$800 Later, a Cookie-Cutter “Drab” Rental Bath Transforms Into a Soothing Sanctuary

After relocating to Colorado following an 18-year stint in Manhattan, Jillian Sanders, an interior design publicist, knew she wanted to jazz up the bathroom in her rental unit. “While living in smaller New York rentals with teeny tiny bathrooms, large bathrooms with ample space always seemed like the ultimate luxury,” she says. “I was so envious of anyone who wasn’t bumping into their showerhead while applying mascara in the morning!” 

Excited to capitalize on her newfound square footage, Sanders hoped to “highlight that feeling of serenity and peace” that spa-like bathrooms often have. Though her space was bigger than before, it wasn’t exactly anything to look at, aesthetically speaking. Every unit had the same vibe, so the bath didn’t really showcase much personality or charm. “The countertops and drawers were cluttered, and the room felt drab, boring, and sad,” she says. 

Sanders wasn’t going to be changing the tile or the bath’s layout, so she knew paint and new fixtures would be doing the heavy lifting. She kicked off the makeover by coating the walls in Farrow & Ball’s Pigeon, a warm blue-gray hue. “I’m a big fan of blues, grays, [and] greens in general,” Sanders says. “For me, they embrace a very calming feeling, which is what I was looking to achieve here.” 

Next came the vanity facelift. Instead of replacing the cabinet door and drawer faces or opting for another piece of furniture entirely, Sanders worked with what she had. After getting permission from her landlord, she took the bathroom cabinets from dark wood to bright white with Behr’s Ultra Pure White in a semigloss finish. This made a huge difference, helping to lighten and brighten the space.

Once the paint was dry, Sanders brought in a touch of shine and sophistication with oversized gold cabinet pulls, which complements the bathroom’s brass look light fixture from Amazon and a new Kohler faucet. She then laid down a black-and-white rug from Target and hung up some new artwork. Then, just $800 later, the bathroom’s transformation was complete. 

Now, Sanders says she feels incredibly relaxed and calm in her newly revamped bathroom. “It feels like my personal sanctuary,” she says. Sanders even took things a step further and used the makeover as motivation to organize the bathroom drawers, too. “Now everything has a place,” she says. “I’m taking more baths and taking more time getting ready in the morning. I love that I have a beautiful bathroom that I curated perfectly.”