Bathroom

Modern bathroom with glass shower, round mirror, and wooden vanity, adjacent to a cozy living area with a gray sofa.
Don’t Believe a Spa Can Fit in a Tiny Apartment? Think Again
More and more, it’s becoming increasingly normal to hear stories of people learning to acclimate themselves to living in seriously small apartments. Cities are practically bursting at the seams so for many metropolitan dwellers, creatively maximizing a small living space has quickly become a modern-day survival tactic.
Kenya Foy
Jul 21, 2018
The $12 Target Purchase That Saved My Bathroom
We might try to walk into Target with good intentions. The plan is to pick up that one thing we need, responsibly tossing it into our baskets before popping through self checkout, paying a respectable amount of money, and going on our ways. Sure, good intentions are great and all—but we also know that no one is safe from the lure of Target.
Brooke Bunce
Jul 19, 2018
5 Lazy Ways to Avoid Cleaning the Bathroom
Welcome to Apartment Therapy’s Chore-Free Summer. Every weekday until July 20, we’re arming you with time-saving shortcuts and hacks that’ll help you work smarter, not harder, when it comes to homekeeping this summer. Because cleaning doesn’t have to be a chore. Cleaning the bathroom is an oft-reviled chore, and for very good reason. You’re forced to get intimate with your filth—and the filth of the people you live with.
Taryn Williford
Jul 17, 2018
Before and After: A One-Week $5K Bathroom Remodel for the Ages
Yes, that’s right: sponge painting! If any of you are old enough to remember when sponge painting (or feather duster painting, ooh-la-la) was the hot new thing, this bathroom is probably bringing back a few flashbacks. While sponge painting is sure to make a comeback any day now, the homeowner was ready for a change—especially from the peeling floors.
Tess Wilson
Jul 11, 2018
Before and After: This Bathroom Keeps Its Original, Beautiful Tiles
When I first saw these dreamy blue tiles, I held my breath that they would survive this bathroom’s makeover. And when I saw the results? Legitimate gasp! This Before & After is so, so fun and incredibly well done. This is glorious! I would never have thought of that wallpaper with these tiles in a million years; fortunately, Carrie Hayward of Disney Travel Babble has a lot more vision than I do.
Tess Wilson
Jul 10, 2018
Before and After: Great Ideas for a Builder Grade Bathroom
This ordinary-appearing bathroom was harboring a terrible secret, so a renovation was urgent and 100 percent necessary. And if the finishes just happened to get (majorly) upgraded in the process? So be it… As usual, the Before photo doesn’t tell the whole story—here’s what this bathroom was like before it was gutted: Original floor tiles, missing drawers, and mismatched faucets. This is what our master bathroom looked like when we purchased the home in summer of 2017.
Tess Wilson
Jul 9, 2018
Before and After: A Terrific $2K ‘Temporary’ Bathroom Remodel
This bathroom was built in the ’30s, redecorated 30 years later… and then used as-is for decades. The new homeowners wanted to give the bathroom a much-needed update without spending a ton, and the results are a delight. First, here’s a tiny bit of backstory: 1931 Craftsman BADLY needed repainting when my then-boyfriend (now husband) purchased the house in 2003… This year we did a “temporary” budget remodel on a TERRIBLE 1960s bathroom remodel.
Tess Wilson
Jul 8, 2018
If There’s Such a Thing as a Sexy Toilet Plunger, This is It
Toilet plungers are not something we tend to discuss. But, for sure, we want them to work and we sure hope there’s one accessible if we—horror!—happen to need one in someone else’s bathroom. (By the way, this post has some great tips for how to unclog a toilet, should you find yourself without a plunger). Whether it’s through consideration for your guests or to equip your own home with the top tools for the job, we found the one toilet plunger to replace all others.
Shifrah Combiths
Jun 24, 2018
The Most Satisfying $6 I Ever Spent On My Rental Apartment
As a renter, I love this product and think it's easier than the real deal.
