers an elegant take on an item that is often an afterthought. If you’re after something a little more unique, this adjustable double rod in brushed chrome lets you move your curtain and your liner separately, offering the best of both worlds.

If you’re looking for an easy DIY project this weekend that could dramatically change the look of your bathroom, try this ridiculously easy hack. One small change shows off your bathroom, opens up the space, and gives a sometimes-dreary room a second life.