Rental Bathroom a Bit Blah? Spruce it Up!
See how to add some life to your rental bathroom, and play up the existing characteristics that you have to learn to love
Becky Harris
12 September 2016
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
In a rental bathroom, you’re stuck with the tiles, fixtures and fittings – trying to improve it can seem like a lost cause. But it’s not. There are easy and inexpensive ways to take the focus off 1970s harvest gold tile, a shower-tub combo past its prime, dated benchtops and ho-hum floors. If you accept what you have, adjust your negative attitude and enjoy meeting a design challenge, your formerly blah bathroom can become a favourite sanctuary.
1. Look at the room with fresh eyes
There may be some inherent charm in a bathroom that’s been untouched for a while, but because it’s so far from your dream bathroom you may be missing it. Accept and embrace what you’ve got to work with – a funky vintage pedestal sink, a mirrored medicine cabinet with a razor slot at the back, tile in colours they don’t make anymore.
When a friend of mine was stuck with pink tile, toilet, tub and sink from the 1960s, she thought, “This perfectly matches the pink in my favourite Elvis stamp poster,” and went with an entire Elvis theme that made her happy. Try to figure out what you like rather than what you hate about the room and adjust your attitude before you get started.
There may be some inherent charm in a bathroom that’s been untouched for a while, but because it’s so far from your dream bathroom you may be missing it. Accept and embrace what you’ve got to work with – a funky vintage pedestal sink, a mirrored medicine cabinet with a razor slot at the back, tile in colours they don’t make anymore.
When a friend of mine was stuck with pink tile, toilet, tub and sink from the 1960s, she thought, “This perfectly matches the pink in my favourite Elvis stamp poster,” and went with an entire Elvis theme that made her happy. Try to figure out what you like rather than what you hate about the room and adjust your attitude before you get started.
2. Splurge on a shower curtain you love
A shower curtain can make a big impact on your bathroom. After all, when pulled fully closed, it’s a large canvas that you have full control over. This canvas can divert the eye from and make up for all kinds of bad bathroom design elements.
Shower enclosures that are cool and classy
A shower curtain can make a big impact on your bathroom. After all, when pulled fully closed, it’s a large canvas that you have full control over. This canvas can divert the eye from and make up for all kinds of bad bathroom design elements.
Shower enclosures that are cool and classy
In this case, that canvas is white and ruffled. Along with the bright green rug, it tones down the overall colour palette and takes the focus off the oh-so-pink tile. In fact, it turns the tile into something worth embracing.
By the way, pink tile gets a bad rap. It’s very embraceable; it just served as the poster child for dated bathroom decor for a while. Check out these fabulous pink bathrooms embraced by Houzzers.
By the way, pink tile gets a bad rap. It’s very embraceable; it just served as the poster child for dated bathroom decor for a while. Check out these fabulous pink bathrooms embraced by Houzzers.
3. Lay down an unexpected rug
There are many options beyond typical shaggy bath mats. Oriental, tribal, striped and geometric patterns are just a few ideas for rugs that can transform the look of a bathroom. If you dislike your floors, go bigger than the standard-sized bathroom rug. Cotton in flat weaves can handle water well. Also, be sure to add a gripping mat or rug tape to the bottom to prevent slipping.
There are many options beyond typical shaggy bath mats. Oriental, tribal, striped and geometric patterns are just a few ideas for rugs that can transform the look of a bathroom. If you dislike your floors, go bigger than the standard-sized bathroom rug. Cotton in flat weaves can handle water well. Also, be sure to add a gripping mat or rug tape to the bottom to prevent slipping.
4. Bring in a cute hamper
In addition to being something nice to look at, it will keep the dirty clothes off the floor.
What can you repurpose as a bathroom vanity?
In addition to being something nice to look at, it will keep the dirty clothes off the floor.
What can you repurpose as a bathroom vanity?
5. Choose towels that improve the scheme
This includes hand towels and bath towels. If there’s already too much going on colour-wise in your bathroom, white towels are best. But if your bathroom is mostly white, go for something more eye-catching, like this Turkish towel, which adds lively colour and pattern.
This includes hand towels and bath towels. If there’s already too much going on colour-wise in your bathroom, white towels are best. But if your bathroom is mostly white, go for something more eye-catching, like this Turkish towel, which adds lively colour and pattern.
6. Skirt a sink
This can hide a multitude of sins such as ugly plumbing, the plunger and the toilet brush, as well as increase your bathroom’s storage capacity.
This can hide a multitude of sins such as ugly plumbing, the plunger and the toilet brush, as well as increase your bathroom’s storage capacity.
7. Hang artwork
The right print can take all the attention away from tired tiles or a dated benchtop, or add personality to an all-white room. Just be sure to talk to your landlord about what you might have to do later regarding any nail holes you put in the walls.
Browse more bathroom art
The right print can take all the attention away from tired tiles or a dated benchtop, or add personality to an all-white room. Just be sure to talk to your landlord about what you might have to do later regarding any nail holes you put in the walls.
Browse more bathroom art
8. Sprinkle in stylish accessories
A small tray is a lovely place to corral your pretty accessories like perfume bottles, candles and a vase. Clear glass jars are great for soaps, cotton balls and swabs; a silver cup or an old trophy will bring much-needed shine. And add some plant life, whether it’s just one rose, a few sprigs of eucalyptus or a palm leaf.
A small tray is a lovely place to corral your pretty accessories like perfume bottles, candles and a vase. Clear glass jars are great for soaps, cotton balls and swabs; a silver cup or an old trophy will bring much-needed shine. And add some plant life, whether it’s just one rose, a few sprigs of eucalyptus or a palm leaf.
9. Switch out cabinet hardware
This is an easy way to add personality to a bland vanity. You can easily change the hardware
back before you move out. Just be sure that when you remove the existing pulls and handles you put all of them, along with the washers and screws, in a plastic bag and stash it somewhere safe. That useless space in the vanity underneath the P-trap is a good spot for this.
This is an easy way to add personality to a bland vanity. You can easily change the hardware
back before you move out. Just be sure that when you remove the existing pulls and handles you put all of them, along with the washers and screws, in a plastic bag and stash it somewhere safe. That useless space in the vanity underneath the P-trap is a good spot for this.
10. Make the extra rolls of toilet paper a design asset
This one may sound silly, but the blah state of many apartment bathrooms can make you give up and stick a four-pack of Sorbent still in its plastic packaging on top of the toilet tank. Don’t do that. A pretty basket, funny holder or vintage bucket can turn these simple rolls into a little design element.
TELL US
How have you spruced up a rental bathroom? Please add to this list by sharing your tips in the Comments.
MORE
Read more decorating stories
This one may sound silly, but the blah state of many apartment bathrooms can make you give up and stick a four-pack of Sorbent still in its plastic packaging on top of the toilet tank. Don’t do that. A pretty basket, funny holder or vintage bucket can turn these simple rolls into a little design element.
TELL US
How have you spruced up a rental bathroom? Please add to this list by sharing your tips in the Comments.
MORE
Read more decorating stories
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Live plants always make a bathroom look prettier and clean the air too. Check out Little Urban Farmers, Hanging Gardens. Flat, packed plant pots that suction cup to your bathroom tiles and allow you to grow plants anywhere. No need to screw into the walls so they are perfect for rentals. www.littleurbanfarmers.com.au
Dead right Chris - not many rentals amongst that lot but the ideas are still right.