A spring decor makeover for my small rental bathroom

Bathroom vignette with apothecary jars, river rocks, taupe towels, and a snake plant. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

​This month, I decided to give our master bathroom a spring makeover. To say it needed a “refresh” is an understatement. Truthfully, there wasn’t much there to “refresh”! I didn’t take “before” pictures because it was too embarrassing to share, but here’s a quick overview of the design issues I had to address…

So this is a small room—5’8” W x 9’9” L—shared by a family of five (four of whom are grown men), plus two cats. The storage consists of one under-sink cabinet with a few drawers and a standard medicine cabinet above the sink. The sink area is only 31” long, most of which is taken up by the sink bowl. So, as you can imagine, this space does not work as-is for our family in terms of storage and workable space for self-care rituals. But it gets worse…Our cats have a litter box in that room, which results in litter all over the floor. The dysfunction and uninspiring look of the room made it difficult for me to have a proper self-care routine. Let’s just say I avoided using that bathroom as much as possible unless I needed to shower or do something where I could be in and out quickly.  

The design concept for the new look: create a bathroom space with a comfortable, earthy feel with some spa-influenced decorative elements. I wanted the space to be functional, uncluttered, easy to clean, and relaxing. That was my design brief to myself. Oh, and it had to have plants…real plants. The house we live in is a rental, which means no fancy renovations. The walls, sink, towel racks, toilet, tub/shower, medicine cabinet, and lights remain unchanged. Additional design challenges: create more storage in this small space; keep it uncluttered, organized, and easy to clean; incorporate a spa-influenced decor plan; and do not exceed the $250 budget.

The first big purchase was a litter box nightstand enclosure. It took me FOREVER to find something that would fit in that space (21” L x 19” D) that would look like it belonged in the existing room. I needed something to fulfill four functions: it had to blend in, cover the cat box, serve as an extension to my almost non-existent bathroom counter, AND provide a surface for storage or display. This furniture piece also helps minimize the litter stuck to the bottom of our feet... a bonus function!

Litter box enclosure for the bathroom. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

The next big step was to find something that served as extra storage but didn’t take up more than 14” x 14” space as you walked into the room. I had a few options lined up for this piece, but as luck would have it, there was the perfect cabinet (which we got secondhand) just sitting in our basement! All it needed was a good clean…Even the wood color almost perfectly matches the built-in bathroom cabinetry. And I love the florals painted on the panels! This small cabinet provides much-needed out-of-sight storage and just enough horizontal space for something a little decorative to make the bathroom feel inviting.

Second hand nightstand repurposed as a small storage cabinet in my bathroom. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

There were two visual elements that I decided to keep—the shower curtain and a quaint picture with birds and flowers. I searched high and low for a shower curtain I liked (that didn't cost $50), but, in the end, I decided to keep the one I had. I like the textural qualities of the fabric, and the color green is perfect for a relaxing, nature-inspired bathroom. The only things it needed were a new liner and curtain rings.

Existing shower curtain in my master bath. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Existing picture hanging on the wall in my bathroom. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

The towels are still a work in progress…I had mint green rags on hand, and they may look nice displayed, but they do not match the shower curtain, which is more olive green. I did buy taupe rags and hand towels, and they look okay, but I think I would rather have a shade of green. So, at some future point, I will invest in new rags, hand towels, and bath towels. (I think I may want luxurious Egyptian towels). It’s a work in progress!

Green rags displayed in a basket in my bathroom. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Tauoe hand towels displayed in metal baskets in my bathroom with apothecary jars. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

The bath mats are another work in progress. I don't love the taupe, but I’ll revisit that situation when I buy new towels. In the meantime, these rugs are microfiber and feel great underfoot! Not only are they plush and soft, but they are also machine washable. My previous mats got moldy quickly, and the rubber underneath fell apart. That’s what you get when you buy cheap bathroom mats! So the new rugs are a vast improvement, but I think I would like bamboo mats instead.

