The Cure for Houzz Envy: Bathroom Touches Anyone Can Do

In this series we’re showing you how to borrow ideas from gorgeously styled rooms and apply them to your own home, for little to no money. Today we’re going to tackle the bathroom, and I am going to limit myself to saying “spa-like” just once. It’s going to be tough.

More cures for Houzz envy: In the kitchen | In the dining room | In the guest room | In the living room | In the entryway

Get a new shower curtain. If you’re not ready to replace it, take the curtain and liner down and give them both a good wash. I swear, if you haven’t done this in a while, it will feel like a new shower curtain.

In fact, clearing everything out and really scrubbing down every little baseboard, dusty light fixture, dull faucet and hard-to-reach place will make your bathroom feel much better. Not the disinfectant-wipes cleaning, but the nitty-gritty deep cleaning.


Clean up the clutter. What makes bathrooms look anything but relaxing is clutter. After your cleaning frenzy, you’re not going to want to junk your bath back up with all of those products. Go through those drawers and cabinets and make room for the stuff that you leave lying out. Most photo stylists allow only the following to be photographed on bathroom counters:

1. Two glass apothecary jars, one for cotton balls and one for cotton swabs
2. For smaller bathrooms, an orchid or a small vase of flowers; for larger, a larger vase with one or two elephant ear leaves in it
3. A nice freestanding makeup mirror
4. Soap for hand washing

Get help organizing the bathroom

All of these items can be corralled into one neat tray. This will allow for another item not previously listed: hand lotion, which should match the hand soap. Matching the flowers to the liquid hand soap to the lotion, as in the next photo, would be going above and beyond.





Leave your robe out and easy to reach. I feel like the line between a decent hotel and one that leaves an impression on me is whether or not a nice robe is waiting for me. Having a robe hanging in the bathroom is not clutter, but stick with white or something that adds to the decor, like a pretty kimono-like robe.


Put your fluffy white towels in a basket. Not all of us have closet space to dedicate to linens, or much room in our cabinets. However, fluffy white towels always look nice left out. Roll them up neatly and organize them in a basket.


A charming antique box like this gets the job done in a vintage-inspired bathroom.


Switch out the cabinet hardware. This can completely transform an outdated vanity for a few dollars. These handles look like boat cleats.


Use a unique mirror. There are not many chances to add character to a bathroom; adding a funky mirror is a prime opportunity. If you’ve found a unique picture frame, you can have a local glass shop transform it into a mirror for very little cost.


Bring in the art. There’s something extra fun about choosing art for the bath; you can look for a vintage sign, go for a little bathroom humor or maybe even find a piece that will inspire a whole new color palette. Of course, be sure to choose something moisture resistant for around the bath.


Paint your vanity. This is an easy way to do an instant makeover. New paint can give the vanity an updated look and completely change your color scheme.


Get a cute hamper. If anyone in your family tends to strip and leave the clothing on the floor, you need a hamper right in the bath or next to it to keep things neat. This is also a great way to add a functional accessory to the bath — I love the shape, color and texture this African basket brings to the bath.


Add a shower bench without remodeling. Portable stools made to stand up to the elements outdoors can also stand up to the shower (think teak). These are great if you need a seat or an extra spot for your shampoo or to prop a leg on when you’re shaving.


Give your novel and wineglass a perch. The problem with many of today’s popular freestanding bathtubs is that they don’t have a ledge for that drink, your glasses, a book, a towel or whatever else you want right at hand while you soak. Chinese garden stools add a spa-like feeling.


I also love an antique chair or a stool in lieu of a little side table; I have a little vintage milking stool next to my bath myself. This is also good for you parents who may want an alternative to sitting atop the toilet when you’re supervising bath time.


Add an interesting rug. Rugs made for outdoor spaces fare well in the bath and are often more stylish than the typical shag and rubber-backed bathroom options. Just be sure to take precautions to prevent the rugs from sliding and skidding.


Obligatory plate shot. Bonus: This is a fantastic John Derian decoupage collection.


Display your T.P. artfully. Wow, this is the best solution to the “Where do I put the year’s supply of toilet paper I just bought at Costco?” problem I’ve ever seen! While I find it a little silly when people have a T.P. pyramid on the back of the commode, more designers and photo stylists have been taking advantage of the round roll shape and using it in bathroom designs. Now if everyone could just agree on which way to hang it, we’d have all the T.P. issues solved.

More clever ways to store the T.P.

Your turn: How are you jazzing up your bathroom? Please add your advice in the Comments section.

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