Easy and Inexpensive Ways to Make Your Bathroom Feel Better
Transform your bathroom with simple decorating tips anyone can master
Here, we’re showing you how to borrow ideas from gorgeously styled bathrooms and apply them to your own home, for little to no money. I am going to limit myself to saying ‘spa-like’ just once. It’s going to be tough.
Clean up the clutter
What makes bathrooms look anything but relaxing is clutter. After your cleaning frenzy, you’re not going to want to junk your bathroom back up with all of those products. Go through those drawers and cabinets and make room for the stuff that you leave lying out. Most photo stylists allow only the following to be photographed on bathroom benchtops:
1. Two glass apothecary jars, one for cotton balls and one for cotton swabs
2. For smaller bathrooms, an orchid or a small vase of flowers; for larger, a larger vase with one or two elephant ear leaves in it
3. A nice freestanding make-up mirror
4. Soap for hand washing
All of these items can be corralled into one neat tray. This will allow for another item not previously listed: hand cream, which should match the hand soap. Matching the flowers to the liquid hand soap to the cream, as in the next photo, would be going above and beyond.
What makes bathrooms look anything but relaxing is clutter. After your cleaning frenzy, you’re not going to want to junk your bathroom back up with all of those products. Go through those drawers and cabinets and make room for the stuff that you leave lying out. Most photo stylists allow only the following to be photographed on bathroom benchtops:
1. Two glass apothecary jars, one for cotton balls and one for cotton swabs
2. For smaller bathrooms, an orchid or a small vase of flowers; for larger, a larger vase with one or two elephant ear leaves in it
3. A nice freestanding make-up mirror
4. Soap for hand washing
All of these items can be corralled into one neat tray. This will allow for another item not previously listed: hand cream, which should match the hand soap. Matching the flowers to the liquid hand soap to the cream, as in the next photo, would be going above and beyond.
Leave your dressing gown out and easy to reach
I feel like the line between a decent hotel and one that leaves an impression on me is whether or not a nice dressing-gown is waiting for me. Having a dressing gown hanging in the bathroom is not clutter, but stick with white or something that adds to the decor, like a pretty kimono-like style.
I feel like the line between a decent hotel and one that leaves an impression on me is whether or not a nice dressing-gown is waiting for me. Having a dressing gown hanging in the bathroom is not clutter, but stick with white or something that adds to the decor, like a pretty kimono-like style.
Put your fluffy white towels in a basket
Not all of us have closet space to dedicate to linens, or much room in our bathroom cabinets. However, fluffy white towels always look nice left out. Roll them up neatly and organise them in a basket.
Not all of us have closet space to dedicate to linens, or much room in our bathroom cabinets. However, fluffy white towels always look nice left out. Roll them up neatly and organise them in a basket.
A charming antique box like this gets the job done in a vintage-inspired bathroom.
Change the vanity handles
This can completely transform an outdated vanity for a few dollars. These handles look like boat cleats.
This can completely transform an outdated vanity for a few dollars. These handles look like boat cleats.
Use a unique mirror
There are not many chances to add character to a bathroom; adding a funky mirror is a prime opportunity. If you’ve found a unique picture frame, you can have a local glass shop transform it into a mirror for very little cost.
There are not many chances to add character to a bathroom; adding a funky mirror is a prime opportunity. If you’ve found a unique picture frame, you can have a local glass shop transform it into a mirror for very little cost.
Bring in the art
There’s something extra fun about choosing art for the bath; you can look for a vintage sign, go for a little bathroom humour or maybe even find a piece that will inspire a whole new colour palette. Of course, be sure to choose something moisture resistant for around the bath.
There’s something extra fun about choosing art for the bath; you can look for a vintage sign, go for a little bathroom humour or maybe even find a piece that will inspire a whole new colour palette. Of course, be sure to choose something moisture resistant for around the bath.
