Indulge in a touch of luxury without the hefty price tag. These clever bathroom upgrades deliver the look and feel of a high-end retreat, while still keeping your budget comfortably in check.
A powder room with a combination of wallpaper, a vintage mirror, and a monkey lamp
BATHROOM LIGHTING
Dim the lights and mix ambient light, general light and task lighting—soft, warm white can create the best spa experience. Consider using light fixtures from different sources such as wall sconces, table lamps, or pendant lights. Make your bathroom sexy.
CLEAN THE FIXTURES AND THE FINISHES
Regrout your tiles to remove any black gunk. Broken fixtures and fittings must be replaced. Choose new and updated fittings that deliver comfort and practical uses.
Shower heads provide different massage intensities, misting to close pores, and varied settings for a fantastic shower experience. Water closets come in automatic functions, with remote control and even self cleaning systems.
An almost finished bathroom we did with a view—we created a huge mir- ror with concealed storage to create a sense of height.
Since we’re still on the topic of budget, I would suggest a practical fixture or fitting that offers both performance and practicality. The fixture and fittings should be of good quality and easy to maintain.
Hard water stains on shower partitions should also be professionally cleaned.
DITCH THE OLD TOWELS AND MATS
Update old towels. Nothing feels better than big, fluffy, neutral towels with monograms or nicely embossed designs.
I am partial to Frette towels since they are huge—not too hard and not too soft. There are Frette outlets that have hotel grade towels in plain white finish. Having these towels in the bathroom provides a sense of comfort just by looking at them.
It would be nice to have different sizes too—for bathing, for face washing, and for washing hands. It’s nice to have a bundle of small towels placed in a beautiful porcelain or stone vase in your powder room.
Bathroom rugs, like a memory foam type rug, should also blend into the space. If you like an accent rug in a monochromatic bathroom, a bold statement piece can do wonders. I suggest a Missoni style, flower-shaped rug in vibrant colors to highlight the space.
Extra glass storage on the walls on top of the toilet
STORAGE
Add storage. Having clutter in your bathroom would remove any sense of wellness and relaxation.
Storage can be added under the sink, above the water closet by the wall in the form of shelves, or you can get an acrylic shelf that can be placed by the corner. An acrylic shelf by Kartell is made for bathroom storage and comes in different colors. You can place storage behind the mirror for smaller toiletries like perfume bottles, toothpaste, nail polish and makeup.
A bathroom with marble for floor and walls
MIRROR
Replace small facial mirrors with bigger, oversized ones. These can create a better focal point in the bathroom and make a small space look even bigger. You can choose from a highly decorative piece to a sleek backlit one. Add a small magnifying mirror.
Bathroom upgrade with a wowwallpaper
UPDATE FINISHES
Want to update your tiles but cannot demolish and re-waterproof and re-tile? No problem! You can apply a decorative, waterproof paint finish over wall tiles—even to mimic the look of stone. I use Oikos Paints and can copy any kind of stone finish. I’m done in a few days.
Add scents. Place scented candles, potpourri, or diffusers to add to the mood of the bathroom.
A powder room we did for Pamana with an Amorsolo print that we cut out and framed for a whimsical approach.
ADD ART
Having a nice piece of artwork can do wonders for your bathroom. This sets the mood and gives the space personality.
PLANTS
Placing some real plants indoors can create a nice and refreshing environment. This can add drama to a bathroom space. Remember to bring the plants out from time to time to get some sun!
STOOLS
Stools (no pun intended!) can give some accents in a bathroom. These can double as magazine stands, phone holders, or even as iPad stands.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
TRAYS
Trays are quite useful in a bathroom. These can be standalone trays in acrylic or leather, as well as metal or acrylic trays for the counter or bathtub trays. These can serve as containers for decor, accessories, and toiletries.
