21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (2024)

Room Design

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Deirdre Sullivan

21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (1)

Deirdre Sullivan

Deirdre Sullivan is an interior design expert and features writer who specializes in home improvement as well as design. She began her career as an assistant editor at Elle magazine and has more than a decade of experience. Deirdre contributes content for brands including The Spruce and Realtor.com, and has been a featured speaker at various conferences.

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Updated on 10/21/22

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21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (2)

After perusing umpteen photos of dreamy bathrooms with fancy faucets, gorgeous tile, and of course storage galore, it's pretty easy to hate the old, cramped washroom in your rental (thank you and curse you Pinterest and Instagram).

But you don't have to continue living with awful. Trust us: With your landlord's permission, a few simple changes—no renovation required—will make things better without draining your checking account. And lucky for you, we have no shortage of tricks for adding color, pattern, and even practical storage. Here are 21 decorating ideas for refreshing small bathrooms.

  • 01 of 21

    Paint-Free Bathroom Makeover

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    If your landlord prohibits painting or if you think the task is too messy, then it's time to get creative with peel and stick vinyl. Options that stand up tomoisture and condensation work best in bathrooms.

    This vanity update by Brian Patrick Flynn isa fantastic example. The gray leather veneer is actually (surprise!) removable, vinyl wallpaper.

    There are other types of peel and stick products available that make bathroom decorating super easy. For instance, you can duplicate thestriped bathroom wall shared here using self-adhesive vinyl stripes. A favorite is Tempaper Mini Stripes. It's available in four-inch wide rolls.

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  • 02 of 21

    Install a Temporary Vanity

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (4)

    Can't stand that old oak cabinet in your bathroom? Or maybe you wish your wall-mounted sink had built-in storage? Whatever the case, consider swapping it out with a vanity suited for your taste and needs. When your lease is up, take it with you. Just get your landlord'swritten consent before installing.

    New vanities like the IKEA GODMORGON/BRÅVIKEN that sells for $329 come with a sink and cabinet. Some different options sold at major home improvement stores also include a faucet. One example designed for small spaces is the Maelynn by Home Decorators Collection for $209. Thisbathroom vanity tutorial byHejshares how to install.

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  • 03 of 21

    Spruce up Your Bathroom With Plants

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    Add a punch of pizzazz to a lackluster bathroom by heading out to your local garden center. A few houseplants suited to your bathroom's unique conditions (think natural light and room temperature) will brighten the space with color and texture.See howHomme Maker styled this bathroom three more ways.

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  • Refresh an Outdated Bathroom With Paint

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    When it comes to decorating, paint is a silver bullet for ugly. Here its magical powers turned a beige builder grade bathroom into a chic powder room. But our favorite idea from this transformation from The Makeristahas nothing to do with painting. See the lovely round mirror? It was stuck on top of the original one with double stick mounting tape.

    30 Coastal Bathrooms That Will Transport You to the Beach

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  • 05 of 21

    DIY a Rustic Feature Wall

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    What to do with that big bare wall? Turn it into a snappy feature with removable peel and stick floor tile. You'll need to use the vinyl stuff that stands up to water and humidity. Home Depot and Lowes offer different options in a wide range of textures, colors, and sizes that resemble real wood and luxurious stone.The Weekendershares how to fake this rustic accent wall.

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  • 06 of 21

    Quick and Reversible Fixes for Ugly Bathroom floors

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (9)

    Disguising an ugly bathroom floor is much easier than you think. Interior designer,Kerra Michele,concealed hers usinga water-resistant vinyl floor cloth that she custom cut to fit.

    You can also use interlocking rubber floor tiles. They're available in lots of colors, and the type with raised dots resembles ceramic penny round tile. To secure in place, use carpet tape. Find more bathroom ideas by Kerra Michele at Apartment Envy.

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  • 07 of 21

    Modernize an Old Bathroom With Black Fixtures

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (10)

    Add dramatic contrast to a white bathroom with black fixtures and accessories. FYI, installing a new faucet is usually an easy and also reversible update if the new fixtures fit the existing holes in the sink or countertop.See moreof this pitch-perfect bathroom by Homepolish.

    29 Classic and Timeless Gray-and-White Bathroom Ideas for an Elegant Space

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  • 08 of 21

    Revive Your Vintage Bathroom

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (11)

    This vintage bathroom redo only cost $200.

    While black and white tile has enduring style, the old wallpaper that once graced these walls made the tiny space feel dark and claustrophobic. Removing it all made an uplifting difference. Swapping out the sconces, and updating decorative accessories from the cabinet knobs to shower curtain were the finishing touches that turned this old bathroom into a stylish classic.A Domestic Life created this soup to nuts makeover.

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  • 09 of 21

    Combine Function With Personality

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (12)

    Celebrate your personal story by customizing your bathroom with character building accents.

    This space uses a mix of nauticaland rough-hewed elements to create a relaxing bathroom retreat that conjures seaside memories. We also love the upcycled wire basket that creates towel storage.IDF Studio designed this soothing space for Ronald McDonald House.

