Bathroom Decorating

Whether you have a tile color you can’t stand, falling apart cabinetry, a terrifying toilet or blemished walls, using this color in this sheen is a simple way to cover a lot of flaws. Because of its sophisticated vibes, it ups the modern style of a dated bathroom without having to do any major remodeling. As you’ll see in the two first case studies below, matte black works best with white (or, walls and fixtures that once used to be white).

Rental bathrooms are notoriously plagued by ugly (or just plain dated) design decisions. The good news is, there are some simple, reversible ways to cover up what you hate most about this room and add your own style to the space. Introducing color and pattern where you can, and choosing attractive storage lets you put your own touch on a temporary home. It may sound obvious, but in a small rental bathroom, the shower curtain is the first thing you should switch out.

Bathrooms have this bizarre disposition to be judged. Besides the whole peeking-in-the-medicine-cabinet trope, I guess we’re likely to evaluate people’s bathrooms because it’s the one place where we, as guests, get a chance to linger alone and really contemplate the personal style of the person who’s invited us over. For that reason, if you’re out to impress, the bathroom is one of the first rooms you need to work on.

Tired of looking at your bathroom’s blank or beige walls? You might need some art! And there have been some spectacular ideas to borrow for your own home from the homes we’ve toured here on Apartment Therapy. Above: A DIY mosaic mural on a wall adds whimsy, color and excitement to a bathroom. Art all over: Elizabeth’s bathroom features a black-and-white faux-finish on the floor, writing on the wall (literally) and cut-out, pasted-on clouds on the ceiling.

The calming, tranquil bathroom of your dreams is likely not as far as you think. You can hint at a spa-like look at home with just a few do-able details. “Do-able,” in this case, means three things: inexpensive, small, and easy to find at your local big-box bath store. Let these real homes show you how it’s done. Any footstool or tiny ottoman-like object will do. Add a pretty candle and some nice-smelling soaps.

We’re heading into our final few Cure assignments, but before we dive in, take a minute or two and think about the past few weeks. Reflect on how much you’ve gotten done and how your space has improved. Resist the temptation to focus on what didn’t get done yet (even though we all seem to automatically go to the “should’ve” first) or what might be coming next.

If you feel confined by your rental home’s boring bathroom, these seven small but beautiful spaces will delight you with their versatile design ideas. Though all of them are located inside of a rental home, you can’t tell because of their bold commitment to style. If you can do any sort of painting in your rental, you might find inspiration in Kristen’s home above. It took her a long time, but she added a gorgeous, bold pattern to her downstairs bathroom thanks to stencils!

There is absolutely no need for your bathroom to be blah. Grab these three things (you probably already have them around the house) and make this room stand out! Real furniture puts the “room” in “bathroom.” Borrow a dining or sitting chair from another room, or snatch one up just for the bath. The upholstered chair and pillow in this London bathroom from Houzz turns a utilitarian room into a miniature oasis. Big, small–it doesn’t matter.

For many of us, bathrooms are a blank slate. And sometimes a blank, boring slate. While color and pattern are great tools for adding interest, they’re not the only way to create a little excitement in a bathroom. This design element is often used in living rooms and bedrooms but in a bathroom it’s the design secret weapon you didn’t know your bathroom needed.

Q: My husband and I are planning our guest bathroom renovation and we are at an impasse as to what type of bathtub to choose. I’m all-in on a clawfoot tub. He is not. My argument is based mainly on aesthetics, his on functionality.

Want to glam up your rental bathroom and get your security deposit back when you move out? Need to primp your powder room without it devolving into a Lucy and Ethel, Paperhangers debacle? Temporary wallpaper is the product for you. The closest removable wallpaper to the gorgeous orange number above that I could find is Scallop Hills in Mandarin by The Lovely Wall.

Windowless bathrooms have the potential to be very dark and dreary places. Without natural light pouring in, they can turn into caves you don’t want to spend a lot of time in. But they don’t have to be unpleasant. There are some things you can do — design-wise — to make your bathroom lovely despite the lack of a view. Here are nine windowless bathrooms doing it right — inspiration for your own home!

