Monday 8 August 2016

Quick & simple bathroom makeover - Using only accessories


How to give your small bathroom a quick, simple and budget-friendly makeover, using accessories only. Featuring tips on how to maximise space, trick the eye into making the room look bigger, incorporate storage into your interior design, and how small can still be stylish. Artificial plants and greenery add a natural touch without the commitment of live plants, and a bath shelf makes more of the space.

Our bathroom is one of those rooms I feel totally overwhelmed with styling - whilst I'd love a whole new suite, that isn't really financially possible at the moment, so I've had to be creative with how I decorate it instead. 

So rather than ripping everything out, I've done what I can with accessories only. On top of that, space is tight meaning I've had to be careful. 

Simple is best when tackling small rooms - the last thing you want is for a space to become over-cluttered, and therefore appear even smaller. As you can tell this hasn't been an easy makeover...

Here's my six steps to styling a bathroom using accessories only - no need for any major renovations at all! 

Step 1: Greenery 

I've tried to make the most of the boring shelf behind the bath tub by creating a large focal point through a faux plant display. I've filled a vase with some faux eucalyptus stems - a really reasonable choice at just a few pounds a stem from IKEA, and are some of the best quality I've come across. Plus no risk of killing artificial! I absolutely love going faux with my plants and flowers - I previously shared some of my favourite budget greenery here - and think they make a huge difference in softening this room, which felt quite cold with its floor to ceiling tiles.

How to give your small bathroom a quick, simple and budget-friendly makeover, using accessories only. Featuring tips on how to maximise space, trick the eye into making the room look bigger, incorporate storage into your interior design, and how small can still be stylish. Artificial plants and greenery add a natural touch without the commitment of live plants, and a bath shelf makes more of the space.

Step 2: Clever storage

My main purchase for this room was these ladder shelves, again from IKEA (unfortunately they're now discontinued, but you can find a similar set here*). They fill this space by the door perfectly, and are the ideal spot to display decorative accessories in a simple, but effective way. 

Don't be tempted to over-style, leaving what's called 'negative space' on some shelves can create an illusion of space and trick the eye into thinking the room is bigger than it really is.

I've added some candles to create a cosy atmosphere, stored some flannels and loo rolls away in lots of little baskets, and filled some large IKEA jars with cotton wool balls and shells.

How to give your small bathroom a quick, simple and budget-friendly makeover, using accessories only. Featuring tips on how to maximise space, trick the eye into making the room look bigger, incorporate storage into your interior design, and how small can still be stylish. Artificial plants and greenery add a natural touch without the commitment of live plants, and a bath shelf makes more of the space.

Step 3: Bath caddy 

After searching high and low for a wooden bath caddy or shelf, of which I'd seen so many beautiful ones on Instagram, my husband managed to track me one down on Amazon of all places. This definitely works to jazz up the boring bath tub a bit and give you another space to style and add some character. 

I use it to display some toiletries, a beautiful glass jar filled with cotton pads, and yet another succulent, of course. It's also perfect for holding your glass of wine whilst relaxing in the bath...


Step 4: Floor

This is the big one I think, I recently replaced the grubby old floor in here with a new vinyl - and its completely refreshed the room. But don't think you have to spend a fortune on this either! I found this tile-effect vinyl on eBay which cost just £50, and fitted it myself in an afternoon

You can find my step-by-step tutorial and video here, but I promise not as difficult as you might think! I'm so impressed with how this turned out I'm already planning to do the same in other rooms around the house.


Step 5: Rugs & mats

If changing the floor is not for you though, layer up with rugs which you can pick up fairly cheaply. I hang a pretty bath mat over the side of the tub to hide the old plastic bath panel

You can even make your own mat for a couple of pounds if you can't find one that takes your fancy - a simple way to change up your look when you get bored too.

Step 6: Accessories 

And finally, probably the most important bit - accessorising! I promise there's no space that can't be improved with a few well-styled items. Think candles to create a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere, fluffy towels or stylish beauty products. 

Choose items that are of a similar colour palette to make your overall look ties together.


In the future a new bath panel is definitely on my list for in here, however for now I'm quite happy with how this has turned out, and it goes to show that you absolutely can refresh a room with just accessories!


What are your tips for giving a small bathroom a makeover?

Thanks for reading,
Sam Xx
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