Ashley Poskin
Jun 23, 2018
Before and After: This Master Bathroom’s New Floor Tile is Absolutely Stunning
While this bathroom might not have looked bad at all before, its owner described it as “by far the worst bathroom we’d ever owned,” full of safety, sanitary, practical, and aesthetic issues. Two months later, the only issue with the bathroom is that it’s not mine. This is so stunning. I am an absolute sucker for those starburst tiles—and an equal sucker for vanities that look like (or began their lives as) furniture designed for other rooms of the home.
Tess Wilson
Jun 19, 2018
Why You Should Use Magnets to Organize Your Bathroom
Magnets are little gravity-defying miracles, and mighty in their myriad uses. One of the best places to put their small-yet-powerful selves to work is in the bathroom. Use one or two or 10 there, and keep everything in its proper place. No more hunting around for loose bobby pins, nail clippers, or your favorite eye shadow.
Dabney Frake
Jun 18, 2018
You Should Use a Screwdriver When You Clean the Bathroom—Here’s Why
Cleaning the toilet happens to be not only among the most odorous of chores, but also one that simply must get done to maintain any modicum of cleanliness in your house. But no matter how regularly you clean it and how much of a stickler you are for doing it the “right” way, you may not end up with a toilet that looks or—ahem—smells as fresh as you’d like.
Shifrah Combiths
Jun 14, 2018
Before and After: This Bathroom Has a Great Fix for An Old Tile Floor
One of the most fun aspects of these makeover posts is getting to see all the ’80s decor, especially 1980s bathrooms. Here we have a wall-to-wall frameless mirror, wood towel bar and light fixture, orange-y wood in general, and, most importantly, a cream marble seashell sink. Perhaps those will come back into fashion, but for now, it’s gone! Let’s explore how else this bathroom was updated.
Tess Wilson
Jun 12, 2018
The Big Drawbacks to Wall-Mounted Faucets
Read this before you install.
Shifrah Combiths
Jun 8, 2018
Just How Bad Is It to Never Replace Your Caulk?
Let’s be honest: Unless our bathroom caulk falls out completely, it doesn’t occur to many of us to replace it—clean it, sure, but replace entirely? Are we gross? Are we going to die tomorrow? Let’s explore. Fresh caulk should last quite a while—in the five year range—but a couple of factors can reduce its lifespan: Using the wrong kind for the job, poor installation, and even house settling can cause it to pull away from the wall and lose efficacy.
Tess Wilson
Jun 1, 2018
One Trick that Could Make Cleaning the Toilet Fun—Okay, Not Fun But At Least Not Awful
Toilet-cleaning ranks as one of the most dreaded of all household chores, and no wonder; it’s a dirty, dirty job. Personally, I don’t mind it that much because I’d much rather know it’s clean and shiny than put off doing it. Plus the more often you do it, the less yucky the whole ordeal is. There’s one part that always flummoxed me, though, until I had a silly epiphany that solved the problem.
Shifrah Combiths
May 28, 2018
Before and After: This $1,300 Bathroom Makeover Keeps The Tile, Loses the ’90s Glam
A reader kindly sent in this bathroom, referring to it as “the epitome of ’90s glam.” For a moment there was hope that the After was going to be ’90s glam—think of all the Nagels!—but, instead, this is the story of how quintessentially ’90s elements were smartly incorporated into an updated, understated, and affordable makeover. Here’s a full-length view.
Tess Wilson
May 22, 2018
Before and After: This Nautical Bathroom is Now Much More Subtle
This smart redo preserved everything that was great, and changed everything that wasn't.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2018
Before and After: This $3K Bathroom Redo Feels More Like $50K
This ultra-’90s bathroom was radically transformed into a stunning, smart, and structurally unrecognizable bathroom for less than $3,000. It took vision, elbow grease, and a few (not so) small tasks. You know, like building custom door frames, “casting in place with concrete,” and “construct[ing] a custom wet table saw.” Easy breezy! That marble is simply to die for.
