Bachelor Pad: 3 Quick and Easy Ways to Improve Your Bathroom’s Appearance
January 30, 2008 by Greg
My bathroom used to be the most neglected area of my home. In the washrooms of my younger years I would haphazardly throw in a few cheap towels from Christmas, an umatched bath mat on the floor, and a semi-clear/semi-moldy shower liner hanging from 75% of the hooks. Now walking into my restroom I’m surrounded by matching modern towel sets, ginger lime scents, stainless steel trays, and a giclee print of a dahlia. While there are infinite things you can do to a bathroom to improve it’s appearance, there are three easy things I think most men could handle in a half a day.
The Shower Curtain
The shower curtain is the biggest surface inside a bathroom that is not a permanent installation. This area has the most opportunity to make a dramatic impact on the appearance without spending a lot of time or money. Regularly though, this neglected item is simply a vinyl semi-transparent $4 shower liner with cheap plastic hooks.
The few pieces involved in this project are the liner, the rod, the hooks, and the shower curtain itself. If there was nothing to work with, this could be all done in under $80 and looking great.The first three are the easy part so we’ll start with them.
The rod should simply match it to your existing hardware and coloring of your bathroom. With the basic choices available of white, black, and chrome, one of these will usually fit the room. While there are many choices out there for hooks, none function quite as well as metal clamping rolling hooks. These are available from most stores for around $10-12. Again, match the finish to the rod/bathroom.
For the liner throw out all notions of plastic and vinyl. Mildew resistant cloth liners achieve the same results with the added benefit of smelling better, looking better, and bunching better. The Hotel series fabric liners from Bed Bath and Beyond are only $13. A fabric liner by itself often looks better than a decorative vinyl shower curtain.
The shower curtain will have the biggest impact on the room. I avoid most cheaper stores like Bed Bath and Beyond, Target for this because designer curtains are usually available for around the same price. If you don’t yet have a theme or color pallete for your bathroom, the curtain can be a great place to start.
Shower Curtains I Like
Matching Towel Sets
Towels are the second biggest neglected color source in the bathroom. With towels hanging on door hooks, towel bars, and and hand towel rings, the color potential is huge. After the theme and color palette are picked out, finding them is the easy part. I recommend adding a few different hues of the same color to create a more dramatic effect.
While general bath supply stores like Linens n Things or Bad Bath and Beyond offer a few decent sets, if you’re looking for something more modern head to Target or CB2 for an edgier appearance.
Art and Decoration
Usually when I see a bathroom I think function. There are utilities installed to be used and if they are working properly, then there is nothing more to do. However, this attitude creates a space that is cold and uninviting. A few simple decorative additions will warm everything up.
This space is wide open with options so finding a piece might be a bit daunting for the newcomer. Take just one or two things from this list, add them to the bathroom, and witness how the appearance changes.
- Candles (Tea lights, Pillars, Container/Jar, Votives, any will do)
- Reed Diffusers
- Framed Picture
- Screen Printed Canvas
- Vase and Flowers/Foliage
- 3 Dimensional Art (masks, sculptures, carvings)
Decorative Sources
You’re a man after my own heart. Where were all the metrosexuals when I was younger?
(I hope the word doesn’t offend you. I rather like it.) You would not believe the homes of some of my old boyfriends…early frat house! Even if they had the money, they weren’t willing to spend it on ‘decor’, unless of course it was in the bedroom. They probably spent a thousand bucks on mirrors!!! And, of course, the obligatory satin sheets. I guess that’s the only decorating they felt they could do without someone questioning their sexual orientation. Probably why I had so many gay friends, at least I could feel comfortable in their homes. My daughter’s boyfriend has an amazing house, totally ‘fab’. As I said, too bad I was born too soon. He even does his own housework, and does it well. Clean, shiny and beautiful. Plus, a kitchen to die for. That should be your next project. I saw an article while surfing yesterday about kitchens designed for men. Wish I’d saved the link. Nothing impresses a woman so much as a great kitchen. Wow, I’m long-winded this morning. Time for Starbucks. Ciao!
I’m not a fan of either of your recommended shower curtains (the first was too busy for my liking, the second reminded me of some retro 70’s throwback), but I do like the idea of a cloth liner. Great tip. I’ll check into it once I’m settled in my new place.
One thing I do agree with you on though: Anthropologie. That place kicks serious ass.
Caroline,
You need to add tips@urbanmonarch.com in your address book for such sites!
Cash,
Don’t be hating on the shower curtains…
Cloth is the only way to go! The ones at BBB even come with suction cups on each side so your liner sticks to the shower (no leakage.)
I redecorated my bathroom a while back. I have a washer and dryer in my bathroom. One thing I did was instead of placing the usual boxes of laundry dergent on the shelf above the washer and dryer, I put the powdered soap into clear canisters and labeled them….It gave the bathroom a softer look.