Transform Your Outdated Bathroom From Yuck to Yeah!

When you moved into your new apartment, did your bathroom look anything like this?

Yeah…mine too, except foam green. Yuck.

Despite the outdated bathroom, with the missing mirror and broken tiles and dreadful plumbing, I fell in love with my apartment the first time I saw it. Most apartment bathrooms have not been updated since the 60's or 70’s, so the tiles are all sorts of crazy colors, and quite often the tub and toilet bowl are colored to match. Most people are intimidated by this, but there are some easy ways to take focus away from the existing bathroom and make it appear more modern and stylish.

-My first tip, and probably the easiest solution is to get a new shower curtain! The trick is to find one with a bold, modern pattern that contains the color of the tiles in your bathroom. However, there should be other complimenting colors on the curtain as well. A new shower curtain can really bring some new life to your bathroom. It will not only work with your space, but will become the focal point of your bathroom and detract from the outdated color and fixtures. See the "Great Find" I got at Target.

Not only is Target a budget friendly place to shop when looking for apartment essentials, but it also offers a variety of colors and patterns to select from. If you don’t find what you are looking for at Target, or do not have a Target near you, do not fret! You can find some great affordable shower curtains pretty much anywhere; don’t forget to check out your local dollar store or Christmas Tree Shop for some “Great Finds” as well.

-My next tip: Buy new towels. Select towels that pull from colors in your new shower curtain. Don’t feel that all of your towels have to be the same color. Add some flair with a couple of different colors, patterns or designs. Things don’t always need to match, but they do need to go together. I also purchased my towels at Target. There were so many colors to choose from, the quality of the towels is great and they did not break the bank! 

Mika's towel came from a local pet store. The brown towel with the paw print stands out so that she knows which towel to use. 

-Now, we all know that the plumbing in old bathrooms is not always so reliable, so be sure to purchase a plunger! I know mine has already come in handy. I know plungers can be extremely unsightly, with bulky wooden poles that stick out like a sore thumb. I was able to find this really great plunger (yes, at Target) for about $8.00. It has a clear handle that disappears behind the toilet. I love that I never have to worry about guests focusing on a hideous plunger, or even noticing that I have a plunger at all! I know it is a little bit girly, but I am a little bit girly, so it works for me.

-Toilet brushes may not be as unsightly as a plunger, but they are a pretty close second. I found this really great toilet brush with holder that is very streamlined, and clean looking. It matches my toothbrush holder and trash can, so that everything works together in the space. Target $5.00.

See how you can barely see my plunger from behind the toilet because of the clear handle? Isn't it great that the disgusting toilet brush is now the disguised toilet brush? 

-Having a dog and/or kids can mean that your trash cans may never be safe. My puppy loves going through the trash to get a nice piece of tissue to chew on…yuck! Plus it creates a big mess for me to clean up later. 

A trash can with a lid has been a wonderful solution to my puppy problem. With the flap lid, she is unable to get in there. Trash cans like this are pretty easy to come by and come in a variety of colors and sizes. I was able to find one that matched my bathroom accessories perfectly, and you can too!

-Now just add some finishing touches. Tooth brush holder, tissue boxes, etc. Little details like that can really enhance a space and pull your whole new, modern look all together. I was able to find a toothbrush holder to match my bathroom accessories  and some great tissue boxes that pull colors from my shower curtain in the most perfect way. Even Kleeenex can be a "Great Find", and a great accent piece.

While my bathroom started off as the typical outdated apartment bathroom, I was able to transform it into a space that I actually enjoy and am proud of. I don't even see its outdated skeleton anymore. With this information, under $100.00 and some “Great Finds”, you can too! What do you think of my bathroom?