Bathroom inspiration needed

[Homehelpneeded]

A little wary of posting here and being recognised hence the name change, but here goes!
And posting here for traffic.

This is our (horrible) bathroom in rented accommodation, please no comments on the contents of the bathroom, I've took a picture exactly as it is this moment in time for a true representation of how depressing it actually is.

We are in rented accommodation so can't do what I'd really like and that's rip the whole thing out and start again.

It was a wet room previously, so the floor, which is a horrible brown-ish/tan colour, and fixed. Can't be changed.

I want to give it a fresh look costing as little as possible, somewhere i can allow guests and not feel embarrassed and ashamed.

Its a small space and behind the door is a bath with an over head shower (regularly floods)

What can MN suggest for cheap ways of refreshing and decorating (and where to source things cheaply!)

Im thinking plain white tiles, and the blue you see on the wall isn't my tester but I can see how it might freshen it up! - except I think the horrible, depressing floor might clash with an airy blue.

Please feel free to attach inspirational pictures and thanks for being kind, in advance!

I'd get a blind for the window so it feels dressed, and a really big bath mat for the floor, maybe a circular one? Would cover up the floor better. Can't see the tiles well but even painting the walls white would help I think.

I’m no interiors expert but I don’t think you can go wrong with plain white in a bathroom, especially in rented accommodation. Plain white tiles and some white bathroom paint would brighten it up massively.

Could you also potentially get a nice window blind and a nice picture/wall feature behind the loo?

Also if you Google toilet caddy you can get a smartish looking box to store all your cleaning products by the toilet.

Oh MN is so helpful and thank you for lovely replies, will take a photo of behind the door.
And thank you for no judgement.
It's a really depressing space.

Feel so embarrassed sharing this (if I owned a house I would be so houseproud and have so many ideas)

But this is behind the door, it is disgusting so apologies in advance, I dont want to live looking looking this mess anymore.

I take it you e gone to your landlord and they aren’t any use? Because really they should be sorting that out!

You could rip the silicone off from around the bath and redo it yourself quite cheaply. You could give one of those grout pens a go see if that covers the colour between the tiles, I saw Mrs Hinch use one a while ago. Sorry don't know how to do tidy links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/UniBond-Reviver-Anti-mould-bathroom-kitchen/dp/B00LRAA86I/ref=ascdff_B00LRAA86I/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=232020729251&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15239105218498482995&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007131&hvtargid=pla-383275128176&psc=1

@LeroyJenkinssss

I take it you e gone to your landlord and they aren’t any use? Because really they should be sorting that out!

Landlord not unreasonable really, rent hasn't gone up in all the time we've been here, have had a basic kitchen fitted when needed, so won't complain. I'm reasonably OK with making the space clean and tidy, on a budget and with landlords blessing.

Are you allowed to paint the tiles? We have done this in our downstairs shower and it looks great. If not I would paint the walls white, clean all the grout with a mould and mildew cleaner and use a grout pen to refresh that.

A blind would dress the window with some nice accessories, some storage for the side of the toilet to hide the cleaning bits and a large bath mat.

For cheap bits B&M is fab, The Range, Home Bargains and Wilko all have great bathroom ranges.

@EnglishRain

Also if you Google toilet caddy you can get a smartish looking box to store all your cleaning products by the toilet.

Just googled toilet caddy, these are fantastic! Thanks for the suggestion. Will be buying one of these!

You could buy vinyl flooring in a pattern you like to cover the flooring, I've just realised (after living in the house for 3 years!) that's what the previous owner did in this house. It's not stuck down, just well cut to fit. Or could you paint the flooring (it looks like cork, is it?) and stencil a pattern which would be even cheaper.

Those tiles are terrible, are you planning to paint them or replace them? Agree about replacing the silicon and using the grout pen. If you make everything more neutral, sort out adequate storage and put up a cheerful shower curtain it will look a lot better. Instagram is full of ideas.

