What is there to paint?

All I see is tile on the walls and a laminate vanity - and you can't paint those...

I'd simply play up it's retro-fabulousness by changing out the handles on the vanity to shiny brass like the other hardware - then using pink and orange towels and accents to make the room pop.

Yeah, it doesn't look like there is much to paint in this bathroom.

I woulld change the handles in the vanity. Maybe get a new light fixture.

For paint colors, you could go the Wearstler period route: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/inspiration/the-70s-kelly-wearstlers-next-big-thing-domino-magazine-october-2008--063542

Fabric, not paint. Get a curved curtain rod (which you may need to hang from the ceiling), and hang a floor to ceiling curtain around the offending gold shower.

Then make a skirt for the offending vanity.

Hang some humidity-tolerant on the opposite wall. It'll be fine.

Humidity-tolerant ART, I meant to say.

For a rental this doesn't look to bad! (mine is far scarier) I agree with changing the handles of the vanity. You might want to change those light bulbs to CFL's to save on energy, I had a bathroom fixture like that before and it was an energy guzzler, I got some great frosted CFLs from IKEA that fit really nice

You could hang up a nice curtain around the shower to hide the gold from the outside. They sell curved rods. And then, from the mirror I can tell there actually is a wall that is paintable. Choose one of the colors you like in the curtain and match it and all will be well!

The reflection in the mirror shows what there is to paint. :)

I think a bright, crisp and clean color would work well. The beige wall seems make the bathroom look a bit blah.
I'd say go for warm hues, cool colors will probably clash too much, but keep it light and fresh.

Just pick up a bunch of paint chips and start playing to see what you like.

I didn't notice the reflection of the opposite wall - thanks for pointing that out...

I'd still go with a vibrant pink and/or orange - perhaps a handpainted trellis print or even vintage wallpaper or fabric starched to the walls?

Brass isn't scarey --just dated. Pretend that you like it and go with it. It's basically a yellow metal, so colors that work with yellow look fine with it. For warmer tones, you could go with salmon, orange, peach... I don't recommend yellow, having had a bright yellow room which, I discovered, reflects onto your skin in unappetizing ways! (Looked good on the wall, though!)

For cooler tones, I'd still pick those with a golden undertone -- mossy or citrus greens, turquoise blues, aquas...

For neutrals, warm browns or beiges...

I agree with the concept of picking curtains and choosing a color from it, assuming you like patterned curtains. (Assuming there is a window.) Although putting a shower curtain around the stall might make a design statement, I think it would rapidly become a colossal nuisance.

Those are some powerfully ugly colors you have to work with - how about some eggplant on the walls and towels?

thanks everyone, for the comments [this is Jana] this is why I asked AT for help!

I guess the pic is cropped a little close, but the tile and mirror don't go up to the ceiling; there is another 2 feet of boring beige above, plus three more walls to paint [tall ceilings and no windows].

I don't know about the shower curtain idea. it would add color, but also a daily hassle: a curtain AND swinging door every time I want to shower? no thanks.

and if I must embrace the gold, I was leaning toward jewel-tones [since that's what I would wear with gold and I tend to think of decorating as I think of fashion] but the tiles are a slightly pinkish beige [to complicate things further] and I don't want to clash with that.

I like the eggplant idea. Golden-yellow looks lovely with it. Maybe some olive green accents too? I agree with the others above, retro it up! :)

So we are decided? We're going for an 80s makeover, Designing Women, Golden Girls and Dynasty!

did anything good come from the 80's? Besides me, lol

It looks like you have an entire wall (reflected in the mirror) to paint.

There is one school of thought that says you should paint a bathroom in colors that are flattering to you since you see yourself in the mirror...

Maybe a warm grey?

What about taking the mirror down (hiding it away until you move away) and putting up a framed mirror? That could give it some personality.

I would change out the lighting fixture...if you or someone you know can deal with the electrical side.

I might paint it red or a yellow. I would stay away from bright hues and stick with deeper tones them done a bit. Or even do a pale lime green.

love the eggplant or jewel colours, which can anchor the pink-beige, brass finish and mirror.