    One Thing Ep 83: This Small Space Bathroom Storage Solution is a Game Changer

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  • 10 of 21

    How to Decorate Your Pink Bathroom

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (13)

    Since you can't rip it all out, make peace with your pink bathroom by playing it up. Here a marble-inspired mirror, patterned wallpaper, and a painted vanity complement the pink tile. If you want to tone down your bathroom's pink features, add vibrant, contrasting colors like blue and green, which will distract the eye. Bathroom decorated by Red Egg Design Group.

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  • 11 of 21

    Ditch Your Traditional Bath Mat

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    What's the single bathroom decorating idea we think everyone should crib? Ditch your bath mat for a real rug in vibrant colors. It's a teensy change that will instantly boost a drab space.Peruse more photosof this adorable space designed byAmber Interior Design.

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    Whip up Concealed Storage Under a Wall Mounted Sink

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (15)

    If your bathroom has a wall-mounted sink instead of a vanity cabinet, a lovely sink skirt will create some concealed storage space while hiding exposed pipes.Indigo Ochre designed this gorgeouspowder room.

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  • 13 of 21

    Stenciling Is Cheaper Than Wallpaper

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (16)

    When it comes to economics, wallpapering a bathroom usually costs a lot more than painting. But that doesn't mean you have to forfeit pattern to save money.

    The blogger behind these decorative walls got that wallpaper look by painting with a stencil from Royal Design Studios.Thrift Diving explains this stencilproject's pros and cons.

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  • 14 of 21

    Rethink Your Bathroom Door

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (17)

    A hinged door that swings inward can eliminatethe amount of usable space in a teensy bathroom. Swapping it out with a pocket door would be ideal, but that requires tearing out a portion of the wall. Lucky for you, we have two more solutions for this frustrating dilemma.

    You can convert your traditional door into a sliding barn style door. DIY kits found at many home improvement stores cost between $150 to $400. It's a good idea to get your landlord onboard with this project before getting started.

    You could also flip your bathroom door, so it swings open in the opposite direction. It involves a few tasks including moving the door's hinges to the opposite side of the opening.With the right tools, it's a doable one-day project for experienced do-it-yourselfers. This tiny apartment bathroom by Sweeten packs a few more space saving ideas.

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  • 15 of 21

    How to Fake Wallpaper Without a Stencil

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (18)

    This bright and airy powder room was once a colorful purple disaster. Amazingly, it took only a few simple tweaks, fresh paint and new shades for the sconces, to make it so much better. No, we didn't forget to mention the wallpaper. That's because the graphic wall was painted freehand.Mix and Match Design created this budget bathroom makeover.

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  • 16 of 21

    Add Drama to a Bathroom Using Art

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (19)

    Eye-catching artwork hung on a wall painted a bold shade, will distract the eye away from the ugly in a small bathroom. Bathroom designed by Hillary Thomas Interiors. ​

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  • 17 of 21

    Turn a Funky Bathroom Into a Boho Oasis

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (20)

    How do you turn a bathroom remodeled during the Eisenhower administration into a bohemianoasis?

    Severalboho-inspired essentials renewed this Brooklyn bathroom including a macramé toilet paper holder, medallion print shower curtain and of course lovely green houseplants.6sqft has more photos of this plant-filled apartment.

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  • 18 of 21

    Pick the Perfect Shelves for Your Space

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (21)

    Two insanely simple decorating tricks increased this tiny bathroom's storage space.

    Thick floating shelves were swapped out for thin shelving. The latter makes the wall appear less cluttered while creating more room for stuff. Next, updating the wall-mounted medicine cabinet with a much bigger one also created extrastorage.Oh So Beautiful Paper updated this 1920s bathroom.

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  • 19 of 21

    Transform Your Bathroom With Art and Grout Paint

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (22)

    Is your brown and beige bathroom stuck in the 1980s? An injection of art and color will bring it up-to-date.

    Here,black paint created the backdrop for a gallery wall that plays down the beige tile. To brighten things up the bathroom'sbrown grout was painted white.

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  • 20 of 21

    Give an Old Bathroom the Gold Treatment

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (23)

    So you don't have a luxurious marble bathroom.You can still make things glamorous with gold accents. Features and fixtures from a glitzy shower rod to a golden faucet, which are both typically a cinch to install and later remove on moving day, are available in a broad range of styles and prices.See the rest of this apartment on Sweeten.

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  • 21 of 21

    The Best DIY Bathroom Ever

    21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (24)

    This project from Go Haus Gomay be the most satisfying DIY bathroom ever.

    Here's a breakdown: Black paint and new cabinet knobs renewed the old school vanity. The original medicine cabinet, which was a nasty mess was swapped out for a new one with oomph. But the topper that made this bathroom internet famous is the removable, ostrich print wallpaper.

