I just had my bathroom renovated and cannot find a shower curtain to go with it.  I think the problem is that I bought a wider tub so it comes out a few more inches than my old one so it's closer to the toilet and I also have a cabinet hanging above the toilet.  When I hung up a curtain it just looked like it was touching the toilet and really felt like it made the room feel even smaller.  All I have in there now is the clear liner...do I need a shower curtain?  I feel like I'm always seeing design photos online with no shower curtain...are these dated? Or still preferred? 

I already returned the shower curtain but here is the liner hanging where the curtain would...it's hard to see but it touches the cabinet.

Here's a pic of the liner hanging inside the tub but how about if I get a fabric liner that wouldn't be see through?

built in shelves we added...this was just an empty space...we thought our hvac ran through this...can't believe the builders didn't make this a linen closet.

Do you have pictures so I can see what you are talking about?

I think shower curtains done right can look good & even modern.  If I can say so myself, I quite love the one we have in our guest bathroom!  LOL.  Matches the other bathroom decor perfectly.

However, I don't think you need one at all, and you have a liner with helps keep the water in.  I think shower curtains are usually aesthetic, and if it really makes your room look smaller I might forego it.

Like Allie asked, do you have a pic?

I totally understand where you are coming from. We have two TINY bathrooms in our military housing, and the shower curtains make the rooms even smaller :-( 

Would something like this work in your bathroom? Then you could still have some kind of curtain/pretty fabric, but the open tub would make the room appear bigger.

(Just a tieback/holdback on one side.)

I think that is a nice solution to open the room a bit more and still dress it up with a curtain. :)

bump...added photos.

I like how you added the shelving!

For the curtain, are guests ever using this bathroom? I like the idea of a pull back, like Debbie suggested. You don't need a shower curtain, but I think its a nice way to add color. I had trouble finding one I liked for the guest bathroom, then I lucked out finding one at Wal-Mart for $30. I then have it hanging from Restoration Hardware hooks!

I really like the idea of having the curtain pulled back when not in use. It adds the decorative element without making the room appear smaller. 

ok, I think a pull back is my answer!  Thanks ladies!!  I swear I've been to BBB so many times the past few weeks and have returned 4 shower curtains and made DH return 2!!  Now I think I'm going to go back and buy the original one I liked and find a pretty tie back!  :)

Hmmm..now I'm wondering if I should add the tie back on the side by the toilet or by where the shelves are?

I just put my mad Paint skills to use (j/k I paint like a 2 year old).  Anyway, I like option # 1 the best.  I think it would keep the room more open, and make it more inviting like "hey, step in from this side", where I think option # 2 says "hey, climb past the toilet then climb in".  That is if you have the drywall space next to the cabinet to screw the pull back into.

Option # 1

Option # 2