Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Home decoration
Original poster

How to make the bathroom less prison-y

60 replies

Floralbiscuit · 14/09/2023 13:22

Hello,
Please help!
I've got a miserable bathroom: no windows and very small. The main light in the middle is stark. I thought painting the white walls a blue would make it less awful but actually it made it worse and now looks like a hospital toilet. I've got a limited budget so can't redo the entire room and I don't know how to resolve the bathroom. The right side of the bathroom is dark and shadowy. The left side is bright like the Starbucks toilets.
If anyone has any suggestions with colour, lighting etc , please let me know. And flooring too since currently it is commercial safety flooring. I know mirrors and pictures will help but think it will still have this oppressive clinical feel.
Thank you in advance xxx

How to make the bathroom less prison-y
How to make the bathroom less prison-y
OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
Ladyoftheknight · 14/09/2023 16:26

We had a similar bathroom in our last house- this is what I planned for it.

Use a paint colour you'll use elsewhere in the house if there's any left to save money, buy decor in black or same wood to match the basin cabinet. A black mirror and some fake plants will look less prison!

How to make the bathroom less prison-y
rwalker · 14/09/2023 16:35

I’d wallpaper it with something like this

How to make the bathroom less prison-y
Original poster
Floralbiscuit · 14/09/2023 16:38

Ladyoftheknight I love that!

OP posts:
Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 14/09/2023 16:39

I’ve got that light in the utility room, it may not be beautiful but you can see really well by it,,to read in the bath or do any other ‘personal care’ ( the imagination races) I wouldn’t change it.

the quick and easy fix would be to rag roll the blue with a softer lighter colour, it would also give the finish some depth and make it less solid. You could do the ceiling too, it would be lighter on top of white. I’d probably paint the cupboard as well to ‘loose ‘ it. Then you can add whatever pictures etc you like. There are loads of tutorials and images on Google though I don’t seem to be able to link them….

Findyourneutralspace · 14/09/2023 16:40

You need to break up the solid colour with pictures, mirrors, accessories etc

Original poster
Floralbiscuit · 14/09/2023 16:52

Allthegoodnamesarechosen I find the bathroom light so stark and unflattering that I try to avoid turning it on and mostly just use the landing light. I think because the bathroom light is pretty much immediately overhead (I had a mirror against the wall before which was removed before painting. I couldn't bear to look at it under that light though!). My photo doesn't show the light properly but the right side of the room is very dark and shadowy. Definitely doing something with the light would help. I completely agree - the colour of the wall is too solid.
Thanks to everyone for your suggestions x

OP posts:
Ffghhhbdbfb · 14/09/2023 17:02

Decorative mirror.
shelves with a plant or terrarium with shade plants (glass and mirrors will take away the feeling of the missing window)
shower curtain that fits the colour scheme or new colour scheme.
swap the light for something dramatic that ties in with the mirror.

if you have the budget swapping the tiles would be nice.

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 14/09/2023 17:03

I have a small interior bathroom. It's painted sage green. I also have a large round mirror over sink

Ffghhhbdbfb · 14/09/2023 17:04

Add a second smaller light and use a lower bulb in the main light.

Alleycatz · 14/09/2023 17:06

I love sage green for bathrooms. Definitely paint the cupboard. Mats and if the money stretches a shower screen but otherwise a coordinating curtain. You need tiles or even a mirror over the sink to make it feel more spacious.

Thatsmorethanhalf · 14/09/2023 17:11

I also have a bathroom with no window. I would avoid brilliant white for the walls. Mirrors do help and I have resorted to an artificial plant to soften it up a bit. Some small recessed LED ceiling spots would break it up and give a kinder light?

Ffghhhbdbfb · 14/09/2023 17:11

These are a nice alternative to plastic plants.

