I’ve been spending way too much time digging through Temu lately, trying to spot categories that aren’t just the usual race-to-the-bottom stuff. One that actually surprised me: shower curtains.

Not the boring solid-color ones. I’m talking about the weird, creative, sometimes completely unhinged designs. Some of these listings are moving serious volume, and the prices aren’t as low as you’d expect.

Makes me wonder if there’s actually room in this category for sellers who can bring something different.

Why shower curtains?

Bathroom accessories are a steady market in the US and Europe – people remodel, renters move, college kids need new stuff. But what caught my eye is that shower curtains seem to have turned into more of a decorative item than just a functional one. People want something that stands out.

And on Temu, the sellers doing well aren’t the ones selling the cheapest basic curtains. It’s the ones with creative designs. Some of these listings are priced higher than similar stuff on Amazon and still selling fine.

What’s actually selling

I went through a bunch of listings and patterns. Here’s what keeps showing up in the top results:

Holiday / seasonal stuff

Christmas patterns are obvious this time of year. But beyond that, anything tied to seasons or holidays seems to get a boost. People like switching these out for different times of the year.

Animals

Cats, dogs, deer, dinosaurs, weird colorful cows, butterflies, sea creatures. Some are realistic, some are cartoonish, some are just kind of funny. It’s a huge range and people seem to respond to it.

Cartoon / pop culture

This one’s tricky. Stuff based on popular characters, movies, or memes sells well, but you’re basically asking for trouble if you don’t own the rights. I’ve seen listings go up and disappear fast. Not worth the risk unless you have a license or it’s clearly parody.

The weird stuff

This is what really surprised me. Funny designs. Random text that doesn’t seem to mean anything. Creepy faces. Abstract patterns that look like someone just threw shapes at a canvas. Stuff I would never think to buy, but there are clearly people out there who want it.

Some of the top sellers I saw were just… strange. But they’re selling.

What I’m taking away from this

If you’re thinking about this category, here’s what I’d keep in mind:

Design is everything. The basics are fine, but the real volume is in things that make people stop and look. If you have a designer or can come up with unique patterns, there’s room to play.

Stay away from IP unless you own it. Cartoons and movie themes are tempting because they sell, but one complaint and you’re done. Not worth building a product around something you don’t control.

Seasonal can work. Holiday patterns get a big spike. If you can plan ahead, that seems like a good way to get visibility.

Don’t just compete on price. The top listings I saw weren’t the cheapest. People will pay for something they like.

Would I actually try selling these?

I’m not a huge seller – just someone doing product research on the side. But this category is making me think.

If you’re already selling on Amazon or your own site, adding Temu as another channel isn’t that complicated, especially with their semi-managed setup. Same inventory, same fulfillment.

The challenge is staying ahead on designs. Once something takes off, other sellers will jump in. The people who seem to do well are the ones who keep refreshing their catalog and don’t just sit on one winning product.

Curious if anyone else has tried this

I’m still early in looking at this category, so I’d love to hear from anyone who’s actually sold shower curtains – on Temu, Amazon, Etsy, anywhere.

What worked? What flopped? Any surprises I should watch out for? Or other products in this category that I might be missing?

Always trying to learn from people who’ve been in the trenches.