11 Ways to Take Your Bathroom From Blah to Beautiful Without Remodeling

Be artsy

“I love adding artwork to utilitarian places like bathrooms because it’s so unexpected,” Bravo says. But avoid putting valuable art there because the moisture can cause damage over time.

Bravo suggests buying inexpensive digital art prints online and then printing them at a retail outlet (they can be reprinted). You also can print your own photographs onto canvas or metal at many retailers, or frame them.

Another option is to create a gallery wall — a collection of items including artwork, photographs and tapestries arranged in a grouping — especially for large bathrooms. Try not to get overwhelmed, says Richter, by starting with a couple larger anchor pieces and then embrace different sizes.

“People get really concerned about that — how to make it look right,” Richter says. “Treat it like a puzzle: All the pieces shouldn’t be the same size or frame color” to make it more interesting, he adds.

Let nature in

The steam in bathrooms is the perfect environment for fresh flowers and plants, Richter says. Flora in unique vases or woven baskets add color, texture, scent and beauty. Be careful about the type of plant you choose if your bathroom doesn’t have any windows to let in sunshine.

Paper the walls

The wallpaper trend that began a few years ago continues. Cover one wall as a statement or, if it’s small, Bravo suggests wallpapering the entire bathroom. He likes landscape scenes that spread across walls or bold florals. Geometric patterns are also popular. The size of the room should determine the size of the wallpaper pattern — small room, small print and big room, big print.

Use double vision

Mirrors can make a room seem larger, but less is often more. Consider replacing that dated giant mirror above the sink with a smaller one. Filigree shaped mirrors are popular, Richter says.

Bravo likes to hang two matching mirrors to break up the space, and to provide a nesting spot in between for art or a lighting sconce. He also likes to add frames around mirrors to create a finished look. To make a mirror frame yourself, buy an online kit or millwork from a home improvement store and glue it to a mirror.

Get playful

Displaying some of your collectibles in the bathroom can personalize and add a little whimsy to an antiseptic space.

“You don’t have to be so serious in the bathroom,” says Richter, whose own World-War-II-themed bathroom boasts vintage items like a U.S. Navy poster and antique glass bottles.“It feels like a curious, inviting place to be.”

DellaPiazza displays many of her collections, including mermaids and fairies, perfume bottles and some of her late mother’s Hummel figurines, on a wrought iron wall shelf.

“It makes me happy,” she says. “It’s like I’ve stepped into a little fairy world before I need to step into the real world.”

Soften the light

For a cozier bathroom, both Richter and Bravo suggest trying dimmer lighting. Add a table lamp or pendant lights to emit a softer glow. Dimmers are a nice feature because they let you adjust the mood, say for taking a shower at night.

“If I take a shower in the evening, I have very different thoughts about what the lighting should be like: I want the lights to be dimmer,” Richter says. “A table lamp is a nice feature if you have the space for it. I use one as a night-light.”

Update your hardware

An easy update to your bathroom’s appearance is to replace the knobs and pulls on cabinets and drawers. It’s inexpensive and DIY: You may only need a screwdriver.

“Updating your hardware makes a huge difference,” Bravo says. The current trend is “black or gold brass hardware,” he adds.

Beautify your storage

Upgrade bathroom storage containers, especially if they’re on open shelves. Bravo suggests buying containers that look nice and are functional. Instead of plastic, opt for wicker. Buy glass bottles and decant store-bought items like shampoo, conditioner and mouthwash into them.

If you need extra storage, consider adding a floating shelf to a wall as Ahrens did to hold small items like cosmetics and toothpaste.

Do a deep clean

“Cleaning the heck out of your bathroom — from baseboards to lights — will make a huge difference,” Bravo says. “Make it sparkle.”

For caulk around a shower, tub or sink, he suggests using a bleach pen. Let it sit for a while, and then rinse. Removing caulk with a butter knife and installing new caulk can really brighten a bathroom.

For floor tiles and grout, Bravo suggests scrubbing them with powder laundry detergent and water on a toothbrush.

Overall, Richter suggests following your heart, not trends. “Buy what you love and it never will go out of style,” he says.