Best window treatment for a high-humidity bathroom

For bathrooms, PVC shutters or moisture-resistant blinds are the safest choice - timber shutters and fabric blinds can warp, swell or grow mold in a steamy room, no matter how good the finish.

Bathrooms are one of the trickiest rooms in the house to get right, and it's usually not about style - it's about what the room does to the product over time. Hot showers, steam, condensation on the glass every morning. It's a tough environment, and I've seen plenty of good-looking window furnishings fail in a bathroom within a year or two because they weren't built for it.

Here's what I recommend, and why:

PVC shutters are the go-to for wet areas. They're 100% waterproof, won't swell, crack or discolour with repeated exposure to steam, and they clean up in seconds with a damp cloth. You get the same clean, architectural look as timber, without the risk.

Timber shutters, even good quality ones, aren't designed for constant humidity. They can absorb moisture over time, which leads to swelling, sticking louvres, or the finish lifting. I'd never recommend timber in a shower-facing window - it's just setting the product up to fail.

Moisture-resistant roller blinds are the other solid option, particularly in a bathroom with a smaller or awkward-shaped window. Look for a PVC or vinyl-backed fabric rather than a natural fibre - it won't hold moisture the same way, and it won't develop that musty smell over time.

What I'd steer people away from is anything fabric-heavy - roman blinds, curtains - in a room that regularly fogs up. They look beautiful in a showroom photo, but they're hard-going in a real Bay of Plenty bathroom with a hot shower running every morning.

The other thing worth thinking about is privacy without losing light - a lot of bathrooms have a window that's either frosted or awkwardly positioned. Shutters with adjustable louvres let you control exactly how much you let in, tilted for privacy during the day and opened right up when no one's around.

If you've got a bathroom that's due for an update, or you're dealing with an existing window treatment that's already showing signs of wear, I'm happy to come out, have a look, and talk through what'll actually last in your space.

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