10 Rental-Friendly Bathroom Makeover Ideas
Let the bathroom in your rented home reflect your design ideas and personality with little additions you can take with you to your next home
Jo Simmons
12 September 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
Almost nobody renting their home will be prepared to take out its bathroom and install a new one. That scale of work is for a landlord, not a tenant, to undertake. But if you’re renting, how can you boost your bathroom’s appeal and inject some much-needed personality? It’s all about bringing attractive and hard-working pieces into the space and then trying some inventive styling. These simple ideas and tricks will help your rented bathroom to look beautiful and work brilliantly, too.
1. Stick ’em up
Personalise a plain shower screen, wall or tiling with some cheerful stickers. So long as they’re not likely to get wet directly, they should work beautifully in a bathroom. When it’s time to move out, you can peel them off without damaging the surface beneath.
Personalise a plain shower screen, wall or tiling with some cheerful stickers. So long as they’re not likely to get wet directly, they should work beautifully in a bathroom. When it’s time to move out, you can peel them off without damaging the surface beneath.
2. Pull in some plants
Plants often thrive in the moisture-rich atmosphere of a bathroom, and they instantly warm up the space and give it life, colour and personality. Try a tall umbrella palm (Cyperus alternifolius) or trailing money plant, or simply dot a few tiny succulents along a windowsill to bring welcome character.
Low-Maintenance Plant Ideas for Bathrooms
Plants often thrive in the moisture-rich atmosphere of a bathroom, and they instantly warm up the space and give it life, colour and personality. Try a tall umbrella palm (Cyperus alternifolius) or trailing money plant, or simply dot a few tiny succulents along a windowsill to bring welcome character.
Low-Maintenance Plant Ideas for Bathrooms
3. Add portable towel storage
Ladder-style towel rails are brilliant in any bathroom, as they can easily be moved around the space. They are ideal in a rented bathroom, too, adding valuable storage to a space that may not have anywhere for you to hang a towel or dressing gown.
Choose a ladder with broader treads and you could also use these to store small trinket or toothbrush pots, as well as lotions and potions. Simply grab and go when it’s time to move on.
Ladder-style towel rails are brilliant in any bathroom, as they can easily be moved around the space. They are ideal in a rented bathroom, too, adding valuable storage to a space that may not have anywhere for you to hang a towel or dressing gown.
Choose a ladder with broader treads and you could also use these to store small trinket or toothbrush pots, as well as lotions and potions. Simply grab and go when it’s time to move on.
4. Hang a picture
The high moisture levels in a bathroom mean it’s not the obvious place to hang a picture, as the dampness could damage the art. That said, artwork looks great in a bathroom and can dramatically restyle a simple rented space. If the room is a good size and well ventilated, moisture shouldn’t be such an issue, so don’t rule out hanging up a piece of art or a striking print.
The high moisture levels in a bathroom mean it’s not the obvious place to hang a picture, as the dampness could damage the art. That said, artwork looks great in a bathroom and can dramatically restyle a simple rented space. If the room is a good size and well ventilated, moisture shouldn’t be such an issue, so don’t rule out hanging up a piece of art or a striking print.
5. Prop up a mirror
A mirror is essential in a bathroom, but rather than damage any surface with picture hooks, choose a large-scale piece and prop it against a wall. In a rented bathroom that’s seen better days, this will also cover damage or marks on the wall and will help to improve light levels and boost the sense of space.
A mirror is essential in a bathroom, but rather than damage any surface with picture hooks, choose a large-scale piece and prop it against a wall. In a rented bathroom that’s seen better days, this will also cover damage or marks on the wall and will help to improve light levels and boost the sense of space.
6. Repurpose a piece
Bring in furniture that wasn’t originally intended for use in the bathroom and invent a new role for it. This is a cost-effective way to add some personality and functionality to a rented bathroom. Here, a distressed wooden chair now works as a place to pop a plant.
Bring in furniture that wasn’t originally intended for use in the bathroom and invent a new role for it. This is a cost-effective way to add some personality and functionality to a rented bathroom. Here, a distressed wooden chair now works as a place to pop a plant.
7. Go for freestanding furniture
A simple shelving unit will not only supply crucial storage space, it can dramatically cheer up a dull bathroom. Simply use it as storage, or get arty and display favourite pieces on it, too.
A simple shelving unit will not only supply crucial storage space, it can dramatically cheer up a dull bathroom. Simply use it as storage, or get arty and display favourite pieces on it, too.
8. Find a new identity
A good way to personalise your bathroom is to give it a new role. Perhaps it can also become your clothes-drying space (as here), a guitar-playing venue or the home of a treasured collection. Try to wink at its failings as a bathroom and give it a positive new identity!
A good way to personalise your bathroom is to give it a new role. Perhaps it can also become your clothes-drying space (as here), a guitar-playing venue or the home of a treasured collection. Try to wink at its failings as a bathroom and give it a positive new identity!
9. Choose bright towels
OK, so you can’t change the fittings or fabric of the bathroom in your rented home, but you can at least ramp up the comfort levels by adding quality details. So invest instead in good toiletries, bright towels and a beautiful bath mat.
OK, so you can’t change the fittings or fabric of the bathroom in your rented home, but you can at least ramp up the comfort levels by adding quality details. So invest instead in good toiletries, bright towels and a beautiful bath mat.
10. Tidy and style
A tired or unmodernised bathroom in a rented home will not be improved by being messy, too. So be sure to tidy your bottles, towels and toiletries away and then personalise the space with a well-styled vignette. A plant and a couple of ornaments will suffice and the sense of order will distract from any shabbiness.
Tidy People’s Bathroom Organisation Tricks
TELL US
How have you personalised your bathroom? Let us know in the Comments below.
MORE
10 Reversible Ideas for Your Rented Home’s Bathroom
A tired or unmodernised bathroom in a rented home will not be improved by being messy, too. So be sure to tidy your bottles, towels and toiletries away and then personalise the space with a well-styled vignette. A plant and a couple of ornaments will suffice and the sense of order will distract from any shabbiness.
Tidy People’s Bathroom Organisation Tricks
TELL US
How have you personalised your bathroom? Let us know in the Comments below.
MORE
10 Reversible Ideas for Your Rented Home’s Bathroom
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We do have a wonderfully large window. It looks out on to our neighbours back garden. Oh the serenity.
Alis, I have never lived in London, just the Berkshire countryside, but I do sympathise! That limescale is the worst. If you can get hold of wholesale-size containers of cheap vinegar you can then find tips on-line as to how to use it to remove the scale; it varies depending where you're using it. In both the place in England and where we are now (Northern Ireland so at least the water is fabulous), I scrubbed grouting with bleach, to kill mould and hopefully lighten it a bit. Then I cheated: I took artist's acrylic paint (I used white but there's beige and other colours of course), and brushed it thickly into the grouting, wiping the tiles as I went, with a damp cloth. It doesn't stick to shiny tiles anyway, but it does to the rough grouting. It dries to a plasticky finish, and can be cleaned normally. And it's easy to touch up as well.