Want to make your bathroom feel like new without doing a full-on renovation? These 10 ideas can help.

1. 10 Easy Ways to Freshen
Up Your Bathroom
Eugene Chrinian

2.  The bathroom is an easy room to
take for granted, or to dismiss as
purely functional. That’s a shame,
because it doesn’t take much to
transform even the most average
bathroom into a calming, tranquil
oasis. Here are 10 simple ideas to
help turn your basic bathroom into
your own personal spa without a
lot of effort, time, or expense.

3. Layer your bath mats.
 Having a soft and cozy bathmat underfoot is an important part of an inviting
bathroom. But why stick to just one? Layering a few different bathmats
together keeps the cozy and comforting feel, but adds in a new dimension of
visual interest through contrasts of texture, color, and pattern. In addition,
it’s easy to rotate the layers, so you can keep changing up the look and help
keep your bathmats lasting longer.

4. Create a classy toiletries display.
 Take a cue from your favorite spa
and get fancy with your toiletries.
Get rid of the boring plastic
containers your soaps and lotions
came in and find pretty little jars
to store them in instead. For an
added touch of elegance, place all
the jars together on a raised
wooden board or a lovely tray that
can sit on your vanity or on a shelf.

5. Dress up your mirror.
 You’ve seen how beautiful mirrors can be in a living room or dining room
when they’re decoratively framed, so why not try the same trick in your
bathroom? Even a standard-grade bathroom mirror will look striking when it’s
in an elaborately carved or boldly colored frame. For a simpler option, simply
hang a garland along the top of the mirror to create an easy framed visual
effect.

6. Make a gallery wall.
 There’s no need to shy away from putting up pictures just because it’s a
bathroom. Artwork like vintage posters or photographs can instantly
personalize a bathroom and make it a fun, rather than a forgotten, room in
your home. Just be aware that the high humidity of bathrooms can affect
artwork over time, so save any higher-value pieces or original works for your
living room, and go for simple poster prints instead. Framing your pieces in
plastic or Plexiglas will also help protect them from moisture and preserve
them longer.

7. Upgrade your towels.
 Sure, the most important function
of a towel is to dry you off, but you
can also think of towels as soft,
touchable pieces of art for your
bathroom. Splurging on towels in
bright colors, bold patterns, or
inviting textures can add an instant
pop of style to your bathroom
that’s not only attractive, but
practical, too.

8. Add more lighting.
 Many homes have inadequately lit rooms, and the bathroom is no exception.
Adding some extra light sources can brighten and refresh the feel of the
room—not to mention help make it easier to get ready on cold, dark winter
mornings. Depending on whether you rent or own your home, consider
installing elegant wall sconces beside your mirror, or simply bringing in a table
lamp to sit on a countertop or shelf. For a more festive feel, try putting up a
simple string of white lights.

9. Add plants.
 There’s nothing like some fresh greenery to bring a lush, exotic feel to your
bathroom. Whether you hang them from the ceiling, stand them next to the
bathtub, or even hang them right in the shower, plants can do a lot to revive
even the most basic bathroom. And the good news is that there are plenty of
plants—like aloe vera, bamboo, or spider plants—that thrive in low light and
high humidity, so it’s easy to add some foliage to your bathroom even if you
don’t have much of a green thumb. If your bathroom is windowless, try
swapping plants on a regular basis between the bathroom and another
brightly lit room in your home.

10. Update your cabinets with contact paper.
 Freshening up or changing the
color of your bathroom cabinets
doesn’t have to mean breaking out
the paintbrushes. Contact paper is
a great tool for this job: it’s
extremely versatile (in both
function and appearance), it’s easy
to apply, and it’s long-lasting. Your
cabinets can look like new in little
more time than it takes to cut,
peel, and stick.

11. Upgrade hardware and fixtures.
 If you don’t have the time or budget for a full-scale bathroom renovation, you
might be surprised at how far a simple hardware upgrade can take you.
Replacing cabinet handles, showerheads, doorknobs, and faucets can be
relatively easy and inexpensive, and can dramatically update the look of your
whole bathroom.

12. Do a deep clean.
 Nothing refreshes a bathroom like a good, old-fashioned, deep clean. Shine
stainless steel fixtures. Wash the walls. Wipe grime off rarely-cleaned places
like the door, door knobs, and light switches. Make your floor and tile grout
look as good as it did the day it was installed. It will take some time and
elbow grease, but you’ll be rewarded with a bathroom that feels practically
brand new.