It’s curtains for you

The shower curtain has only ever had one special purpose: to keep the spray heading toward the drain, not the bathroom floor. For that, rubber, vinyl or any kind of petrochemically produced waterproof fabric worked perfectly -- though not necessarily beautifully.

Over the last few years, however, shower-accessories designers have been working themselves into a lather. Antimicrobial curtains promise deliverance for clean freaks. Pastel plastic curtain rings, once the standard, now pale in comparison to easy-gliding steel hooks with ball bearings or decorative finials ranging from retro glass knobs to cast-metal seahorses.

Shower curtains are also becoming suitable for hanging. Though white matelasse and terrycloth are undeniably popular, color, pattern and unexpected fabrics are an emerging trend in interiors. Right now, they make great winter pick-me-ups; nothing spruces up a blah bathroom more quickly and inexpensively.

At Urban Outfitters, vinyl curtains have gone hip with camouflage patterns and karaoke lyrics for singing in the shower. Crate & Barrel features the bold patterns of ‘60s design superstar Marimekko, and Gump’s (www.gumps.com) offers chinoiserie and toile.

In a bold, separatist move, haute designers Dransfield & Ross deconstruct the shower curtain into a colorful rainbow of free-floating ribbons.

Want to make a splash without being too flash? Go back to the basics. A plain ivory cotton curtain picks up a French country accent with denim applique stripes. Embroidered borders turn a sheer white fabric into a neoclassical frame. And for complete privacy, not to mention intrigue, a black leather panel may prompt guests to shower you with compliments. Or, possibly, embarrassing questions.