HOW TO STYLE A SUPER AVERAGE BATHROOM

Alright. Here it is. The reveal of my tiny, no frills bathroom that no one asked for. It’s not very glamorous, but I’m working with what I got. I hope I can provide some inspiration for your small bathroom decor if you’re like me and aren’t blessed with a gorgeous double vanity master bath dripping with marble and your own personal clawfoot tub to soak in. I hope this descriptive imagery transports you straight into your dream bathroom you’ve pinned on Pinterest. One can dream!

My main goal was to make it feel crisp, clean, and bright. I have to admit I’m happy with how it turned out. I don’t have any revolutionary ideas, but I’ll share some helpful tips for how to do the same in your space.

Here she is in all her glory. Exciting right? I definitely don’t spend a ton of my time in here like it is some sort of oasis. I mean, without a fan it can get muggy quick mostly because I take my showers piping hot. It is functional and that’s about it. However, I tried my best to make the space feel larger by choosing appropriate decor accents.

One of my favorite design elements in this space is the white accent rug I bought from (you guessed it) Target! It may be hard to tell, but it has a textured leopard pattern to it which instantly sold me. I do want to give you a fair warning, however, that it gets dirty fast. It is not for the messy or faint of heart. If I’m being honest, I always put it away when guests come over because shoes can track in nasty sh*t from outside that I don’t want ruining my beautiful white rug. Do yourself a solid and buy a bath rug that’s not stark white. You’ll thank me later. Anthropologie has a pretty textured black rug option that would hide dirt well. I also found a cute cream and black bath mat from CB2 that has a cute X pattern for under $20. West Elm has a really pretty gray and white textured bath mat as well.

It’s probably not a shocker that I went with almost entirely white decor accents. What can I say? I love a neutral. It also does a great job of opening up a small cramped space. Exhibit A. A simple, crisp white shower curtain. I bought mine from Amazon for under $20. I love the pattern and think it adds some interest to the room. Do yourself a favor and don’t use an iron to press out the fold lines. I made that mistake and burnt some of the material… It also took approximately ten years to iron the entire thing. It probably doesn’t help that my ironing board is two feet long, but it’s a lot of fabric regardless. I’d suggest using a steamer. It should do the trick just as well, and you won’t risk ruining your curtain like me.

Next, pretty accessories. Clear containers serve as storage and they look nice too. They’re simple and not distracting which I prefer in a small enclosed space. Sadly, I can’t suggest these jars in particular because they’re plastic and the quality is much to be desired. I bought them off Amazon and, frankly, was too lazy to return. My advice is to buy glass. I found a nearly identical option from Target. They are more expensive, but they won’t crack or scratch as easily as the plastic Amazon option. You could also use old candle jars! Not only will that save you money, but it is a great sustainable option as well.

The faux marble tray doesn’t serve as much functionality, but it looks great and is such an easy way to elevate your space. Once again, I don’t know if I would recommend this specific one because it’s another cheap Amazon find that looks better in pictures. It’s not real marble and it’s obvious. Wayfair has a similar looking option that is real marble for under $25. Target has a gorgeous white marble tray as well. It’s a bit larger and would probably look best on a bathroom vanity rather than the back of the toilet. It would be perfect to store your pretty skincare products, soaps, and lotions. I think white marble goes best in our space and continues with the white, airy theme, but this black marble tray is a show stopper that would look great in any space. What I love most about these little trays is that you can use them for just about anything (i.e. stuff on your nightstand, skincare products, perfumes).

Of course, you’ll need a pretty candle. That’s my answer to everything it seems. My trusty Diptyque candles will never fail me (travel size 1.23 ounces pictured). They’re gorgeous, smell incredible, and boujee enough that you will want to save the container to store other things once you’re done burning the candle. I linked the exact scent pictured in the photo, but my favorite Diptyque scent is Narguilé if you are curious. It goes without saying (I’m gonna say it anyway), but candles also serve a key function in a bathroom. They can mask smell and look way nicer than an ugly Febreze bottle;) Diptyques are stupid expensive, so I’d suggest checking your local Marshall’s or Homegoods for more affordable options that fit a similar aesthetic.

Moving on to cheeky art. I typically gravitate toward abstract art, but I had to make an exception for this. It’s simple, provides a little humor, and works perfectly in a bathroom. I’m biased since this Shit Happens print is my own work, but I love it. I think I’m too funny.

Last but not least, a pretty reusable soap dispenser and hand towel! Wow, riveting stuff. Again, I’m not reinventing the wheel here, but I think a glass soap dispenser is one of the easiest ways to quickly elevate your bathroom. I hate nothing more than those cheap plastic Softsoap bottles, even the Bath and Body Works ones. If you don’t live in a college frat house, then it’s time to upgrade to a more sophisticated option. I bought mine in a two-pack off Amazon for under $15, and I use the other one in our kitchen. It’s also environmentally and budget friendly to buy the soap refills in bulk!

I found our hand towel at Ikea for under $4. They are sold out of the exact black and white option, but they have a cute gray striped towel option that appears to be the same material and style. Target has a great waffle knit hand towel that is the perfect basic and could virtually go in any space. I don’t know about you, but I need a towel with some grit to it. Ya know? I’m not a fan of super soft, plush towels because I feel like they’re always wet and just spreading the water around rather than absorbing it. I feel very passionately about this. Humor me and let me know your towel preference in the comments;)

At the end of the day, I know it’s just a bathroom, but it can be fun to add a few special pieces to elevate the look of your small cramped space. So please, for the love of god, swap out your plastic cotton candy colored Bath and Body Works soap bottle for a glass one and hide that unsightly Febreze bottle under the sink 😉 P.S. If you’re dying to know what my signature scent is, it’s Myrrh and Tonks by Jo Malone, and no, I don’t have it casually sitting on my sink counter. It’s a pretty prop though isn’t it?