How to make the bathroom less prison-y
HundredMilesAnHour · 14/09/2023 17:16

MillenialAvocado · 14/09/2023 13:54

I actually quite like the colour! I think a mirror, some wall art, a plant, wall shelves, nice bathroom rug, nice shower curtain, that sort of thing, would make a big difference.

I agree. I like the colour too. It's the actual bathroom itself that is a bit stark and looks like no-one lives there. I don't think the colour is the problem.

ILikeDinosaurs · 14/09/2023 17:16

I like the colour! I would put lots and lots of picture frames up with pics of botanics or something in them, to give it a maximalist vibe (all charity shop)? Also I would add plants (prob fake seeing as you have no windows Grin to make it prettier).

Your bathroom could actually look very fashionable if you check out maximalism :) Or you could do a 'lite' version of it if it's too much for you.

Sunshineclouds11 · 14/09/2023 17:20

I also like the colour!
You can deffo work with it to save repainting

Original poster
Floralbiscuit · 14/09/2023 17:34

Unfortunately I can't unsee the hospital likeness with the colour. The photos below - one is my bathroom and the other is the colour scheme of the hospital (I had an appointment there this morning and realised that all the doors, furniture etc remind me of my bathroom!). X

How to make the bathroom less prison-y
How to make the bathroom less prison-y
OP posts:
Original poster
Floralbiscuit · 14/09/2023 17:37

I should also say that I think I'll be in the house 1-2 years so am looking for a look that that will appeal to future buyers or at least won't be too off-putting but also not several £k. Just a pleasant bathroom. All your suggestions have been fab x

OP posts:
Goldmember · 14/09/2023 17:38

Echo others with Sage paint. I'd fit tongue and groove to the bottom half of the room and paint it sage, with a cream to the top half. A big mirror and some battery operated gold wall sconce lights from Amazon. The flooring looks fine, a fluffy bath mat to break it up. Some shelves above the loo with pictures/ plants / candles.

weirdoboelady · 14/09/2023 17:50

I love that blue! What occurred to me was that you could splatter some white on to it and it would look like stars. Or a sponge effect, something like the below.

It might be a disaster, but it would cost you very little to find out, and if you're going to paint the wall otherwise nothing is lost except some v cheap white paint!

How to make the bathroom less prison-y
TotalOverhaul · 14/09/2023 17:56

MillenialAvocado · 14/09/2023 13:54

I actually quite like the colour! I think a mirror, some wall art, a plant, wall shelves, nice bathroom rug, nice shower curtain, that sort of thing, would make a big difference.

I like the colour too. Don't think it looks remotely prisony, but a sage green might with that grey flooring which is very prisony (we have similar and I really want to change it.)

I love the colour. Agree with others that a big distinctive mirror over the sink and a huge fluffy bath mat in a strong colour - maybe yellow, burnt orange or just white, would lift it. Add a glass shelf below the mirror too, for a plant and candle. Candle lit baths are very unprisony!

JaninaDuszejko · 14/09/2023 17:58

Sincw you're only in it for 1-2 years you don't want to spend a lot on what is a perfectly functional bathroom. Browsing instagram I thought this bathroom by House of Eden Court could be inspiration. Paint the ceiling pink or green, and look at redbubble for colourful shower curtains.

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc0Cn_nMMSJ/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Original poster
Floralbiscuit · 14/09/2023 21:45

JaninaDuszejko thank you - that link takes me too some (very lovely) front doors

OP posts:
WildCherryBlossom · 15/09/2023 14:22

I think most people go for blues and greens for a bathroom but I think a terracotta orange colour would look fantastic.

As many others have suggested get a big mirror - mirrors font just reflect light around a space they also draw the eye in and make the space feel much bigger.

Keep an eye on charity shops for a mirror.

Then maybe treat yourself to a scented candle to make the space cosier (eg gir s bath in the evening)

WildCherryBlossom · 15/09/2023 14:25

Orange bathroom inspo

How to make the bathroom less prison-y
How to make the bathroom less prison-y
How to make the bathroom less prison-y