Fresh and Inspiring Decor Ideas to Refresh Your Bathroom

Even more so than a bedroom, the bathroom is arguably the most private part of the home.

It’s where you get ready in the morning, relax with a hot shower, and retreat during parties when you need a couple of minutes. In honor of this unsung sanctuary, we’ve put together a list of bathroom decor ideas to help you make the most of this space. If you spend as much time in there as MaP’s Bathroom Habits Survey suggests – half an hour a day, which equals over 182 hours per year – you might as well make the most of it.

1. Illuminating Your Space

The lighting in a room is more important than many people realize. It can alter everything from the color of the paint on the bathroom walls to the shades of green on your skin. Yellow-toned lighting in a bathroom with warm walls, floor tiles, and other decors can make the whole room look dingy and brown. If that’s your situation, try swapping the bulbs for brighter “daylight” ones.

The lighting fixtures themselves also play a significant role in the bathroom feel. It’s important that they mesh well with the rest of the decor. Consider swapping awkward or outdated light fixtures for ones that fit in better with the vibe you prefer. If they’re metal, make sure they match the other metal fixtures in your bathroom, even if you have to spray paint them to get that perfect match.

2. Reflecting Style

While the function of a mirror is pretty unchanging, the shape, frame, and even placement are definitely not. You can swap out your old mirror for one that fits in better with an established vibe. You might also introduce an imposing one to use as the focal point that sets the tone of the whole room. A romantic Venetian mirror, versatile pivot mirror, or striking Captain’s mirror all pack a unique punch that can bring a room together.

If you’re working with a small bathroom, a mirror will reflect light around the room and make the space seem bigger than it really is. You can maximize this effect by placing the mirror on a wall opposite a window. While it may not be an option to move your vanity and mirror around, you might consider hanging another small mirror across from the window.

3. Artful Accents

Most of us reserve our coolest pieces of wall art for more public parts of the house, but they can be the perfect way to spice up a run-of-the-mill bathroom. Framed prints or posters coordinated by theme, subject, or color add visual interest to an otherwise dull wall. Bonus points if they match the color scheme throughout the rest of the bathroom.

You have options, even if the art that speaks to you doesn’t match the overall color palette perfectly. Putting it in frames that complement your decor style will help tie the pieces and ensure a cohesive look.

There’s a wealth of options when it comes to placing your signs or posters. Larger prints can rest on the floor and lean casually against the wall, and you can hang smaller prints or prop them up on shelves. If you’re planning on hanging a piece next to a mirror, make sure to pick something that won’t look awkward when doubled. Something abstract or complex will look more natural when reflected in the mirror than a straightforward photograph or simple painting.

4. Underfoot Elegance

Carpeted bathrooms are (thankfully) a thing of the past, but standing barefoot on hard, cold tile isn’t exactly pleasant. Luckily, bathroom rugs exist to provide us with a stylish, comfortable middle ground. Like area rugs in a bedroom or living room tie everything together, the same goes for smaller rugs in front of your sink or shower. These rugs work with the rest of your decor to create a cohesive atmosphere.

While you want all the main decor pieces of the room to complement each other, buying them all in a set can look too matchy-matchy and outdated. Buying pieces in complementary colors and materials is enough to unify the space without jarring the atmosphere.

5. Curated Charm

Given that the bathroom has a few pretty specific purposes, it can be hard to think of decorations that don’t feel silly or frivolous. The solution is to blur the line between toiletries and decor. When buying cologne, soap, and other bathroom necessities, take the bottle’s style into account. Or, if you’re not interested in straying from your holy grail products, get some nice glass or ceramic containers to transfer them into. Q-tips and cotton balls look a lot more luxurious when displayed in a nice canister or mason jar and not spilling out of the torn container they came in.

Of course, not all decor has to be functional. Wall art is another excellent way to signal that your bathroom isn’t all business. You could hang framed prints and photographs or put up less conventional decorations like woven baskets. Candles and earthy elements like plants and stones connect the space to nature. They create a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere.

6. Maximizing Functionality

There’s hardly anything inspirational about a bathroom counter crammed with toiletries. But organized shelves and attractive bathroom storage tell another story. A set of ornate built-ins or a few minimal floating shelves may be just the thing to take your bathroom from cluttered to cozy. If you’re short on space, try installing a shelf above your bathroom door. It’s the perfect out-of-the-way spot to store soap refills, toilet paper, or hand towels.