Tess Wilson
May 2, 2018
Before & After: A Crumbling Bathroom Gets a Fresh New Look
The hall bathroom in Mary Ann and Frank’s Upper West Side apartment was a bit of a Monet: cute from afar, but kind of crumbly and weird up close. The apartment was built in 1929, and all the fixtures in the bathroom were original. This meant that the tiles and tub had both seen better days. After living in their apartment since 1992, Mary Ann and Frank were ready for a bathroom that was a little more ‘wow’ and a little less ‘it’ll do.
Nancy Mitchell
Apr 30, 2018
11 Budget Ways to Upgrade Your Basic Frameless Bathroom Mirror
Ah, the classic, frameless, builder grade mirror. It’s one of your biggest bathroom features, and also one of the least special. Here’s the good news. If you have one of these very common mirrors, there are tons of ways you can upgrade them on a budget. The quintessential budget way is to frame what you already have, using either wooden boards or inexpensive molding, depending on the look you want.
Cat Meschia
Apr 19, 2018
Before and After: A Whirlwind Weekend Bathroom Renovation
This windowless bathroom was a bit drab and dated, and over the course of just one weekend, it was transformed into a light and bright space. Oh, the power of a coat of paint and some new fixtures! That horizontal picture didn’t show much, so here’s a full-length shot, with a description of the pre-refresh situation from Genevieve Claire of Vieve Claire: The walls and ceiling were painted with a caramel colour making the bathroom look and feel outdated.
Tess Wilson
Apr 14, 2018
Only Have One Minute to Spring Clean the Bathroom? One Hour? Try These Tricks
This year, we’re on a mission to help you tackle spring cleaning on your time. Each weekday until April 13, we’ll guide you through a plan to clean and organize different areas of your home, but you’ll have the flexibility to choose exactly what to work on and how long you have to dedicate to the job. Nobody really likes cleaning, do they? I’m a home editor and I don’t even like cleaning. I enjoy having a clean home, of course.
Taryn Williford
Apr 12, 2018
Before and After: A Bold $230 Rental Bathroom Redo
This rental powder room has bright white walls, interesting art, enviable jewelry displays, and very nice fixtures, but there’s just something missing. What could it be? STRIPES! The answer is stripes. This bathroom is now so bold and glamorous. I love the way the wallpaper highlights the interesting ceiling, and the way the lampshade echoes the shape of the skirt in the illustration.
Tess Wilson
Apr 11, 2018
Before and After: A Pretty Amazing Master Bath Remodel
This bathroom window is amazing — just imagine gazing outside while in the tub! —but, unfortunately, it gets a bit lost in what the owner describes as an ultimate late-’80s/early-’90s bathroom: “Lots of beige, fancy flourishes and brown granite.” It will take a total gut job to bring this bathroom into the 21st Century. Here’s a full-length shot of what Erin Wheeler of Sunny Circle Studio‘s bathroom, pre-renovation.
Tess Wilson
Apr 6, 2018
Before and After: An Elegant Powder Room for an Unbelievable $1K Price Tag
It seems like we’ve seen a thousand iterations of this powder room (minus the grand mirror): taupe linoleum counter, bulky vanity, dated wallpaper, standard fixtures. What can be done to make it less predictable and more special? A paint job, perhaps, or a countertop upgrade?
Tess Wilson
Mar 28, 2018
Why Did Anyone Think Carpet in the Bathroom Was a Good Idea?
A look into the history of a particularly weird old trend.
Nancy Mitchell
Mar 28, 2018
This Bathroom Went from Boring Builder Grade to “Wow”
While there isn’t anything inherently wrong with this “before” (it’s clean, it’s white, it’s rocking some fun cabinet hardware and additional storage), we’re saying it: it’s boring. This bathroom could be in just about any house in any part of America. The “after” though…well, we’re smitten (it features one of the most stunning floors seen in all our Before & Afters).
