10 Small but Striking Ways to Boost Your Bathing Space
Pep up your bathroom with new accessories and quick tricks
If you don’t have the budget, the time or the wherewithal to totally transform your tired-looking bathroom, you can still give it a fresh makeover with a few small but simple tricks. It can be as straightforward as refreshing one wall with a quick lick of paint, hanging up a colourful shower curtain or treating yourself to a new set of fluffy towels. Or why not scour car-boot sales and second-hand shops for unusual, vintage storage? Also look around your home with a fresh eye: that battered old trunk might look predictable in the bedroom, but it could take on a new lease of life in the bathroom. Give some of these ideas a whirl and see how easy it is to refresh your bathing space.
Update with new towels
A new set of colourful or patterned towels will refresh the look of your bathroom in seconds. I naturally gravitate towards pretty floral prints, but a fresh stripe or plain block hue will do the job just as nicely.
A new set of colourful or patterned towels will refresh the look of your bathroom in seconds. I naturally gravitate towards pretty floral prints, but a fresh stripe or plain block hue will do the job just as nicely.
Swap your shower curtain
There is no better (or easier) way to uplift a tired bathroom than with a brand-new shower curtain. This printed lemon and lime design is zesty and fresh and, along with the striped mat and pretty curtains, adds a cheery note.
There is no better (or easier) way to uplift a tired bathroom than with a brand-new shower curtain. This printed lemon and lime design is zesty and fresh and, along with the striped mat and pretty curtains, adds a cheery note.
Upcycle vintage treasures
Take old pieces of vintage furniture – no matter how battered and bruised – and use them in a totally new way. This old glass cabinet might not have been intended for the bathroom, but see how good it looks filled with bathroom essentials. And the half-height flamingo wallpaper injects subtle colour and pattern without being overpowering.
Discover 10 brilliantly effective upcycling projects
Take old pieces of vintage furniture – no matter how battered and bruised – and use them in a totally new way. This old glass cabinet might not have been intended for the bathroom, but see how good it looks filled with bathroom essentials. And the half-height flamingo wallpaper injects subtle colour and pattern without being overpowering.
Discover 10 brilliantly effective upcycling projects
Hang up your art
The bathroom can often be neglected when it comes to finishing off with pictures and paintings, but look how these grouped images take this chic bathroom to another level. The grey panelling and antique cistern are gorgeous on their own, but the pictures add a real sense of warmth and personality to the space.
The bathroom can often be neglected when it comes to finishing off with pictures and paintings, but look how these grouped images take this chic bathroom to another level. The grey panelling and antique cistern are gorgeous on their own, but the pictures add a real sense of warmth and personality to the space.
Fit a new blind
Window treatments are notoriously difficult to get right in the bathroom, and sometimes it pays to just go with your gut design instinct. The safe solution here would have been to hang up a white roller blind or wooden shutters, but the green, ditsy pattern on this fabric links the metro tiles and apple-green walls and adds warmth to the space.
Window treatments are notoriously difficult to get right in the bathroom, and sometimes it pays to just go with your gut design instinct. The safe solution here would have been to hang up a white roller blind or wooden shutters, but the green, ditsy pattern on this fabric links the metro tiles and apple-green walls and adds warmth to the space.
Be clever with fabric
If you can’t bear to throw out old scraps of much-cherished fabric, you’ll love this idea. The rather robust yet elegant vanity unit in this bathroom has been transformed into a desirable vintage piece simply by hanging up a length of lace-trimmed, floral fabric under the basin. And the best part is, you can swap and change your ‘curtain’ as often as you wish…
If you can’t bear to throw out old scraps of much-cherished fabric, you’ll love this idea. The rather robust yet elegant vanity unit in this bathroom has been transformed into a desirable vintage piece simply by hanging up a length of lace-trimmed, floral fabric under the basin. And the best part is, you can swap and change your ‘curtain’ as often as you wish…
Play with shine and shimmer
Shiny materials and mirrored finishes will miraculously lift a plain bathroom. A row or two of opulent tiles will luxe up a simple white basin, and you won’t need to buy that many, so you can go for something special. Also trawl antiques fairs and second-hand shops for unusual mirrors and old lockers that come with a beautiful patina all of their own.
See 10 ways to dazzle with mosaic tiles
Shiny materials and mirrored finishes will miraculously lift a plain bathroom. A row or two of opulent tiles will luxe up a simple white basin, and you won’t need to buy that many, so you can go for something special. Also trawl antiques fairs and second-hand shops for unusual mirrors and old lockers that come with a beautiful patina all of their own.
See 10 ways to dazzle with mosaic tiles
Pick beautiful storage
Medicine cabinets are modern-day must-haves for stashing all your lotions and potions, so make sure yours is beautiful and functional in equal measure. The distressed grey paintwork and pretty crystal drops on this wall-hung rustic cabinet tie in effortlessly with the vintage vibe.
Medicine cabinets are modern-day must-haves for stashing all your lotions and potions, so make sure yours is beautiful and functional in equal measure. The distressed grey paintwork and pretty crystal drops on this wall-hung rustic cabinet tie in effortlessly with the vintage vibe.
Widen your design horizons
Don’t restrict your décor to ‘bathroom-only’ bits and pieces, and instead raid the rest of your house for pretty accessories to pep up the bathroom. Vintage-style pitchers, soft sheepskin and even a comfortable armchair taken from your living room or kitchen can completely change the look of your bathroom into something more akin to a glamorous boudoir.
TELL US…
What’s your bathroom like? Is it your haven, or is it in need of a boost? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
Don’t restrict your décor to ‘bathroom-only’ bits and pieces, and instead raid the rest of your house for pretty accessories to pep up the bathroom. Vintage-style pitchers, soft sheepskin and even a comfortable armchair taken from your living room or kitchen can completely change the look of your bathroom into something more akin to a glamorous boudoir.
TELL US…
What’s your bathroom like? Is it your haven, or is it in need of a boost? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
With a pure white bathroom as a backdrop, you can be as daring and decadent as you like with accessories. That doesn’t necessarily mean splashes of vibrant colour and busy pattern, but maybe just a statement mirror, like this huge, Venetian glass design with beautiful detailing. It adds a hit of pure luxe to this classic bathroom and creates the perfect spot for getting ready in the mornings.