Don’t be afraid to get creative when it comes to creating storage space. A mini ladder leaning against the wall can take the place of a conventional towel rack. Woven baskets attached sideways to the wall make for excellent open-faced shelves.

Be sure to keep open storage looking sharp by arranging items neatly. Fold anything that needs folding, and use a plant or a candle to add some levity. With everything on display, even a little clutter can make the whole room look a mess.

7. Bringing Nature Indoors

Adding plants to your bathroom is a great way to brighten the space and add a touch of luxury. Look for tropical, humidity-loving plants that thrive in steam from a shower. Also, make sure to consider the amount of natural light available before bringing in the greenery. Plants like pothos and philodendrons will do all right in dimmer bathrooms. At the same time, a monstera, banana tree, or fiddle leaf fig will thrive in the sunshine.

You can put plants just about anywhere in your bathroom. Sit some English ivy on a shelf next to your sink, stand a dragon tree on the floor next to your bathtub, or hang a few philodendrons from the ceiling. A bundle of eucalyptus tied to your shower head will release its revitalizing scent every time the steam hits it. The scent can clear your sinuses and bring the spa experience home to you.

8. Curtain Couture

Since it’s likely the biggest piece of decor in your bathroom, the shower curtain sets the tone of the whole space. In fact, you might want to pick the curtain first and then base the rest of the room’s design around it. If you like patterned wallpaper, but it just feels like too much for you, a brightly patterned shower curtain could be a good compromise. Striking features like tiers, tassels, or large-scale art prints can ensure your shower curtain is one of a kind.

If you’re working with a small bathroom, one way to open it up is by putting up a clear shower curtain. It allows the gaze to travel across the space instead of stopping the eye at the outer edge of the shower or bathtub. This would make the room feel even smaller and more cramped.

9. From Top to Bottom

Most people have set expectations when walking into someone’s bathroom for the first time. A statement wall or ceiling is the perfect way to turn those preconceived notions on their heads. Moroccan tiles or vividly patterned wallpaper add character to any room you put them in. They look especially striking in powder rooms, which are small enough to keep busy prints from being overpowering.

Of course, there’s no reason to reserve wallpaper for walls only. Carrying the pattern across the ceiling is an unexpected way to liven up your space and make your bathroom feel like it’s in its own little world. Warm tones like red and orange are great options as they brighten the skin, but it’s best to steer clear of cooler greens, which might make you look sickly.

10. Uniquely Yours

Minor tweaks like adding a rug or swapping your shower curtain can make an impact. Installing a unique vanity, however, takes your upgrades to a whole new level. If you own your home (or have a cool landlord), trade an outdated, uninspired sink for a chic, stylized one. This swap will transform the look and feel of any bathroom or powder room.

Since ceramic sinks are fairly standard, create a serene environment by installing a stone basin on top of a wood vanity. If you prefer to store toiletries on wall-mounted shelves, opt for a slim vanity without storage space. This vanity may free up room on the floor and help the space look bigger. Choosing a vanity in a non-neutral color, whether an eye-catching red or a mellow mint green, is another way to make a statement and fill the room with personality.

11. Luxurious Soak

Sinks aren’t the only fixture worth upgrading. A unique bathtub commands attention and can drastically influence the bathroom’s overall vibe. With all kinds of vintage trends reentering the zeitgeist, it’s no surprise that colorful bathrooms are back in fashion. Decking out your bathroom in pale green or electric blue tiles and installing a bathtub to match is a surefire way to create a stunner.

If bright colors are out of your comfort zone, changing up the shape of your bathtub or the material it’s made of will also transform the look of your bathroom. Options are no longer limited to ceramic ovals. Circular, square, or rectangular tubs made from wood, metal, or stone will all influence a room.

FAQs

How do I decorate a bathroom?

Many tricks for decorating other parts of the homework in the bathroom as well. Hang wall art and shelves, which can be a great place to hold both decor and functional items like toiletries. Stick to a color scheme so it doesn’t get too chaotic.

How do I modernize my small bathroom?

Swap out old light fixtures and outdated mirrors for more contemporary styles and cover up dingy paint with a fresh coat in a light color.

How do I make my small bathroom look luxurious?

Using a monochromatic color scheme, opting for a transparent shower curtain or glass shower door, and playing up any available natural light with strategically placed mirrors can help cultivate a luxurious atmosphere. Additionally, large, leafy plants like majesty palms or birds of paradise create a lush, tropical feel.