Decorating
6 Plumbing Touches to Make a Rental Bathroom More Pleasing to Use
Just because you rent doesn't mean you can't update your bathroom with some simple touches
When you rent, you generally have to live with what you’ve got. A competitive rental market in some suburbs can mean tenants can’t be too picky about the house they live in. However, these six simple plumbing touches can update your bathroom significantly, for little cost and effort. And, these tips can work for homeowners who want to avoid the cost of renovating for as long as possible.
2. Replace tap handles and buttons
This is one tip that can really freshen up a bathroom. If you have easy-clean wall-mounted or hob-mounted taps that look a little dull, you could replace the handles and flanges with new ones.
This tip may not work for every bathroom depending on the taps, but if your bathroom has the four-pronged star-looking handles, these can usually be easily replaced. Use a shifter to undo the hot and cold buttons, then remove the handles and bell flanges. You will then be able to replace the handles on the existing tap spindles.
This is one tip that can really freshen up a bathroom. If you have easy-clean wall-mounted or hob-mounted taps that look a little dull, you could replace the handles and flanges with new ones.
This tip may not work for every bathroom depending on the taps, but if your bathroom has the four-pronged star-looking handles, these can usually be easily replaced. Use a shifter to undo the hot and cold buttons, then remove the handles and bell flanges. You will then be able to replace the handles on the existing tap spindles.
If you don’t want to change the handles of your taps, consider replacing the hot and cold buttons with new ones. Usually the white backing of the button can turn cream over time. Brand new white ones can improve your taps instantly. These can cost a couple of dollars to replace.
Browse more beautiful bathrooms
Browse more beautiful bathrooms
3. Change the shower rose
It’s common for bathrooms to have an all-direction shower rose in their shower. If the shower rose is covered with calcium, soak it in a mixture of vinegar and bicarb soda. A good scrub will remove the calcium, leaving you with a shiny bright shower rose.
If this cleaning solution doesn’t make your shower rose sparkle, you can usually replace the shower rose inexpensively.
Tip: Make sure you get plumbers’ Teflon tape so you can replace the new shower rose.
It’s common for bathrooms to have an all-direction shower rose in their shower. If the shower rose is covered with calcium, soak it in a mixture of vinegar and bicarb soda. A good scrub will remove the calcium, leaving you with a shiny bright shower rose.
If this cleaning solution doesn’t make your shower rose sparkle, you can usually replace the shower rose inexpensively.
Tip: Make sure you get plumbers’ Teflon tape so you can replace the new shower rose.
4. Change the toilet seat
If the toilet seat in your bathroom is looking a little more yellow than white and no amount of bleach can get it looking the same as one would imagine a toilet seat should be, it can be replaced with a new seat.
This bathroom features a wooden toilet seat, but for the purpose of this tip, you need a seat that has the screw hinges at the back to ensure the seat can be easily removed. Check if your existing toilet seat is a soft-close model or if it’s specifically attached to the toilet pan before going off to purchase your new toilet seat.
Hardware stores usually stock toilet seats for an economical price. Some plumbing stores can be quite expensive to supply a toilet seat as they are often included in a toilet-suite package.
If the toilet seat in your bathroom is looking a little more yellow than white and no amount of bleach can get it looking the same as one would imagine a toilet seat should be, it can be replaced with a new seat.
This bathroom features a wooden toilet seat, but for the purpose of this tip, you need a seat that has the screw hinges at the back to ensure the seat can be easily removed. Check if your existing toilet seat is a soft-close model or if it’s specifically attached to the toilet pan before going off to purchase your new toilet seat.
Hardware stores usually stock toilet seats for an economical price. Some plumbing stores can be quite expensive to supply a toilet seat as they are often included in a toilet-suite package.
5. Give the glass shower door a good scrub
One way a bathroom can look aged is from the state of the glass shower door. While many new bathrooms are opting for screen-free bathrooms, plenty of other bathrooms including many in rental homes have some sort of glass door enclosing the shower.
Hard water and the build-up of soap scum can permanently damage glass, so there may not be a lot that can be done to make the glass transparent. However, a rigorous scrub usually makes a big difference.
How on Earth Do I Clean a Glass Shower Door?
One way a bathroom can look aged is from the state of the glass shower door. While many new bathrooms are opting for screen-free bathrooms, plenty of other bathrooms including many in rental homes have some sort of glass door enclosing the shower.
Hard water and the build-up of soap scum can permanently damage glass, so there may not be a lot that can be done to make the glass transparent. However, a rigorous scrub usually makes a big difference.
How on Earth Do I Clean a Glass Shower Door?
6. You can’t fail with plants
If the plumbing tips above sound a little daunting or if they can’t be done in your bathroom due to its design, why not modernise the space with some plants instead?
Green Up Your Home With Feel-Good Indoor Plants
If the plumbing tips above sound a little daunting or if they can’t be done in your bathroom due to its design, why not modernise the space with some plants instead?
Green Up Your Home With Feel-Good Indoor Plants
Before launching into any DIY revamps, it’s important to first find out whether you can make these simple changes to your bathroom as part of your rental agreement. In most cases, if you’re happy to wear the cost, the property owner may be happy for you to make minor alterations.
If they are not, add some plants and grab some new towels, because styling the bathroom will be the only way you can make it look more inviting.
Tell us
Which of these plumbing ideas would work in your rental? Share your favourite tips in the Comments below, save this story for easy reference and join the conversation.
More
Find a bathroom designer or renovator near you
If they are not, add some plants and grab some new towels, because styling the bathroom will be the only way you can make it look more inviting.
Tell us
Which of these plumbing ideas would work in your rental? Share your favourite tips in the Comments below, save this story for easy reference and join the conversation.
More
Find a bathroom designer or renovator near you
Most people will generally look up and around in a room, but with the bathroom, if you have a bath and shower, the eyes will be drawn to the floor. If your bathroom has a 100-millimetre chrome floor-waste grate that looks a bit worn and, dare I say it, black, why not replace it with a new one? Chrome floor grates can be purchased from your local hardware or plumbing store for little cost.
Tip: Measure the diameter first so you get the correct size.