Closeup of my new microfiber bath mat. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Bronze metal baskets, a soap dish, shower curtain rings, and apothecary jars were included in my final purchase. These would be used for toothbrushes, hand soap, and other miscellaneous bathroom organizational needs. I wanted a way to store and display bath towels, body scrubbers, bath poufs, body wash, or whatever else I felt would look decorative on the counter to give that “spa” feel. I know this bronze metal decorative decor is more of a Farmhouse style (a style I’m not fond of), but the bronze metal works so well with the rest of the decor. It’s dark enough to provide contrast yet does not have a heavy feel that takes up visual space. Using pieces around the room creates a sense of repetition that pulls the room together as a cohesive whole. I also have dark metal accents throughout the rest of my home, so there is a sense of unity and fluidity.

My new bronze metal bathroom accessories and a repurposed second hand glass vase. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Am I forgetting anything? Oh yeah, how could I forget my plants! From the beginning, I said I wanted plants in this space. This room gets a decent amount of bright indirect light for much of the day, and with five people taking showers, any plant would be happy soaking up all that humidity! There’s nothing more organic than actual living plants, right? So, my windowsill and counter have become the new home for a few (hopefully) happy green plant babies. (The ones in the photo are a snake plant, a pothos, and a bromeliad.)

My three new bathroom plants--a snake plant, a Pothos, and a bromeliad. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Pothos plant. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Snake plant. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

And the finishing touches…River rocks were poured into a tray with two glass apothecary jars. A homemade candle nearby. Across the room, the small cabinet by the door became the perfect place to create a vignette with faux cherry blossoms, a stack of rags, and a homemade candle. Nothing says “spa” like river rocks and candles, right? These little touches added a bit of ambiance to make this space enjoyable.

River rocks in a tray. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Homemade eucalyptus and spearmint scented candle. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Vignette with green wash rags, faux cherry blossoms stems, and a homemade hazelnut scented candle. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

I did not have a high-end budget for this project. From the get-go, I knew this would be a work in progress. I had only $250 and needed everything, so I knew this would be a tall order. Much of the budget went towards key items, like the cat box cover, bronze baskets and bathroom accessories, rugs, and towels. Unfortunately, I am not totally in love with the color of the rugs and towels. I don’t hate them--and the room still feels lovely to me--but it’s not exactly what I want. So, how did I do with the budget? Well…I spent about $260.00 and didn’t get everything I wanted for the space. Money doesn’t go very far these days, but that’s okay. This is a work in progress!

View into my bathroom from doorway. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Despite the tight budget--and the fact that I missed the mark with the rugs and towels--the transformation was incredibly positive! The space is very functional now, with plenty of storage for our self-care and personal hygiene needs. There is space for displaying functional and decorative design elements without the room feeling claustrophobic and cluttered. Everything is organized and easy to maintain. I even managed to incorporate a few small touches—like candles, faux florals, river rocks, and stacks of towels—that give the space a sense of being cozy and welcoming with a spa-like vibe. And there are plants! Three new plants have made their way into the space, with more to come! Now I find myself looking for reasons to go in there! I love the vibe and the fact that I can do anything I need to do for self-care in that space. Everything is at my fingertips and well organized. What a difference!

Another view into my bathroom from doorway. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

The emotional benefits of creating spaces you love—even on a tight budget—cannot be underestimated. This is what I love about interior design and interior decorating. A beautifully and thoughtfully designed space can have a profound effect on those who use the space, and I think many people take this for granted. As women, we often like to “nest” to make a space a home, which is so important. But it is also important to make sure the space is uniquely your own, and that means carefully assessing what is done in the space and how to accommodate everyone’s needs while making the room look good. That can be challenging, but when you get it right, you just know! When you feel joy and ease in your space, you have nailed it!

I’m sure I’ll be revising the space at some point in the future, so stay tuned for updates! Do you have a bathroom redecorating project you’d like to tackle? Or maybe you’ve done one recently? Drop a comment below and share your experiences, questions, or tips!

Related blogs you may want to read:
Small houseplants that love bathroom humidity
How to propagate bromeliad pups
How to care for faux florals
Homemade candle recipe with a eucalyptus fragrance
Homemade candle recipe with a hazelnut fragrance
How I created a kitchen coffee bar
A dining room redesigned as a multi-function space

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