Tips to update rental bathrooms
The bathroom is often the most neglected space in rental apartments. If you find yourself daydreaming about a bathroom that actually offers some respite as you brush your teeth and stare dejectedly at stained tiles, this is for you. Here are some low effort bathroom update ideas - all completely reversible and budget friendly.
Storage
A single overpacked medicine cabinet is not enough. Consider these organization options:
A shelf with hooks - There are over the door options if you don’t want to install floating shelves on the wall. The hooks are essential, especially when there are multiple people using the bathroom. Now everyone can hang their towels, face towels and konjac sponges in sanitary peace.
Over the toilet storage - This is typically an underutilized space in the bathroom. A cabinet and shelf over the toilet can keep less often used items out of the way but more accessible than under the sink.
A shower caddy that hangs off your shower head. Keeping bottles of shampoo and body wash off the ledges of your tub will save you time cleaning in the long run. Decluttering will help your mind relax as you wash off the day.
Floating shelves- If you have the space and permission, adding floating shelves on the wall can be a great way to create more storage space in the bathroom.
Wall treatment and flooring
Peel and stick floor, wall tiles and wall papers
Apart from storage, the biggest change you can easily make for the look and feel of your bathroom is updating the walls and floors. Mold free, water proof contact papers can also be a good option to give those old vanity cabinets or countertops a quick refresh. Peel and stick wallpapers and floor tiles are cost efficient yet durable making them a great option for renters.
Give those walls a fresh coat of paint
Quick, easy and impactful, try painting the walls for a quick refresh. Bathroom instantly start to look styled in a fresh white coat or darker shades of blue, green or even charcoal. Add some art on the walls and you will have a brand new bathroom.
Replace hardware and fixtures
Replacing old hardware for new ones is the easiest way to upgrade the look of a bathroom within a few minutes. Most of the landlords let you change the hardware as long as you put back the old ones at the end of your lease. If your landlord approves, replace the old pulls, knobs, shower heads and faucet with new and more stylish ones. Keep the existing hardware in some place safe so that you can switch it back when you move out.
Lighting fixture - Same as any other fixture, with permission, replace those old flush mount lights and over the cabinet light for brighter, better bathroom flush mounts and sconce lights. This will make a big impact.
Add layers and textures
Rental bathrooms can be a hodgepodge of styles and eras. Adding textures and colors can help create a more cohesive look. This can be achieved by using bath mats, decorative bathroom rugs and shower curtains. Colors and textures help create depth and visual interest in an otherwise bare bathroom.
Below are a few moodboards addressing common frustrations and illustrating the range of possibilities using peel and stick tiles, budget friendly storage options, and a few practical but stylish accent pieces to transform your rental bathroom.
Your bathroom is too dark
Embrace the darkness! Black or dark walls can create a sense of depth, even in a small space. If you go for a tiled wall that has a gloss to it, it’ll catch and reflect the light you do have beautifully. Black walls also create the perfect background for warm woods and pops of rich color. A red patterned rug against black and white tiles has a luxurious feel. Pulling colors from the rug when choosing towels and smaller details will give your bathroom a cohesive look.
Your bright, white bathroom looks too sterile
Add a feature wall with a fun wallpaper pattern. If you wish you had more plants in your life, a botanical feature wall is a simple yet striking start. There are few things more peace-inducing than plants, and the vibrant colors will pop against the pristine white of the rest of your bathroom. Choosing rustic shelves with visible wood grain complements the botanical theme perfectly. If you’re up for it, bringing real plants into your bathroom can tie the space together nicely.
You’re tired of tiles
Concrete might be the material of your minimalist dreams. It’s refreshing, sophisticated and bright. The color in this space should predominantly come from wood. Smooth, warm teak and light rattan look incredible against the concrete. A few plants would balance the texture play, and hanging them from hooks in the ceiling adds a vertical element while saving shelf space.
Bathroom accessories we love
If you're ready to refresh your rental bathroom, we'd love to help you find a style that suits you! Contact us for more information at contact@dwellistic.com
By Devika Kanagaraj
Inspiration board image credits : Gold is a neutral , Fired Earth , DigsDigs , Sheryl Crow's Hollywood Hills home as featured in Architectural digest/Clever , Pinterest , Kohler - Design by Amber Lewis , Decorum, Cole and Son , FourWall , TheGoodiesWallpapers , Domus , Untitled Design , Room for Tuesday , Pinterest , Pinterest ,