    17 Simple Ways to Beautify a Small Bathroom Without Remodeling

21 Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas — No Remodeling Required (2024)

FAQs

How can I update my bathroom without renovation? ›

Replace Bathroom Fixtures

New bathroom fixtures can transform your space in an instant. If you can afford it, replace the faucets, sink, toilet, showerhead, and bathtub. A handheld sprayer can make taking a bath and maintaining the tub a lot easier. You'll find it easy to rinse your hair and clean the tub.

How do you make a small bathroom look classy? ›

11 ways to make your small bathroom look elegant
  1. Add warmth to your bathroom. ...
  2. How to paint bathroom tiles. ...
  3. Float your vanity. ...
  4. Opt for open vanity shelving. ...
  5. Go for glass. ...
  6. Install dimmer lights. ...
  7. Don't forget the little touches. ...
  8. Update your bathroom fixtures.
Mar 30, 2023

How do you style an outdated bathroom? ›

Add fun wallpaper, curtains, a ceiling fixture and painted vanity doors to make your bathroom its own little showplace. Bathrooms are the perfect place to try something a bit more daring or fun than you'd be willing to commit to in, say, your living room.

How can I modernize my bathroom cheaply? ›

Changing handles, taps, lighting, drains, towel racks and toilet roll holders can really help to give a room a new feel and instantly modernise it. Many discounted and affordable ranges are available that look modern and will provide a fresh look.

What color is most flattering in a bathroom? ›

What works best in bathrooms are neutral colors like light grays, warmer off-whites, and calming, soft blue-greens. Your current bathroom decor, furniture, and fixtures should inspire paint color ideas.

What color makes a small bathroom look bigger? ›

Go all-white. All-white bathroom designs never go out of style. They also have the added advantage of making the room look bigger as white reflects light better than any other colour. As most bathroom fixtures tend to be white, this also creates a more seamless, unbroken look throughout the space.

How to make a small bathroom glamorous? ›

Your small bath may just be your next favorite room.
  1. Keep Your Colors Light and Bright. © Emily Gilbert Photography. ...
  2. Or Double Down With a Dark Color Scheme. ...
  3. Mirror a Wall. ...
  4. Opt for a Glass Shower Door. ...
  5. Or Remove Your Shower Door Completely. ...
  6. Backlight the Mirror. ...
  7. Take On Tile. ...
  8. Give the Curtain a Lift.
Jan 10, 2023

How do you make a terrible bathroom look nice? ›

The problem: That bathtub is just gross.
  1. Option 1: Clean up that grout!
  2. Option 2: Cover that tub with a pretty shower curtain.
  3. Option 1: Cover that floor up entirely.
  4. Option 2: Cover the floor up (mostly) with a pretty rug.
  5. Solution 1: Paint.
  6. Solution 2: Embrace art.
  7. Option 1: Replace the faucet and/or hardware.
Mar 29, 2023

How to decorate a timeless bathroom? ›

The basic hallmarks of traditional style include:
  1. White fixtures in classic styles.
  2. Wood vanity cabinets with character.
  3. Moulding, paneling or wood trim.
  4. Soothing colors.
  5. Luster to highlight metal finishes; patina rather than polish!
  6. Plenty of detail.
  7. Freestanding pieces like storage cabinets and benches.

What tile doesn t go out of style in bathrooms? ›

Marble mosaic flooring and black and white checkered flooring are both considered timeless bathroom options. What tile will never go out of style? Subway tile will not go out of style in the bathroom and can be displayed a number of ways.

Are bathtubs going out of style? ›

Are bathtubs going out of style altogether in 2024? Not at all. But the larger tubs that take up more square footage than necessary are. Freestanding bathtubs are still very desirable in primary, or master, bathrooms.

Are backsplashes in bathrooms outdated? ›

The question of whether backsplashes are outdated is periodically raised in interior design. However, the answer lies in the choice of materials, colors, and patterns. A backsplash combines function and form, serving as a necessary element of kitchen and bathroom design, for example, oak cabinets and backsplash.

Can I update my bathroom myself? ›

Remodeling a bathroom yourself can be a rewarding but complicated experience. Completing your project successfully will require detailed planning and a fair amount of DIY know-how. You'll need to decide on design, contractors, fixtures, tile and more.

How to update a vintage bathroom? ›

Now, if the room is steamy and not well ventilated, wallpaper is not our friend. Instead, I advise painting the walls a bold color, hanging lots of non-precious art (prints, etc.), getting a fresh and fun shower curtain (if there's a tub), and replacing the aforementioned toilet, faucet, and light fixture(s).

How can I update my tile without removing it? ›

8 Smart Ways to Update Your Bathroom Tile Without Replacing It
  1. Paint Over Your Tiles. ...
  2. Use Tile Stickers or Decals. ...
  3. Apply Peel-and-Stick Wall Tiles. ...
  4. Install Luxury Vinyl Flooring. ...
  5. Clean Your Grouting. ...
  6. Replace Unsightly Grouting Spots. ...
  7. Add a Wall Panel Cover.

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