Let me paint you a picture. You’re getting ready for work in your rental bathroom staring into your mirror. Every thought of updating or changing your space vanishes as you realise that you live in a beige wonderland that is robbing you of your spirit piece by dull piece.
My old flat bathroom was vomit-coloured ugly. Everything was almond (walls, counter, sink). The fixtures were gold-toned brass and very old.
The linoleum floor creaked when you walked on it. My lease spelled out thou shalt not make permanent changes pretty clearly.
It made me feel like I could live there, but would never be able to actually make it feel like home.
It wasn’t until recently after living in 5 flats that I learned that changing your space doesn’t mean taking out walls or ripping up flooring. Matter of fact, some of my favourite bathroom upgrades were made with zero drill marks. Through trial and error, I’ve found some fantastic ways to update your rental bathroom using command strips, smart storage ideas, and easily removable updates that will have your landlord thanking you when you move out!
Let’s start with wallpaper. Peel-and-stick wallpaper was life changing for me. I was skeptical at first.
It sounded like it would peel off in humid conditions and leave a sticky residue. However, if you buy the good quality stuff (I’m looking at you StickTILE and Tempaper – they are pricy, but worth it and actually work!) you can make it work in the bathroom. Hang it far enough away from where water sprays and you’ll be fine!
I put a simple geometric peel-and-stick paper behind my toilet. It wasn’t crazy, but was just enough to draw the eye and make that wall look intentional. When using peel-and-stick wallpaper in bathrooms, make sure to leave ample space between the edge of the wallpaper and where your shower head sprays water.
Behind the toilet? Perfect. Right next to the towel bar?
Also perfect. On the wall next to your shower where all the steam hits? Yeah, don’t do that.
The steam from my shower caused a corner of my wallpaper to peel up after 3 months of hardcore showering. But tbh it was worth it. Storage was my next obsession.
Rental bathrooms are created by people who have clearly never owned a toothbrush, let alone real skin care products. Getting some type of over-the-toilet shelving unit changed my world. The ones that hook on with tension and have a lot of weight to them are key.
You’ll want to find ones that don’t require drilling. I purchased mine at Target for about $40.00 and suddenly had space for plants (YES PLANTS CAN WORK IN YOUR BATHROOM IF YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT ONES), cute containers, etc., and freed up all the space that my actual products were taking up on my tiny vanity. Speaking of plants.
THEY ARE MY SECRETweapon. Hanging a snake plant in the corner of your bathroom not only looks amazing – it loves bathroom humidity and low lighting. I have one that I’ve had for three years and moved with me from flat to flat.
It’s like my little green babys that brings life to any space. Pothos are another great pick, but require a bit more light and would look best if hung down from a tall shelf. Mirrors are typically… sad.
You get what you get and hope that the rental has a mirror bigger than a pocket mirror. Most of the time it’s just a plain ol’ rectangle that has been drilled directly into the wall. BUT!
There’s still things you can do. When I moved into my last flat, I found this gorgeous vintage ornate frame at my local thrift store. It was $12.00.
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I measured it to go around my existing mirror and used construction adhesive on the back of the frame to attach it to my mirror. Voila. It appeared as if I had replaced my entire mirror, but I simply gave my boring mirror some personality.
When moving out, I was able to easily pop the frame off with a putty knife and some gentle wiggling. Lighting. Yep.
This can make a HUGE difference. Most rental properties only come equipped with one bright, overhead light that will make each of your mornings feel like you are auditioning for a slasher flick. Invest in some battery operated LED strip lights.
I have them up under my medicine cabinet for task lighting and behind a floating shelf for ambient lighting. Warm white LED strip lights (not the cool “daylight” LED strips. Trust me.) truly transformed my morning routine by giving it a spa vibe rather than making it feel clinical.
Shower curtains. I KNOW. But hear me out.
Your shower curtain and linen choices are your biggest opportunity to showcase your style. Don’t cheap out on yourself and get a clear plastic shower curtain liner. Splurge on one that has a cool texture or fun pattern.
I’ve opted for bold jewel tones on occasion, subtle green/botanical prints, or even a black and white stripe that helped bring the entire room up a more chic level. Remember, you’re renting. Have fun with it!
The vanity area is probably going to need the most work since most rental vanities are builder grade and basic. Nothing screams classy like a plain white sink. Incorporating trays to hold my everyday products allowed me to have defined spaces for products, creating a much cleaner look.
Not only that, but using a small wooden stool (I found mine at World Market for around $35.00) allowed me to add seating for when guests come over, while providing extra storage with limited floor space. Changing out the drawer pulls was another fun update (make sure your lease allows for this!) that made more of a difference than I would have thought. Just be sure you save the original pulls to put back on before you move out!
Lastly, add some textiles. Bathroom spaces can feel cold and sterile. Grab a nice bath mat, a couple cushy towels that match in colour, and maybe even a small rug if you have the floor space.
Boom. Instant warmth. Something I learned when adding textiles to a bathroom is to pay attention to colour temperature.
Cool grey/blue colours will create a clean feel, but can be overly cold when you’re rushing to get ready in the morning. Warmer neutral tones, soft greens, and even muted pink colours can help create a cozy atmosphere. Another trick I used was creating a mini spa corner.
I bought a bamboo caddy that I tucked nice smelling products, a candle (as long as you are responsible and never leave it lit!) and a small speaker for music.
It cost me right around $60. for everything, but turned my boring, functional bathroom into a place I actually enjoyed spending time in. The key to accomplishing all of these decor tricks is to think more like a decorator and less like a contractor.
Decorators work with what they have and use that as a starting point. Sometimes that means going with the flow. Pink tile in your bathroom?
Find ways to make it look vintage glamorous rather than clawing your eyes out with colour that clashes. Also, please remember that none of these decorating tricks matter if you’re not keeping your space clean and organised. You can trick the eye all you want, but if your space isn’t clean and clutter-free it will never feel like home.
But when you pair regular cleaning with these temporary upgrades, you will be well on your way to creating a home within that rental space. You keep your landlord happy, you don’t lose your deposit, and you have a space that you actually love spending time in. What’s not to love?!
Win-win-win.