Tess Wilson
Mar 27, 2018
What Ever Happened to Colored Toilet Paper?
The days of coordinating your TP to your bathroom are over. Here's why.
Nancy Mitchell
Mar 24, 2018
Before and After: A Budget $6K Bathroom Three Years in the Making
You might think that the issues with this bathroom are mainly aesthetic — the dangling door, the intensely peach tiles, for starters. But, in fact, the problems go much further than these superficial concerns. Unfortunately, reader Rachel found that removing the ruffled curtain did nothing to alleviate the mold-infested walls.
Tess Wilson
Mar 23, 2018
Here’s a Before and After We’ve Never Seen: A Balcony Becomes a Bathroom
We’ve seen plenty of impressive room conversion Before & Afters—closet to nursery, kitchen-turned-bedroom, closet to mudroom—but a balcony-to-bathroom renovation is definitely a first. The space was languishing as a slightly awkward office, when what the family really needed was a bathroom. They wisely turned to the pros for help. Let’s take a look at the full-length “Before,” so we can see both the wood-paneled sloped ceiling and the beige carpet.
Tess Wilson
Mar 22, 2018
Before & After: This 88-Year-Old Bathroom Goes Mad for Marble
The idea of a vintage bathroom sounds very nice, but sometimes the reality is less than appealing. The bathroom in Mary Ann and Frank’s Upper West Side apartment was what Cher Horowitz might call a Monet: “from far away it’s okay, but up close it’s a big ol’ mess.” The bath was completely unchanged since the building was built in 1929, and its age was starting to show, with missing tiles and permanently icky grout.
Nancy Mitchell
Mar 18, 2018
Before and After: An Easy, Low Risk Way to Go Bold and Big in a Small Bathroom
Here’s a perfectly fine, perfectly plain bathroom! The sink is cute, the walls look like they’re freshly painted, everything is fine—but could this bathroom perhaps become something beyond fine, maybe even fabulous? This is so fun! Small bathrooms—this is a half-bath—are the perfect place to go bold and go big.
Tess Wilson
Mar 9, 2018
A New Survey Says People Want to Share Gardens and Wifi, But Not Bathrooms
We’ve already shown that we’d rather share homes and rides and bicycles, and we’d rather rent, borrow, or swap clothes and books and food and even pets than own them outright — just to name a few areas of life that have been “disrupted” by the “sharing economy.
Melissa Massello
Feb 26, 2018
The Unfortunate Downsides to Having Two Bathroom Sinks
Having two sinks in a master bathroom is either a nice little luxury, or a total relationship-saver, depending on how much your schedules overlap, how well you share space when they do, and just how messy you both are. Would anyone turn an extra one down? Turns out this set up does have a couple of drawbacks however, which might give you pause. There’s lots to love about having his/his, his/hers, or hers/hers sinks.
Dabney Frake
Feb 23, 2018
Before & After: One of The Best $2K Bathroom Makeovers We’ve Ever Seen
Wow. This is one of those makeovers that you can’t believe was done on a budget. The results are so impressive, and the new bathroom looks like a million bucks. We shouldn’t be surprised, however, since Kristine has shared some equally impressive DIY projects in the past, including this gorgeous dresser refresh and jaw-dropping cabinet transformation.
Tess Wilson
Feb 22, 2018
Before and After: A Shabby, Barely-There Bathroom Gets Its Due
This bathroom was an afterthought—the cottage didn’t have a bathroom for decades!—and it’s finally gotten the love and attention that every room should have. Watch it go from “the cheapest materials available,” exterior paneling (!), and a very casually laid linoleum floor to a bright, inviting room full of mid-century modern charm . . . It’s so cute now!