Paint your vanity
This is an easy way to do an instant makeover. New paint can give the vanity an updated look and completely change your colour scheme.
This is an easy way to do an instant makeover. New paint can give the vanity an updated look and completely change your colour scheme.
Get a cute hamper
If anyone in your family tends to strip and leave the clothing on the floor, you need a hamper right in the bathroom or next to it to keep things neat. This is also a great way to add a functional accessory to the bath – I love the shape, colour and texture this African basket brings.
If anyone in your family tends to strip and leave the clothing on the floor, you need a hamper right in the bathroom or next to it to keep things neat. This is also a great way to add a functional accessory to the bath – I love the shape, colour and texture this African basket brings.
Add a shower bench without renovating
Portable stools made to stand up to the elements outdoors can also stand up to the shower (think teak). These are great if you need a seat or an extra spot for your shampoo, or to prop a leg on when you’re shaving.
Portable stools made to stand up to the elements outdoors can also stand up to the shower (think teak). These are great if you need a seat or an extra spot for your shampoo, or to prop a leg on when you’re shaving.
Give your novel and wine glass a perch
The problem with many of today’s popular freestanding bathtubs is that they don’t have a ledge for that drink, your glasses, a book, a towel or whatever else you want right at hand while you soak. Chinese garden stools add a spa-like feeling.
The problem with many of today’s popular freestanding bathtubs is that they don’t have a ledge for that drink, your glasses, a book, a towel or whatever else you want right at hand while you soak. Chinese garden stools add a spa-like feeling.
I also love an antique chair, or a stool in lieu of a little side table; I have a little vintage milking stool next to my bath myself. This is also good for you parents who may want an alternative to sitting atop the toilet when you’re supervising bath time.
Add an interesting rug
Rugs made for outdoor spaces fare well in the bath and are often more stylish than the typical shag and rubber-backed bathroom options. Just be sure to take precautions to prevent the rugs from sliding and skidding.
Rugs made for outdoor spaces fare well in the bath and are often more stylish than the typical shag and rubber-backed bathroom options. Just be sure to take precautions to prevent the rugs from sliding and skidding.
Obligatory plate shot. Bonus: This is a fantastic John Derian decoupage collection.
Display your toilet paper artfully
Wow, this is the best solution to the ‘Where do I put the year’s supply of toilet paper I just bought’ problem I’ve ever seen! While I find it a little silly when people have a toilet paper pyramid on the back of the commode, more designers and photo stylists have been taking advantage of the round roll shape and using it in bathroom designs. Now if everyone could just agree on which way to hang it, we’d have all the toilet paper issues solved.
YOUR TURN
How are you jazzing up your bathroom? Please add your advice in the comments section.
MORE
How to Update Your Bathroom Without a Sledgehammer
15 Easy (and Wonderfully Creative) Bathroom Updates
12 Decorating Tricks to Make Small Bathrooms Work Harder
Wow, this is the best solution to the ‘Where do I put the year’s supply of toilet paper I just bought’ problem I’ve ever seen! While I find it a little silly when people have a toilet paper pyramid on the back of the commode, more designers and photo stylists have been taking advantage of the round roll shape and using it in bathroom designs. Now if everyone could just agree on which way to hang it, we’d have all the toilet paper issues solved.
YOUR TURN
How are you jazzing up your bathroom? Please add your advice in the comments section.
MORE
How to Update Your Bathroom Without a Sledgehammer
15 Easy (and Wonderfully Creative) Bathroom Updates
12 Decorating Tricks to Make Small Bathrooms Work Harder
If you’re not ready to replace it, take the curtain and liner down and give them both a good wash. I swear, if you haven’t done this in a while, it will feel like a new shower curtain.
In fact, clearing everything out and really scrubbing down every little skirting board, dusty light fixture, dull tap and hard-to-reach place will make your bathroom feel much better. Not the disinfectant-wipes cleaning, but the nitty-gritty deep cleaning.