Tile is paintable, although a BIG job, and not reversable...do a diy and frame the mirror with a glossy black frame (wood and spray paint from the hardwear store) then just add some cool accessories and art.....I liked to turquoise paint idea too!

Don't try to hide anything. It will just look like... well... you are trying to hide something.

Go for the gold! It's really not that bad. And if you pull out all your shelter mags from the last few years, you'll see that brass accents are back in a huge way (thanks, Kelly Wearstler). Granted, brass hasn't really made its way back into bathrooms... but so what?

You can make this work.

Are you bold? I'd love to see a nice cinnamon brown. Not too dark. With just a very few carefully chosen orange accents. Cream towels.

And yes, get some bohemian and unexpected pulls from Anthropologie. It would be glorious if you could change the light fixture. Look for something vintage (and yes, brass).

I was at my mother in law's for thanksgiving, and her condo is like a 70s time warp. She has the most wild (in a good way) brass swag lamps in her bathroom.

I think the cabinet pulls should be bright shiny brass, pink on the walls (very flattering to the skin) with pink and orange accents... how to you feel about contact paper? I think if the shower enclosure had some color to it, it could be fun. It depends on how much light you get in there...

Once again, basic color theory is very well established and will lead you in the right direction for whatever you want to do.

To make the beige tile look more "crisp" you need to provide value contrast, i.e. a darker tone on the wall. To downplay the yellow-ness of the brass you need to stick with analogous hues; to make it "pop" pick a color close to the compliment (blue). Unfortunately the brass is so saturated that you can't very well overpower it with another saturation, so you pretty much can only use saturation to control the overall effect of the palette you choose.

Jewel tones (saturated and dark in value) of almost any hue will work because they give good value contrast. Analogous jewel hues (reds/browns/golds) will create a harmonious palette; complimentary hues (deep blues & greens) will create a more lively effect. Dark but muted (less saturated) colors will tone down the effect of color harmonies while still providing a rich contrast for a fresh appearance.

Regardless, you really can't fight the brass, so you might as well make it look its best. As a guy, I'd love to see a dark color for a bold, smart look. A charcoal gray with a blue undertone would make the place look really crisp. If you prefer something softer and/or more feminine, pick a rich jewel tone in whatever color harmony appeals to you.

Embrace the gold and paint gold OR paint it a purple or something that is going to make it seem like the golds not a remnant from times past, like it's a new innovative colour scheme that you have thought up. :)

I have an insane bathroom with 1930's maroon and cream tiles on 2 sides and crappy plastic surround on two sides and a dropped ceiling. Just this weekend I got lots of the 'DIY fabric' at Urban outfitters, which is marked down to 5 bucks from 38 bucks a pop NOW since they are discontinuing it - and I used starch paste to paste the fabric to the walls. I also covered the dropped ceiling with it and made skirts for the sink and closet. Now it looks amazing and as though I picked the insane colors. I am going to send it in to AT but I am honestly almost too shocked with how amazing and fabulous it looks to even move. So hunt down those tapestries -not all the stores have them anymore since they are being sold right NOW- then go to town!

Given the gold, almost Orla Keily wallpaper might work well - and it's removable. http://www.orlakiely.com/uk.cfm/house/living/overview
Here's some online UO fabric but there are more patterns n the store.
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=60&startValue=121&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=14389373&parentid=A_FURN_SALE&sortProperties= product.marketingPriority,-product.startDate&navCount=84&navAction=poppushpush&color=

I would NOT use contact paper or paint the tile.Those will give you more headaches than you want.

Paint all the brass silver, either the landlord would prefer it or will not know if you don't tell them. I doubt it's real brass rather than some cheap metal painted brass.

I would go blue. Blue and gold don't look half bad together. Also agree with changing the pulls on the cabinet. I wouldn't try to fight the 80's look too much because I'm pretty sure the 80's are in these days (at least for fashion).

Someone said warm grey, I vote for that. Maybe black and white photos on the wall, white towels, grey rugs.