Tess Wilson
Feb 13, 2018
Before and After: The Show-Stopping Magic of Amazing Tile
Those of you who are absolutely sick of white bathrooms with white floors, white walls, and white fixtures are going to LOVE this renovation. However, all you fans of black sinks are in for some heartbreak . . . This is an astounding makeover! The geometric tile is completely irresistible, and I love the playful choice to apply it to the floor and one wall. The mid-century modern vanity and fascinating tub pop against the blue backdrop; the hues are perfectly complementary.
Tess Wilson
Feb 12, 2018
Before and After: A Rotting Bathroom Is Now Beautifully Rustic
Melanie bought a house that was previously a rental for many years, and the bathroom was just not loved and cared for all that time. Not only was the space ugly, it had some real issues, including potential mold. When she and her husband renovated, the only thing they kept was the tub (and even that was refinished) … Wow! The bathroom is now so graphic and modern, that little sink is the cutest thing ever, and the vanity is ridiculously cool.
Tess Wilson
Feb 9, 2018
Ten Under-$40 IKEA Finds That’ll Double the Storage in Your Bathroom
10 brilliant ideas for your walls, countertops and awkward corners.
Caroline Biggs
Jan 18, 2018
Before & After: A Mauve Toilet Meets Its End
Scuffed mauve toilet, periwinkle walls, mauve sink, pebbled glass shower door, yellowed shower stall—what’s not to love? Well, perhaps a few tiny updates might be in order here… Ahhhh, much better! I know there are those of you who dislike white-centric makeovers (I always love them), but in this case, the interplay between the mostly white walls and the mostly black floor is so fun and vibrant, and the room really pops.
Tess Wilson
Jan 8, 2018
Before and After: A Rustic Cabin’s ’80s Bathroom Gets a Total Turnaround
When three friends — Amanda, Kate and Carina — decided to chase their dreams and buy a cabin in the Catskills together, they were ready to start having fun and enjoying their mountain retreat right away. But the home was built in the 1980s, and though the architectural bones were extraordinary, there were still a lot of elements from the era (like bizarre wallpaper, carpeted stairs, funky electrical work, and a mustard yellow shower).
Adrienne Breaux
Dec 19, 2017
Before & After: A Subtle Yet Significant Bathroom Upgrade
About $100 can make a huge difference.
Dabney Frake
Nov 28, 2017
Why You Should Keep a Cutting Board in Your Small Bathroom
You think New York City real estate is bad? You should see my bathroom counter. The door to the bathroom opens up right into the only natural place to put the vanity, which means there’s only one shallow, narrow space for the vanity to go — and one shallow, narrow space to work with when I’m getting ready in the morning. I used to drop my makeup bag and hair straightener right into the sink, but that got old fast every time I needed to rinse extra cheek tint off my hand.
Taryn Williford
Nov 21, 2017
How To Organize Your Entire Bathroom for Under $100
Wish your bathroom was more organized? Even in the tiniest of bathrooms, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make things work. Between damage-free hooks and shelves to portable items (like a rolling cart), you get can your bathroom in shape in no time. Pretend you have a budget of $100 to get everything you need to revamp your bathroom; here’s what you can get with that to make it all happen. Let’s get shopping — hypothetically at least — shall we?
Brittney Morgan
Nov 15, 2017
The Decorative Trick That Transformed How I Feel About My Bathroom
For the longest time, I thought there was only one solution for rugs in the bathroom: the traditional bath mat. I always struggled to find something I liked enough. Everything was either too fuzzy and nubby, or too bland in terms of design, as I like to add a punch of color via rugs in my all-beige bathroom to liven things up. That is, until I refreshed my space this past summer and went in a completely different direction. The “area rug as bath mat” concept is not a new one.
