When the budget doesn’t allow for a complete bathroom remodel, or it isn’t yet time for this project, these easy, clever changes can create a big effect.
For the cost of a gallon of paint—or perhaps just a quart, depending on the size of your bathroom—you can have a whole new look, one that will welcome you each morning and soothe you every night. A new faucet or light fixture can take 30 years off a room. Some updates are even easier, such as changing out a shower curtain or showerhead.
But before this inspires you to rush to the nearest DIY store, you need one more thing: a plan. Most projects start with wanting to change “one thing,” but rarely do they stay there. Take a deep breath; this is going to be fun.
Color Scheme
Whether you’re replacing a leaky faucet, a worn-out shower curtain, or something equally mundane, every change is an opportunity to refresh the room. Maybe it’s time to replace the cool look of glossy chrome with a more subtle brushed nickel, add the warmth of brass, or install a new shower curtain as the first step to an entirely new color scheme. The bathroom is to flex your artistic leanings, a place to use bright, bold, or even dark colors that would appear brash if used in a larger room.If we’ve inspired you to grab some rollers and a gallon of paint while at the store, all the better—but be sure to grab a paint designed for a high-humidity environment. A popular cool color is gray, which works with both light and dark flooring, and creates a cozy ambiance. A warm choice is blush, with its soft elegance and instant coziness. Other current favorites include sage, powder blue, navy (which works best with a light vanity and accents), and, of course, you can never go wrong with white.
Paint isn’t just for walls; it’s a great way to give a dated vanity an easy facelift, too.
Textiles
Colored towels are an inexpensive way to brighten a bathroom without the effort of repainting. They offer a coordinated look that’s easy to change out; you can even have a set of towels for each season for a quick revamp every quarter. No, we aren’t talking smiling Santa towels for Christmas, although that would be OK. Colors hide stains better than hotel white, so that’s an additional bonus. While you’re at it, consider adding an accent rug or new curtains.Shelves, Cabinets, and More
No matter how large the bathroom may be, space always seems to be at a premium. Consider mounting attractive and resilient glass shelves on typically unused wall space, such as over the commode or above the shower tile; a dedicated towel shelf or open storage shelf unit works well if you have guests or a large family.Adding a medicine and toiletries cabinet offers additional storage that’s hidden from everyday view. Even if you have enough storage space, the room can still be enhanced by inserting drawer organizers for cosmetics and more, to straighten things up.
Bright Ideas
Mixing metals is all the rage when it comes to the trendiest bathrooms. Whether you’re feeling cutting edge or prefer a more traditional look, one of the cheapest updates is to change the knobs and drawer pulls.Art, Mirrors, and Nature
Hanging a print adds instant personality to a room. The bathroom may be the perfect place to put the poster that you just had to buy but have no space to hang. But keep in mind, a bathroom can be a high-humidity environment if you love to steam up the room with long, hot showers, making it not the best place to hang a framed poster. Instead, add the visual weight and elegance of a painted frame for the mirror. This is also a great way to salvage a mirror, particularly one that’s mounted on the wall but is showing humidity wear on the edges of its silvering.Now, it’s time to bring in some greenery. You’ll want humidity-loving, shade-tolerating plants such as bamboo, bromeliad, Chinese evergreen, fern, and the peace lily, which will help with air quality, too. If you’re feeling adventurous, invite an orchid inside for a little bit of the tropics every time you brush your teeth.
