In real life, many of us are living with less-than-ideal rental bathrooms. While we try to focus on the positives—"I have indoor plumbing and hot water!"—those builder-grade basins and depressing tiles can get to you after a while.
Fear not, Dear Reader. We can help with that. There are plenty of things you can do to cheer up a dreary bathroom situation when you can't afford to renovate or even if you are renting.
You already know the obvious things: A lick of fresh paint and removable wallpaper can do wonders, and swapping out the cabinet hardware always helps.
And don’t be afraid of the dark! Contrary to popular opinion, using a dark colour in a small room can make it feel more cozy and opulent.
But other clever ideas can elevate your blah bathroom. Why not...
1. Install a cute shower curtain in front of a sad glass shower door. I KNOW. Weird, right? But hear me out. If you have a dated shower frame situation (and you probably do). The best part? You don't have to restrict yourself to traditional shower curtain options and opt for a regular curtain panel because it won't get wet!
2. Update the flooring. If rental floors are typically sad, rental bathroom floors are tragic.
When I was a young newlywed in Singapore, I covered an ugly bathroom floor with river stones (admittedly, it was my Husband's bathroom). It was probably not the most practical option, but I was trying stuff!
If your budget (and Landlord) permit, there are some great peel-and-stick tile options now. If not, a real rug is an excellent option in a bathroom. There are infinite options to suit all aesthetics and budgets. You can layer them with a simple bath mat, hide that uggo tile, and warm up the space. Win-win!
3. Light Fixtures. You can easily swap out those builder-grade, landlord-special lights from the early aughts for something better, but why stop there? Cordless lamps have recently gotten really cool (and more affordable). I love them for entertaining, but these new lamps have a solid aesthetic that can work into your daily rotation when you might not want a glaring overhead light on. They are rechargeable, cordless, and go anywhere (even tub side).
4. 
Get some art. Hang something—a vintage poster, a photograph, an old oil painting, or even your child's latest art project in a nice frame. You can even get aesthetic groups of prints on Amazon to help start your gallery wall. No matter what you get, art in the bathroom is always a good idea.
5. Plants. Everyone loves them when they're there, but so few of us bother to include them in the bath. A little greenery in a small space breathes life into a space, to say nothing of improving the air quality. A fresh-cut bouquet is always lovely, but a living plant is even better (and will last much longer).
6. Vertical thinking. In another life, I owned a cute one-bedroom condo in West Hollywood. It was tiny, but it was mine. The first thing I did was change the carpet to a (then fashionable) wool Berber. I also installed a telephone (It was the nineties) and vertical shelving in the tiny bathroom. My father helped me build and install some basic vertical shelves that held everything from neatly arranged rolls of toilet paper to folded towels and washcloths rolled into galvanized tubs (I did say the 90s). While the materials might have changed, the thinking is still valid. These days, I would stack a couple of sets of these nursery shelves vertically to hold my skincare essentials. In a small space, always look up!
7. Better Bathroom Products. This is by far the easiest upgrade: get better soap. A great-smelling room spray and a bathroom cleaner that's pretty enough to leave out on the tank are practical and easy ways to elevate your bathroom.
I've spent years going in and out of rentals, testing many tricks to make them look and work how I need them to work. Of course, there is a limit to what you can do in a space you don't own, but a few minor upgrades to the bathroom can make it feel much more like yours.
xx, mlk