Arlyn Hernandez
Nov 11, 2017
Real Life Rental Challenge: A Genius Update For A Bad ’80s Bathroom Light
There’s nothing worse than those builder grade vanity strips in bathrooms, the ones that absolutely scream “HI, I’M CHROME AND WAS SENT FROM THE ’80s TO DATE YOU!!” As a renter your options are limited, but I came up with a smart way to deal with these common eyesores. Instead of swapping it out with a new light fixture, I decided to instead embrace the challenge and work with what I had. I couldn’t paint it, because that was permanent.
Diana Paulson
Nov 9, 2017
Before & After: A Large ’80s Bathroom Becomes Two for $4K
Chantel’s bathroom had a dark dungeon of an enclosed shower, dated vanity that lacked storage, and an odd medicine cabinet behind the toilet that protruded from the wall. With 35 years of use into this bathroom, it suffered from a grunge she just couldn’t get rid of — not to mention a slight odor and an odd color scheme that she just couldn’t live with. As you can see above, the 1980s was in full effect. The bathroom was originally one large 16′ x 7′ bathroom.
Dabney Frake
Oct 31, 2017
Before & After: A Family Home Gets Two New Bathrooms
Melanie’s rowhome had a surplus of bedrooms and a deficit of bathrooms so the math was easy to do. The actual renovation, however, was not so easy. After an extended timeline and a few plumbing snafus, they now have one newly remodeled bath and one entirely new one.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Oct 11, 2017
We Tried These Bathroom Drain Snakes To Unclog a Sink & OMG The Hair
Snaking the drain is one of those nasty jobs that we put off, and just deal with a clogged or slow draining sink or tub because we don’t want to bother with calling the landlord, or figuring out how to do it ourselves. Like so many things, after we actually do it, we realize it’s just not a big deal and wish we’d done it sooner. It’s also satisfying —and gross.
Ashley Poskin
Sep 25, 2017
Before & After: A Bland Bathroom Gets a Farmhouse Makeover for $400
Chelsea’s master bath was in need of a little love, but funds for a full renovation just weren’t in the cards. Rather than wallow in the depths of an ugly bathroom, Chelsea and her husband decided to make some smart, inexpensive upgrades to give the bathroom a new look without breaking the bank. From Chelsea: When we moved into our fixer upper, I knew we would someday need to tackle master bathroom. It was small, awkward and really hideous.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Sep 20, 2017
Small Details To Make You Really Love Your Rental Bathroom
It’s surprising what a difference a nice bathroom makes. Unfortunately, many renters (like myself), have to work with whatever setup our leased homes offer. Usually this is a very standard, neutral, easy-to-clean but very boring space, with minimal function — certainly nothing special. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to make a bathroom slightly more useful for your needs, and even slightly more stylish.
Brie Dyas
Sep 16, 2017
The Stylish Bathroom Design Direction That’s Perfect for a Tight Budget
Did you catch the gorgeous, renovated bathroom in this Philadelphia house? On a tight budget for the whole home, Melissa and John’s bathroom is filled with affordable materials used in fresh ways. And the room’s success is due in large part to the fact that the couple stuck to two strong, simple and complementary design styles: modern and rustic. Below, four elements that make this bathroom so beautiful and affordable to emulate.
Adrienne Breaux
Sep 13, 2017
Before & After: A New Neutral Look for a ’70s Bathroom & Kitchen
Project by: Jessica Nicolls of Bungalow 56 Interiors Location: Coronado, California There’s something so calming about well done neutral spaces isn’t there? Rather than boring or bland, they’re rooms that relax you just by looking at them. Jessica was able to turn her client’s outdated brown kitchen and bathroom into neutral yet visually pleasing rooms.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Sep 8, 2017
9 Real Bathrooms That Expertly Tackle a Lack of Storage
Not all bathrooms are created equal, and that’s fine by us. Some may see a small bathroom as a storage nightmare, but we see it as a challenge. Here are nine genius DIY bathrooms that prove no storage situation, or lack there of, can’t be tackled. Here, Rebecca Williams shows us how her boho maximalist home in Western Australia maximizes storage. Rebecca uses unoccupied wall space to store her toiletries on hanging shelves and a hanging planter repurposed as a storage basket (genius!
