Ask Apartment Therapy: What Should I Do With This Dated Pink Bathroom?
Welcome to “Ask Apartment Therapy.” Our editors get emails all the time with people asking for our help. We can’t get to them all — but thought it would be fun to invite you into our team chat room once a week for a consultation. Have a question you want us to consider? Email advice@apartmenttherapy.com.
Hi Apartment Therapy editors,
We are renting a 1950s co-op in New York complete with a 1960s bathroom (with some “updates,” like the vanity lighting, cabinet, etc., circa 1995).
Any renter-friendly tips on making this tiny dusty rose bathroom work for us? Here’s what we are working with:
Thanks!
Sarah, New York, NY
Laura: Hello @here — are you ready to help Sarah with her pink rental bathroom?
Liz: I immediately want to paint those cabinets black.
Laura: Liz, that’s not a renter-friendly solution.
Liz: Well I would ask my landlord if I can paint the cabinets black. Or do it anyway and take it as a “personality fee” a la Amy Sedaris.
Adrienne: She’s already off to a good start. If she can’t paint the cabinets, gray is a gray way to “minimize” the orangeness of those cabinets. I have a tour that exemplifies that—gray towels, gray floor mats—to complement the existing tile but also be its own focal point. Ground that shit. I also suggest just absolutely leaning into the pink. Splurge on an adorable shower curtain that has accents of pink but lots of other strong colors to complement the existing tile but also be its own focal point.
Tara: PINK IS GREAT AND SHE IS A LUCKY DUCK. It’s history and it’s beautiful and she should definitely embrace it.
Dabney: Consider removing the doors on that dated medicine cabinet, decanting products and putting accessories into jar/containers.
Adrienne: One strong art piece on the wall, plus a lot greenery, will help steal the show away from the pink. And also pink is beautiful.
Taryn: Yes to greenery. There is no such thing as an ugly bathroom when it’s covered in plants
Dabney: Cover the mirror frame with removable tape to get rid of the awful wood tone.
Liz: This could be the midge maisel of bathrooms.
Tara: I’d suggest a fun tropical/banana leaf temporary wallpaper.
Dabney: 10X yes to the plants
Nicoletta: Also, I feel like picking out a new shower organizer!
Taryn: It looks dark… so if there’s zero light, I would go ZZ plant. I have a ZZ-plant in my windowless bathroom that I water only on leap day and it’s happy as can be.
Adrienne: Air plants too are fun. I hung our Apartment Therapy holiday gift terrarium in my windowless shower.
Tara: Also she should ask her landlord if she can paint the cabinets! it’s not like this is some glamorous expensive fixtures. It’ll up the value of the place so they could say yes.
Bridget: New pulls on cabinet above the toilet could freshen that area up too.
Adrienne: Seconding pulls and cute containers.
Bridget: Yes decanting! In cute jars!
Nicoletta: Also, can we suggest our pattern of the year shower curtain? Yes?
Tara: Oo in green. It’ll look great.
Adrienne: “Why ‘decant’ you just love this pink?” Can that be the headline? Kidding not kidding.
Bridget: I also think maybe a matching soap container and toothbrush holder on the sink itself.
Tara: I’m jealz of those cute pink built ins. I’m a sucker for a vintage fixture.
Liz: Kitchn has an article about how to get your landlord to let you paint your cabinets.
Liz: Sarah, I will take your bathroom.
Taryn: If you need that little shelf (at the bottom of the over-toilet cabinet) for products, maybe find some cute little baskets to make it more closed storage. Bring a measuring tape so you can try and get the fit just right.
Liz: She needs more hooks on the back of the door, too. Like a cute and vintage over the door rack.
Tara: Hooks for days.
Dabney: Double down on color and pattern with removable wallpaper. Here’s her bathroom, but in green.
Taryn: Omg @dabney that bathroom is perfect. Yes to wallpaper.
Tara: This one!
Taryn: Also I’d say this, if you can, just do one thing at a time and live with it for a second, to discover what the next project should be…. like go for bold wallpaper, then decide on a shower curtain later, or whatever.
Nicoletta: Go through the emotions, take your time to figure out what you actually want… totally agree with that.
Tara: But really so much of that bathroom is tiled the wallpaper job would be very easy. She’d really only need a roll or so.
Laura: OK, last words for Sarah?
Sarah: It’s really confusing me. Because I keep thinking it’s me Sarah.
Bridget: I think starting with a high impact change like removable wallpaper is the best bet.
Tara: Sarah do you need help w your bathroom? We’re on a roll.
Taryn: 1. Organize and decant, 2. Fun wallpaper, 3. EMBRACE THE PINK.
Nicoletta: You can never go wrong with a little pink.
Bridget: THINK PINK. And rest easy knowing we are incredibly jealous of your pink tiles.
Meet the Apartment Therapists:
Adrienne: house tour editor
Dabney: projects editor
Laura: editor-in-chief
Liz: real estate editor
Nicoletta: senior associate editor, news and culture
Sarah: managing editor (not the Sarah asking the question!)
Tara: news and culture editor
Taryn: lifestyle editor
What do you think Sarah should do with her bathroom? Share in the comments below.