Keeping with the *cheap and DYI* plan- I would suggest changing the light fixture, frame out the mirror, and paint the walls a pretty aqua blue ;) OH, gotta take out the carpet!!!

I would remove the carpeting, remove the fan window treatment, replace the light fixture, replace the door knobs and fixtures (if possible). Replace the iron stool for a teak seat. I love the dark framed floor mirror, good attempt, I hope it is fairly wide. Best of luck!

the vanity can stay ,I can guess if it wooden or not ?if you can paint the vanity?single mirror and changing the vanity light I would go with 3 single light

Love the tiled wall and texture

Thanks for the ideas, everyone! We want to wait to do new flooring until we can tear out the tub and have a little more $$. In the meantime, if I rip up the carpet, what should I do? Paint the sub floor?

You could paint the sub floor for a temporary solution (depends how long we are talking about) or install inexpensive vinyl tiles. They are really easy to install, simply cut and stick into place. Easy removal for future as well. A fresh coat of paint for the walls will also make a huge impact.

I just used some peel and stick vinyl that looked like white marble. I actually used it as a shelf liner in the bottom of my kitchen sink area instead of contact paper/liner. They are only .99 cents at Home Depot. I think they are 12"x 12". They have ones that look like hardwood too. Super easy...and to cut around whatever just use a utility knife or like me, I used a box cutter.

Do you have more photos? If you are buying this place, the bathroom has been presented and staged well. I would change the lighting to some thing I really liked.

For the dark shower, see if you can install a brighter light bulb in the fan/light combination overhead, if it has one. If it has only an exhaust fan, replace it with a fan/light combination.

First thing that caught my eye was the lights.

it does make a difference if you rent or buy.

We are buying- this is the only pic I have, and yeah, they staged it- pretty well I think. I can post more pics when we move in in a few weeks. All of these answers already make me feel better about it- I was dreading this bathroom as it is now!

I would have the lights moved so that they down light over the vanity, remove the carpet and bring in some colorful accessories. Changing out hardware would be nice also. There are fans with lights, that were mentioned in another post that are great for lighting in the shower. Panasonic has one that is so quiet you just don't hear it and it works wonders!
Good luck... Re-freshers are fun and can be dramatic!

My daughter has this kind of cabinets in her bathroom and she painted them dark expresso and they look fabulous. You can also remove the hardware and spray paint them a different finish. Definitely change out the light fixture. You can ignore the carpet for now, just get some area rugs to go on top. Flat weave ones in a pattern, hang a chandelier (get a cheap one online) over the tub, and put some greenery and candles on the tub. This room needs some color. Maybe Mango? You can leave the white woodwork alone I think. Make the eye candy at the lower levels with patterned rugs, colorful towels, accessories. If you do not want to hang a chandelier, think about a hanging plant like a fern in the corner of the tub area. Not too high but not where you will hit your head on it when standing up in the tub.

The future fixup is likely to cost several thousand if you replace countertop, sink, tub and flooring. If you change the shower, much more. Budget a couple hundred dollars for new lighting which you can do now.

In the meantime, I'd be quite pleased to have bought a place that looks light, bright, airy and well cared for. Apply some colorful paint, hang some artwork, put flowers by the sink every week and buy some fluffy new towels. Throw some bubblebath in the tub for a soak. This is really quite a nice space.

Apple Pie- thanks for putting it in perspective- you are so right!