Jessica Isaac
Sep 5, 2017
Before & After: A Crumbling Apartment Bathroom Gets a New Lease on Life
As a connoisseur of all things vintage, I am certainly not immune to the appeal of an old-school peach-tiled bathroom, but this one had seen better days. The tiles were cracked and patched in mismatched colors, the toilet was one of those tankless numbers where you always feel like you’re going to fall over backwards, and the flooring (almost definitely not original) was more gas station bathroom than mid-century dream.
Nancy Mitchell
Sep 4, 2017
Toilet Paper Holders That Are Actually Quite Beautiful
I don’t think anyone would use the words ‘glamorous’ or ‘exciting’ to describe toilet paper. Toilet paper is deeply utilitarian, and its intended use is never far from anyone’s mind. But the toilet paper holder — well, that’s a different story.
Nancy Mitchell
Aug 26, 2017
Before & After: 3 Years, $1,000 and Many Craigslist Finds Later, This Bathroom Has a New Look
Becky’s bathroom was not only super dated, it wasn’t really meeting their needs, so she set about changing it, slowly but surely. Aside from some plumbing work, Becky tackled most of the updates herself, keeping the cost low (but, occasionally, the stress high). The new bathroom is a moody, glam goth space, the likes of which we haven’t really seen on the site before. From Becky: The before, to us, was, well …. pretty awful, to be generous with my word choice.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Aug 26, 2017
Before & After: A Wildly Outdated (We’re Talking Shell Sinks Here) Bathroom Totally Transforms
Jesse’s bathroom was not only leaving a lot to be desired aesthetically, it had some major functionality issues as well. Once they decided to drag their bathroom kicking and screaming out of the dregs of the ’80s, they encountered a little bit more than they bargained for with the plumbing. In the end, however, living a shower-less life paid off as their bathroom is one heck of a stunner.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Aug 23, 2017
A Boring Rental Bathroom Gets a Totally Reversible Makeover
Ladies and gentlemen, here is what my boring bathroom looked like up until the other day. I’ve lived in my rental for just over two years, and this place looked the same as it did the day I moved in (with the addition of some hand soap, my toothbrush and a toilet paper roll) for far too long. Is it completely offensive? Nah, it’s pretty passable, but boy was it dull.
Arlyn Hernandez
Aug 15, 2017
It’s About Time: After 3 Years of Beige, My Bland Rental Bathroom Gets a Refresh
I have lived on my own for the last six years, slowly but surely acquiring furniture, art and decor that I really liked, which of course means that along the way, there were empty corners (and rooms) waiting to be filled. Finally, though, my apartment—which I’ve lived in for two years—has gotten to a place where I didn’t wonder if visitors thought I had just moved in. The guest bedroom has curtains (which I sewed and I’m quite proud of!
Arlyn Hernandez
Aug 14, 2017
Before & After: An ’80s Bathroom Gets a Classic Update
Before finally deciding to renovate, Claudia had been living in her Upper East Side co-op since 2001 — so she had a pretty clear vision of what she wanted for her bathroom. The space, while still functional, hadn’t been updated in 30 years, and the mid-’80s fixtures were a poor fit for the building’s character.