Get some Dettol Mould And Mildew _ it’s in a green spray bottle, costs about £3, it will work like magic on any black or brown mould. You can spray it all over your tiles and it will brighten them up too. Wear old clothes though as it’s bleached based so will discolour fabric.

Paint the plastered walls white and get a simple white blind with a subtle pattern and add a few plants, a tall one for the floor and a couple of small ones for the windowsill.

If you can pick out a colour from whatever blind you chose and find a plant pot or vase or picture frame, anything like that it will all look co-ordinated. The round rug was a good idea, if you want to go further still you could get a fresh looking shower curtain on a tension rod and hang a mirror or picture or two.

I'm also embarrassingly behind on anything, don't use insta or any other SM. Just mumsnet.
The tiles are terrible!
I didnt even know they could be painted or anything about grouting or grout pens (off to google)
Hence why I thought i must turn to mumsnet for help!
I dont know what the floor is, some kind of hard, wet room flooring. It's actually totally fixed and very uneven!
It was once a wet room of an elderly couple, i think landlord just plumbed a bathroom in and called it a bathroom.. but I certain there's nothing to be done with the floor.

Bless you - you are nicer than me! Definitely strip the silicone out and redo as it makes a big difference. White tiles and walls and lots and lots of plants

I agree with others, white paint on anything you can paint, use silicone and grout pen around the tiles and bath, plain white blind, a few plants (great that you've got natural sunlight) maybe a white floating shelf above the toilet with more plants. A few fluffy white towels on the wooden thing you have there. A large fluffy white bath mat. And replace the wonky toilet seat. Get a couple of baskets for your cleaning products and loo rolls. All cheaply available at b&m. I don't think the tiles will look nearly as bad afterwards. I wouldn't go with the blue paint.

Love all the kind and informative suggestions, feeling less overwhelmed now.
Newbie question, do I grout first then tile paint?
And is re-grouting difficult?
My extraction fan doesn't work (see above the toilet, masking taped up) which means the bathroom can get mouldy, this is a job for landlord isn't it?

Sorry, redoing silicone, not grouting.. I think!
Getting mixed up already!

Im going to go out tommorow and start buying! I shall make sure i come back with regular updates (and probably ask more advice!)

Grout pens just colour over discoloured grout. It's literally a special pen.

Definitely ask the landlord to fix the fan. I know you said the rent was low but that bathroom looks about 40 years old.

@JaninaDuszejko

Grout pens just colour over discoloured grout. It's literally a special pen.

Definitely ask the landlord to fix the fan. I know you said the rent was low but that bathroom looks about 40 years old.

Probably older.. the kitchen is in a similar state unfortunately, they did fit a new kitchen but it's very basic. No tiling etc. Pipes not boxed in. Unfortunately, I find renting means substandard living (in my case) but I'm trying to make the best of it.

I shall look for white grout pens, wall paint and tile paint tommorow

I thinking something similar to this should be achievable by the lovely suggestions I've had here from you all?

lots of great suggestions here. As well as fixing the grout, paint the walls and replace the stuff on the wall over the toilet with one big (cheap) dramatic/colourful print. Ikea also has loads of ideas for over toilet storage or free standing storage units. I'd put a row of green plants along the window sill too.

@JaninaDuszejko

Grout pens just colour over discoloured grout. It's literally a special pen.

Definitely ask the landlord to fix the fan. I know you said the rent was low but that bathroom looks about 40 years old.

Rent isn't low, just hasn't changed for a few years. Rent is, reasonable, i guess, by todays standards.

Plants (artificial or not!)
Storage
Nice towels/bath mat
Diffuser/air freshener

Wilko is really good for accessories

For any mould I use bleach soaked loo roll pressed against mouldy areas and it gets rid of it all

@QueenPaw

Plants (artificial or not!) Storage Nice towels/bath mat Diffuser/air freshener

Wilko is really good for accessories

For any mould I use bleach soaked loo roll pressed against mouldy areas and it gets rid of it all

I love plants, so the plant suggestion is a lovely one of me :)