Whether it’s your bathroom in your first “grown-up” apartment or you’ve recently moved and just want to start off on the right foot, there’s a certain number of items that are just bathroom essentials. We’ve rounded up our version of what we think is needed in your bathroom at home, and we of course chose items that are good-looking!
Some might argue that not all of these items are actually completely essential for using the bathroom in your home, and they’d be right. You can live without some of these things, but really, why would you want to? The bathroom is an often neglected (or at the very least, last minute design) area of the home, but can be something that makes a huge impact on guests. Besides, you deserve a good-looking place to relax while getting ready for work or soaking in a bath after a long day. Why not surround yourself with things you need (okay, maybe half things you need, half things you want)?
1) Good lighting We're actually partial to the look of a chandelier in the bathroom.
2) Good mirror Just because your bathroom comes with a mirror already, doesn't mean you have to stick to that one. In fact, there are a range of options that will help add instant customization.
3) A matching set of towels Don't just pick boring ones; we rounded up a bunch of patterned ones earlier this year.
4) Durable bath mat Remember, it's got to look good and withstand dirty and clean feet walking on it.
5) Non-standard shower curtain Don't just stick to one of those boring shower curtains you can get for cheap, amp up the look of your bathroom with fun graphic prints.
6) Good cleaning supplies Here's an opportunity to stock fresh cabinets with all green cleaning supplies.
7) Good storage solutions A small space might necessitate a little creative thinking when it comes to storage space; implement neat ideas.
8) Good window treatment A bathroom window treatment has to look good and protect your privacy! We've got 8 solutions.
9) Toothbrush holder The sort of item you don't realize you need until your toothbrush accidentally falls into the toilet or on the floor. Check out these 12 quirky ideas.
10) Trash can Don't just go with a plain and boring trash can, pick one with a fun pop of color like these.
11) Good smelling hand soap It's not all about impressing guests, of course, that's a great side effect of having nice hand soap.
12) Hand towel for guests Though traditional, we've always been partial to monogramed hand towels.
Have we left anything off your own list of bathroom essentials? Are there any of these items you happily live without? Let us know!
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People often screw up lighting. If you're not sure about appropriate height, distance from mirrors, etc. and don't want to look any worse in the morning than you might already, check out the trade sites like the National Kitchen and Bath Association. They provide the guidelines designers actually use.
@Indy: Great tip--thanks!
Plain white bathtowels, terry bathmats and showercurtains are so much easier to live with and maintain - No need to match colors with anything, toss them in the laundry w/ your other whites such as underwear, they never fade or get bleach spots and they never go out of style.
Count me in the camp that prefers "plain old boring" essentials. White towels, shower curtain, and bathmats are easy to keep looking good and timeless.
Great tips... and very timely. I'm moving out for the first time, and I'm having to think about things I've never paid attention to, ever. This is so helpful!
I agree with the white towels comments. And I agree with anittah in that too many "non-boring" things can potentially make a space look too busy.
But I do appreciate the roundup of interesting ways to make your bathroom yours.
One of my previous roommates was devastated that we couldn't fit a chandelier in our attic apartment bathroom (a concept that never even occurred to me at the time) so next to the sink we had narrow table with a small lamp on it, and it really did make our awkwardly shaped small bathroom feel a lot nicer.
@anittah: "Remember that red polka dot bathroom?"
I do. I do remember it. It wasn't boring.
And yeah, quirky towels and quirky shower curtain and quirky trash can and, and, and... adds up to chaos. Obviously, that's not what the editors are suggesting, but when you put all the suggestions together in a list like this, that's what it sounds like.
@anittah:
thanks... thank you very much! thank you for making me remember the red polka-dot bathroom! I'll be having nightmares all over again!
I'm wondering what "the look of a chandelier" has to do with good, essential lighting though.
I love that photo! The orange tub, the brick, the showercurtain... gorgeous!
What do you do when all of your lighting is on one end of the room, you have a huge bathroom, and you rent so you can't rewire? Our shower is very dark and even the available light is not good enough for getting ready by.
I would add a mat inside the shower to cut down on slipping. I also like shower curtains that are as clear as possible so that you get more light inside the shower.
Storage is important so clutter is minimized. Everything not used constantly should be out of sight, if at all possible. Things that stay out on counters should have nice packaging and maybe color coordination. My bathroom is blue and white, mostly. I found liquid hand soap in a lovely indigo bottle, my dentist required mouthwash is blue (I could have chosen green -- I hate the taste of both, so why not blue!?), my other accessories are in various shades of blue and aqua... still a bit too much on the counter, but it looks like it belongs there at least.
@lifeinthefortress, I'd try a bright table lamp on a small table, but plug it into a GFCI circuit and don't touch with wet hands!!
Toilet bowl brush.
Umm, how about a plunger?
Nothing like being in someone else's house and accidentally clogging their toilet and no way to remove it (well, maybe there are no accidents). I'd hate for someone to be in my bathroom and have the same happen but with no plunger.
I guess you want to add toilet brush to that list, too. Don't want to leave any aftershock.
White towels don't work so well for people of color. As we dry off, our darker skin sheds onto the towels. Something white people don't think about....
Use accessories to decorate not colored towels. I think towels should be fluffy and white and easy to throw in the wash quickly washed.
Should be a wire basket of rolled up ready to use white hand towels for company or guest to use and a if there is room an additional basket near it so the dirty used towels can be thrown it to.
There should also be a container of cleaning wipes that guest can use if they dirty up the counter, toilet etc while using it so they can do a quick clean up without needing to call the home owner to ask for something to clean up their mess.
Also, always have visible lotion in a pump container so guest can moisturize their hands after washing.
oops, sorry typing in a hurry.
The hot, humid atmosphere in a bathroom is the worst place for medications.
Cool cabinet.
where is the shower curtain in this image from??
thanks!
The shower curtain is the Lehtimaja pattern by Marimekko in Mist. It was sold by Crate & Barrel (I have the bedding), but I don't know if it's available any longer.
ah, I suspected it was marimekko.. thank you!
I thnk the bigger the mirror, the better. It adds dimension, light and a feeling of spaciousness. I agree that good quality towels are well worth the $ but that 'snowy white' doesn't stay 'snowy' for long...at least not in my house.