Nancy Mitchell
Aug 13, 2017
Keeping Colors Calm: A Beautifully Neutral Bathroom Makeover
Project by: Paula Guzman of Paula E Guzman Studio Location: Midtown, Manhattan—New York Paula’s project is an excellent lesson in both balance and working with what you got. Working with and not around her bathroom’s shortcomings, she created a serene space without a major overhaul. From Paula: This is the decoration of a small, prewar bathroom in my last apartment. It was your typical boring bath with plain white subway tile and very standard fixtures.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Aug 9, 2017
A Small Space Squeezes in a Bathroom & Laundry Room Beautifully
Project by: Clara Jung of Banner Day Consulting Location: Oakland, California Clara’s clients had a weird little nook in their home that sat unused, just begging for something to do. They decided not to let limits on space limit their dreams, so they decided to put both a bathroom and a laundry into the same space, divided by a pocket door, and we’re screaming for joy. Not only does the remodel add functionality, it’s easy on the eyes as well.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jul 27, 2017
The Best-Looking Bathroom Trash Cans Under $15
A good-looking bathroom trash bin is hard to find. That’s why most of them wind up stashed near the toilet or under the sink. Sure you can invest in a fancy one that looks great, but who wants to drop serious cash on something as small and well, trashy as a garbage can? Lucky for you, we did our research and it turns out the web is filled with some surprisingly sleek and inexpensive bathroom receptacles.
Caroline Biggs
Jul 20, 2017
Upgrade Your Shower Style: Dress Up Your Bath with Valances, Cornices & Pelmets
Unless you’re talking about a new fabric, there usually isn’t much to talk about when it comes to shower curtains. (Though we could go on about the pros and cons of curved vs. traditional curtain rods.) However, there’s one decor element that can upgrade any shower curtain into a focal point: A valance, cornice or pelmet.
Brie Dyas
Jul 12, 2017
Before & After: Three Days, $800 and One New Half Bath
Half baths can be so easy to forget — home to b-team hand towels and re-gifted decorative soaps, relegated to occasional guest usage and always in the shadow of the bathrooms with things like tubs and showers. Christina decided it was time to give her half bath a little time in the spotlight, and buckled down to give it an eye-catching upgrade. From Christina: The bathroom before was dark and dreary. It looked like any other bathroom and felt like a dark hole in the hallway.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jul 6, 2017
Before & After: A Brand New Look for a Beige Bath
Tara’s bathroom had the sort of tan look that was popular during the heyday of Friends. Deciding enough was enough, she set out to create a bathroom with more storage, more space and more style. From Tara: We knew we needed to re-do this bathroom from the moment we bought this house. This is the main bathroom in our three bedroom, to bathroom, 1950s ranch. I have been dreaming of the day this project would be finished.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 30, 2017
Take 10: Beautiful Bathroom Sink Consoles Made from Vintage Dressers
Vintage dressers are a bathroom renovator’s best friend, as they can lend a healthy dose of character to the old W.C. for a fraction of the price of most (boring) made-to-order vanities. What’s more is, if you know how to drill a hole into wood, you’re half way to repurposing your own vintage dresser into a vanity/ sink console.
Jessica Isaac
Jun 26, 2017
Before & After Blowout: The Big Bathroom Makeover Gallery
We will never, ever, ever get enough of bathroom remodels. And if you’re in the mood for just a quick hit of some serious makeover magic, scroll through the gallery to see some of our fave tile transformations, bath boosts and sink sensations. Revisit some old favorites and a few new ones, and who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to tackle your own bathroom project!
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 26, 2017
Before and After: An ’80s Bathroom Gets a Classic Update
Tasha’s twins were using a dark and outdated bathroom, complete with carpet (why was that ever considered a good idea?) and some very ’80s materials. Calling in the professionals for the major plumbing and drywall work, but doing the rest herself, Tasha created a space that can grow with her girls and remain visually appealing for years to come. From Tasha: Our second full bathroom, which is mostly used by our twin girls, was horribly outdated — circa 1980.
Apartment Therapy Submissions
Jun 23, 2017
Before & After: A Dated Bathroom Gets a Modern Renovation (& More Storage)
Jill and Aaron hunted for six months for their dream home in Brooklyn — during which time they realized their dream home was probably a bit out of reach. After being outbid on two different apartments, they finally landed a contract on a promising one-bedroom that was in need of just a little work. One problem spot? The apartment’s bathroom, which dated back to 1960 and had fifty years of wear to show for it. Another issue?
Nancy Mitchell
Jun 22, 2017