How can I make my bathroom look nice and homely?

[Adayinthelife]

I've moved recently (rented) and the bathroom is really horrible and old fashioned. It's tiled from floor to ceiling in really horrible tiles too and the suite is a browny/beige colour apart from the white toilet seat

Both me and dh have scrubbed it with bleach but it never looks clean. We're having a family party soon so dh has been in there again this weekend just scrubbing away and it just looks awful.

It's just all so run down and dirty looking. There's a manual extractor fan in the window which is just impossible to get clean. It really doesn't feel homely or inviting.

What can I do? I obviously can't rip it out and put a new suite in, and I am on a budget so I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do to make it feel nicer? It's a downstairs bathroom too so I want to make it feel 'warm' if you see what I mean?

As the floor is so cold we bought a bathmat and toilet mat thing from ikea. We got white ones as I didn't really think any other colour would go with beige, but now I'm wondering if that's just making it seem even more colder and unwelcoming.

We have a turquoise bin in there. Would it be an idea to maybe buy some mats that colour or dye the ones I have? We have a white hand towel too. We can't accessorise the shower curtain though as it's glass.

Any other ideas of what I can do? Help is appreciated. Thank you :)

[EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard]

I meant to add before that you could possibly remove the superglue from the tiles by using a cloth soaked in nailvarnish remover with acetone content. Try one test site first obviously.

[WingsClipped]

Instant easy fixes for bathrooms:

Declutter and hide away all those half used bottles of shampoo, shower gel etc. if you can't hide them away then decant it all into nicer/co ordinating bottles.

Put out a nice bottle of handwash, hand cream, some nice 'pretty' soap and a thick fluffy hand towel. John Lewis do great little trays and coordinated items.

All towels should be plain and same colours or at least in coordinated shades. Delegate any old or garish towels to spares or for jobs around the house- pets/ radiator bleeding etc.

Everything else should be hidden away in cabinets. I know you said your landlord won't let you put them up but I really do think it is essential and hygienic. Everytime you flush the toilet, poo particles are sprayed metres away we do lids down and toothbrushes in the cabinet in this household. I have a light display cabinet on command strips in the lounge so it could work for you?

Bath toys stored away and out of sight of possible.

A few moisture loving and easy to care for plants in neutral pots will brighten the place up.

I love fluffy bath mats but make sure these are hung up or tumble dried between uses so you don't get that damp smell. I don't use the toilet mats. None of my friends do either. Windows open at all times and some candles will make it smell fresher.

I think the main thing is to ensure that the bathroom is clean and tidy and smells fresh.

[TrappedNerve]

I have an all white bathroom thankfully but have had truly awful ones in the past.
I have turquoise and mustard accessories, bought from asda mostly, all still available.
It really looks lovely and wasn't expensive at all, I would also add a Yankee candle or similar and some new towels ( above range in asda has the matching towels )
Long shot but have you considered asking landlord to replace?

[EnidButton]

Battery powered fairy lights around the mirror? Will make it nicer for you when you have a bath. Those plus a couple of t-lights will be softer than the over head light.

Definitely see if changing the bulb makes a difference. Some are too bright and cold.

A green plant is a good idea. What about an aloe Vera plant or a white orchid? Both do well in bathrooms.

[RoganJosh]

Oops cross post!

[RoganJosh]

These 3m Velcro strips will stick to tiles and hold a big canvas.
www.amazon.co.uk/Command-Picture-Hanging-Strips-Value/dp/B000OF6X48?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[KittensandKnitting]

Enrique yes those are the ones! I did just go upstairs to see if i still had the packet but to no avail.

There are loads of different types and they can be hidden as there not prettiest of things. I've used them for light weight picture and for hanging special birthday decorations up around my windows and have always peeled off nice and easily :)

[EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard]

Are these what you used Kittens?
command.3m.co.uk/3M/en_GB/command-gb/products/~/?N=5002385+8711749+8723963+3294857496&rt=r3&gclid=CjwKEAjw8da8BRDssvyH8uPEgnoSJABJmwYokUUhDDpjd12zHyxdD4H-MlJfIC5VuQS7ZLIy0RUauxoCvCnw_wcB

[ShotsFired]

What about some of those wall sticker art thingies for the glass shower screen?

I don't mean those ghastly "inspirational" memes i.e. anything with any combination of the words live life laugh in but something colourful and jolly - even a "scene" (beach, meadow, sky)or something?

That would certainly be a focal point for the room.

