15 Easy Tips and Tricks to Refresh your Bathroom

The kitchen may be the heart of the home, but the bathroom is a place where the family spends a lot of time! It can be a challenge to keep the bathroom fresh and inviting when it gets so much use. Of course, the bathroom is a utilitarian space, but it could be so much more than that, couldn’t it? Are you dreaming of a spa bathroom? Even if you are not ready for an all-out remodel at the moment, we can help you figure out how to refresh your bathroom with a few tips for bathroom renovation that can be easily managed in small steps. Here, we offer some tips and tricks to rejuvenate your bathroom and make it feel like new.

1. Start with a good cleaning. Begin by decluttering, tossing out expired medicines and beauty products, along with half-empty bottles you have collected from hotels. Then move on to deep cleaning, descaling the shower head, cleaning the grout, and making your bathroom shine. You will be amazed at how much better your bathroom looks- almost like new!

2. Revamp your storage. Once you have pared down the number of items you store in your bathroom, where will you put the things you want to keep?

a) Decorative storage is one of the easiest bathroom ideas to provide functionality and style at the same time.

b) Freestanding cabinets or shelves and decorative baskets or caddies can help you keep clutter under control, and you may be able to find storage in unexpected places.

c) There are over-the-toilet units that are surprisingly attractive, and you may be able to utilize vertical space, hanging shelves or cabinets near the ceiling for additional storage.

d) Lastly, a shower niche offers enough of storage without encroaching on the shower area, it is the perfect choice for bathrooms that are on the smaller side.

If everything has a place, it will be much easier to keep your bathroom neat and tidy.

3. Lose the builder-grade mirror. You look at it every day, but you may not even think about it. Many bathrooms still have the mirror that was placed when the house was built, and if you want to improve the space with some modern bathroom ideas, that tired, old mirror simply will not do. There are so many options from which to choose, and a mirror can make an enormous difference in a bathroom. Put in a mirrored cabinet for hidden storage, choose a uniquely shaped or framed mirror to create a focal point, or hang a large mirror to make a small bathroom look much bigger. You can even use mirrored tile to make an entire wall into a mirror!

4. Light up your space. A bathroom should be light and bright, so feel free to get rid of your old vanity lights and replace them with some beautiful new light fixtures. There are plenty of options out there, including spotlights, downlights, ceiling lights, wall lights, and pendants, so you are sure to find something that suits your style. If new light fixtures are out of reach of your budget, consider revamping your old ones. Painting them with rust-resistant metallic spray paint can give them a fresh look, or you can economically purchase a converter kit to turn your old vanity lights into conversation-starting pendants.

5. Swap out your toilet seat. This can accomplish a few different purposes. First, you will get rid of your old, possibly corroded seat and replace it with something clean, fresh, and new. You can get a toilet seat that is sturdier than the one you currently have, perhaps with a slow-closing lid that will not slam. But one of the most interesting things to note about toilet seats is that they now come in a wide range of looks. You can get toilet seats in just about any colour, and there are even glam toilet seats with built in glitter.

6. Upgrade your fixtures. Would your shower benefit if you switched to the spa-like appeal of a rainfall shower head? Would your sink look more modern with a beautiful waterfall faucet? Remember that your light switch and outlet covers can be upgraded as well. You might be surprised at how easy it is to make a big difference with a small thing like switching out your bathroom fixtures.

7. Elevate your accessories. Think of all the little touches that make your bathroom pop and figure out how you can really make it sing. Do you need a new shower curtain, shower curtain hooks, or bathmat? Is your toilet brush old and ugly? Are you using disposable soap bottles instead of an elegant soap dispenser? Your bathroom might benefit from a better-looking toothbrush holder, and there is a good chance your wastebasket could stand to be replaced. What about the hardware on your cabinets? Could your knobs and pulls do with a modern makeover? Change a few little things and you may just change the whole look of your bathroom.

8. Add some spa-like luxuries. Consider what would make your bathroom feel more like an oasis. A mirrored tray or small mirrored shelf on the counter creates a sophisticated place to put your jewellery, and a bamboo caddy across the tub makes it feel like a spa. How about a basket of bath bombs or some delicious smelling scrubs?

9. Fluff up your towels. Toss your old, worn-out towels and splurge on some fluffy, luxuriant ones. You will be glad you did every time you take a shower, but you will be especially glad when you have guests. If you cannot afford to replace all of your towels right now, buy one new set and a few new hand towels.

10. Bring in some greenery. Plants can improve the air quality in a room and make it feel livelier. Having a hanging plant or a small potted plant on a shelf or the countertop can brighten the space, bringing the outdoors inside and creating a sense of peace and tranquillity. However, if your bathroom does not get a lot of natural light, you might want to go with an artificial plant instead of risking a real one.

1. Make a splash with your backsplash. A gorgeous backsplash can be the perfect focal point for a bathroom, and there is no need to break the bank putting one in. Putting tile in a small area behind a vanity can be economically done, but if you are not ready to spring for tile, there are some amazing tile stickers on the market that look very much like the real thing.

2. Dress up the windows. What is hanging in your windows? Bleak blinds and worn curtains? You can instantly improve the look of your bathroom with modern window treatments, perhaps even wooden shutters, or skip the window coverings completely and create the look of frosted glass with window film.

3. Try something interesting. It may come as a surprise to you, but there is marble contact paper that can be used to completely change the look of a bathroom countertop or tile. If that is too outrageous for you to consider, visit your local wallcoverings shop and see if there is some wallpaper that catches your eye. You might pick up some innovative bathroom decorating ideas while you are browsing their selection.

4. Freshen the paint. A new coat of paint can change the look of any room, and the bathroom is no exception. If you need bathroom paint ideas, browse some home decorating websites to gain inspiration. Painting the entire bathroom can make it feel cleaner and brighter, but if you do not think that is the route you want to go, consider painting part of the room, perhaps the vanity. Another creative way to use paint is with stencils, creating a pattern on the floor, a wall, or the backsplash.

5. Spruce up your scents. Treat your bathroom to fresh, new soap and lotion in a luxurious fragrance. Bring in scented candles or an infuser to improve the ambience. Line your linen closet and bathroom drawers with scented paper. Anything you can do to provide some aromatherapy in the bathroom will make it feel more elegant.

Of course, there is also a great deal of middle ground between these minor fixes and a major remodelling project. In between the two is space to replace a shower curtain with frameless glass doors, switch out an old vanity for something more stylish, or refinish your bathtub. How far you want to take your bathroom makeover depends largely on your budgetary and time constraints. If you have the time and money and want to increase your home’s value, a total bathroom renovation may be well worth the investment. Learning how to improve your bathroom in a significant way could mean consulting with experts in bathroom remodelling.

Visit Our Showroom

When you are ready to take the plunge and commit to a bathroom overhaul, put it in the hands of the professionals at Bathroom Inspirations. Founded in 2004, Bathroom Inspirations is a Dorchester-based company owned and managed by Bridport-born brothers Patrick and Paul Ackerman. Today, the business has one of Dorset’s largest showrooms, presenting stunning, innovative bathroom designs in real life settings, including walk-in showers Dorset clients love. We will even help you design your bathroom, with free design services that use state-of-the-art 3D design technology, for visualizing the finished bathroom before committing to the work. To learn more, feel free to explore some of our work or schedule an appointment to visit our showroom in Dorchester.