Dignity first!

Your shower may have been designed purely for washing your skin and hair — but that doesn’t mean that’s all that goes on there. For the sake of science, and for the sake of writing an Apartment Therapy post about weird things people do in the shower, I took an informal survey of co-workers and friends (and did some cursory internet searches), which turned up all kinds of showertime activities that have nothing to do with bathing. Here are seven of the most unusual. Do laundry.

Staring all day at photos of enviable bathrooms full of bold tile floors, brand new fixtures, dreamy cabinets and claw foot tubs made for soaking in, it can be easy to get discouraged and focus on what you can’t do when you rent (or if you own but don’t have a huge budget for renovations). But just because you can’t tear everything out and start over doesn’t mean you can’t make your bathroom more beautiful.

Black bedrooms, inky kitchen cabinets, and dark living rooms have all been fodder for discussion here on AT, but lately, I feel like I’ve seen a spate of black walls popping up in bathrooms. What’s your take on this bold choice? On the one hand, black walls in bathrooms can be unbelievably elegant and beautiful, as the bathroom in the Sag Harbour cottage above (designed by ASH NYC) shows.

Once upon a time, I was flat-hunting in London and found an adorable one. The location was convenient and the space bright and sunny. The problem? The bathroom was located off the bedroom, meaning that guests would have to go past my bed in order to use it. Here’s how to make the most of this sometimes awkward layout: Though I immediately discounted that flat, I’ve since discovered that this layout isn’t as ridiculous (or rare) as I once thought.

Small, windowless apartment (and house!) bathrooms can sometimes be dark, boring and incredibly uninspiring. Fortunately, there are ways you can add some life and interest to tiny bathrooms, even if they don’t have windows to add light! Here are six things you can do or add to a tiny windowless bathroom that just might help brighten the feel of it. 1.

Though I’ve managed to add a cute shower curtain, other than that, my bathroom in my apartment does not have much else going for it. I think “boring” would be an accurate descriptor. But when you’re staring at a tiny space (that you’re not allowed to paint the walls in), sometimes you forget there are other things you can do in a space to spice it up. Thankfully I found some interesting and inspiring ideas in real homes to consider.

Just like suitcases with wheels, recessed power outlets are one of those “I can’t believe it wasn’t around ’til now” inventions. But even if you know they exist, you might not know how to use them. Here are five places around any home, apartment or loft where you should install this space-saving electrical hardware.Recessed outlet hardware has a faceplate that is set deeper into the wall than a regular outlet.

This project was completed by some regular readers from Seattle: “In March 2010, I came upon the ever-popular Penny Tile floor post on your site. At the time, we were in the process of renovating our 1950s rambler and I was unsuccessful in finding a contractor to complete a concrete overlay (thin-set concrete) design on our master bathroom floor.

The 1940s were a tumultuous time. It is impossible to understand those years outside of the context of WWII. The war not only defined the decade but from a design perspective, split it virtually in half. During the first half of the decade, new design was halted, as supply shortages and rationing demanded that all available resources — material and otherwise — be directed towards the war effort…Socially, the decade featured a similar split.

When tiling a kitchen or bathroom floor many people spend days agonizing over the choice of tiles: What kind of tile (e.g., ceramic or glass); what shape (e.g., hex or penny round); and what color (neutral or colorful). Selecting the grout that will divide and frame the tiles is often a mere afterthought. But grout deserves more attention and respect… … says David Goodman, a tile contractor for This Old House.

The saying “opposites attract” goes well beyond human relationships — and the affair between orange and gray mingling to create a stunning balance is a perfect example. Depending on the tones, the duo can be youthful and whimsical, eclectic and bold, moody and sophisticated, or masculine and sleek, and any combo in between!

Hello AT,I have a tap water purifer for my kitchen sink, and a shower head filter for my shower. do you know of anything similar for the bathroom sink? i have a feeling the unclean water is what’s causing my face to break out. thanks! Telephasik(Pic: WaterPik mini Filter) (Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.)Link To All Good QuestionsDear Telephasik,You must have very sensitive skin. We wonder how much people worry about their water in this town.