[EmGee]

Can you:

paint the wall tiles? My DSIS has done this and it really made a difference. Then you can stick up nice photos/pictures. I think this is the one thing that will make the biggest difference to be honest. I don't think white would look cold as you can add things to hang on wall to inject warmth/colour

as Pestilence said, change the lighting/lampshade/light fitting? And rug to hide the floor

add some plants (green ferns in a white or neutral pot) or orchids (I have a fake one on my bathroom windowsill as any real ones I had just died)

declutter your toiletries and have a nice basket/box with products that look good e.g. Bayliss and Harding hand wash etc (hide any clutter in a cupboard or store in a nice basket/box (I have ikea rattan ones which hold a lot but look neat and tidy)

[Pestilence13610]

Try changing the light bulb, some are very yellow, some quite cold and blue. Depending on the room, one can look better than the other (and it's quite cheap).
A rag rug, maybe multi colour, as big as will fit. Softens the room, cancels any echo and washable. Hides the crap floor.
Something at the window, hide the yucky fan. Try something translucent.

[wobblywonderwoman]

No don't be sorry for posting

What about towel wall ladder type things (they would cover up and look well with fresh towels)

Nice chunky candles (turn light off when you want a bath)

Lovely yukka plant

Huge floor rug

Luxury hand soap

And don't forget... Your friends are your friends for a reason

[KittensandKnitting]

You can buy temporary hanging things... I have them up and hasn't even damaged plaster when I've removed them so that might help for pictures.

I'd also speak to your landlord, mine was all tiles and put up a cabinet, it's definetly worth asking and I would also ask about that door now too :)

Will check back later for photos and hope to be corrected about the bin

[EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard]

Cross posted sorry.

[EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard]

Don't be sorry you posted. It should be relatively quick and not too expensive to jazz up the bathroom a bit. It won't be as nice as a new one obviously, but you can improve it quite a lot.

I think turquoise will go well with the other colours. Add a couple of towels and facecloths the same colour as the bin, some toiletries like liquid hand soap, a candle or two as already suggested and if you have a window sill three fairly cheap plant pots with catci, maidenhair fern or other type of house plants that appeal to you. Try stores like Ikea or Wilko.

Personally I'd put mustard with turquoise and make the room look really bold, it might make the suite and tiles fade to background more?

If that doesn't appeal find colours that do. Maybe get a remnant of fabric and put in a clip frame for some cheap wall art.

Take a look on Pinterest for some inspiration
uk.pinterest.com/pin/541557923921362921/

[Adayinthelife]

The door doesn't even open all the way either. If we renew the tenancy I am really going to push to be allowed to put a new door in as the fact you have to slide sideways into the bathroom doesn't help either.

We have a fuchsia kitchen and the kitchen has the same tiles as the bathroom and it goes quite well so that might work :)

[justdontevenfuckingstart]

You can put some lino or LVT on the floor and look on Amazon for those sticky hook things so you can hang some pictures up. Or put a sign up and a jar 'our bathroom is awful, all contributions for improvement are welcome'

[ladydoer]

I would try fuchsia elements..should go well with the beige I think? (well, depends on the beige, but I do have this combination in a room)

White will make the room even more dull I think..or, combine white with funchsia.

Use larger mats, decorate the bathroom lamp, put colored hangers or stickers on the inside of the bathroom door. Make sure the bathroom is pleasantly deodorized and - hey, enjoy life, none of your guests will pay attention to the bathroom, i never do! :)

[Adayinthelife]

I have a sleeping dd on me at the moment, but when she wakes up I'll take some photos if you think that will help?

[apintofharpandapacketofdates]

I use a little basket with rolled-up face cloths in contrasting colours. If you have a tourqoise bin then maybe some that are orange/white/turquoise?

Also a plant pot (and plant obvs)
I use a ceramic plant pot for my toothbrushes/toothpaste.... Sits on sink with naice hand soap.... (Home Bargains is your friend)

[Adayinthelife]

It's tiled so we can't put a cabinet or a canvas up or anything. The bath panel is broken and there's lots of concrete exposed on the ground, dents and chips on the side of the bath, super glue over the tiles etc but we're not allowed to try and fix any of it, so that's why I thought some colour or a plant would take the focus of that a bit as the concrete is the first thing you see really as you walk in.

[Grassgreendashhabi]

Photo would be helpful.

[KittensandKnitting]

Nooo don't be sorry you posted!!

People are making good suggestions :)

[scurryfunge]

Would your landlord let you paint over the tiles?