Rental apartment bathrooms can feel bland and boxed-in, but a few smart, non-permanent tweaks can change the whole vibe.
Use A Runner-Style Bath Mat
My narrow apartment bathroom always looked better the minute I swapped a tiny mat for a longer bathroom runner. It covers boring floors, adds warmth, and I’ve found it visually “stretches” the space in a super flattering way.
A few relevant products:
- Striped Cotton Runner Rug with Tassels: Instantly elongate your narrow bathroom with a patterned runner that adds warmth and covers outdated rental flooring.
- Woven Storage Basket for Under-Sink Organization: Keep extra towels and toiletries tidy underneath your vanity with these natural woven baskets for breathable storage.
- Turkish Cotton Hand Towel with Fringe: Add a soft touch to your towel ring with absorbent, quick-drying Turkish cotton towels featuring decorative fringe.
Hang A Shower Curtain High
In my last rental apartment bathroom, I hung the curtain as close to the ceiling as I could (using a tension rod), and it instantly made the room feel taller. Picking one shower curtain with texture or a simple pattern does so much heavy lifting without touching the tile.
These products might be useful:
- Extra Long Textured Shower Curtain: Choose a longer curtain length to hang it near the ceiling, instantly making your bathroom feel taller and more spacious.
- Adjustable Tension Shower Rod: Install this drill-free rod high up near the ceiling to elevate your space without damaging rental walls or tiles.
- Metal Shower Curtain Rings: Complete the high-end look with durable rings that glide smoothly across the rod and securely hold heavier fabric curtains.
Pick A Calm Color Palette
Whenever I’m styling a rental bathroom, I stick to 3–4 colors so it looks intentional instead of chaotic. In my own small place, that simple color palette trick made mixed towels, baskets, and bottles feel like a set.
May just do the trick:
- Ceramic Soap Dispenser Set: Upgrade your sink instantly with a coordinating ceramic dispenser set to create a unified, spa-like atmosphere.
- Textured Waffle Hand Towels: Add texture and warmth to your bathroom with neutral waffle towels that complement a calm color scheme.
- Stone or Concrete Soap Dish: Keep surfaces tidy and stylish by using a simple stone soap dish that blends seamlessly with your decor.
Mix Towels Like Decor
In every rental apartment bathroom I’ve had, mixing a basic bath towel with a more interesting hand towel gave me a designer look for less. I keep the tones in my color palette so it still feels clean and cohesive.
Useful items to consider:
- Waffle Weave Hand Towels: Add instant texture and visual interest to your bathroom sink with these fast-drying, stylish waffle weave towels.
- Plush Cream Bath Sheet Set: Build a luxurious, neutral foundation for your bathroom decor with these oversized, soft, and highly absorbent bath sheets.
- Bamboo Vanity Tray: Keep your rolled towels organized and display your new linens beautifully with this simple, water-resistant wooden tray.
Upgrade The Mirror Look
I’ve framed plenty of builder-basic apartment bathroom mirrors using a removable adhesive frame so it feels custom without tools. The first time I did it, the whole sink area suddenly looked styled instead of temporary.
Some handy options:
- Peel and Stick Molding Trim: Create a custom frame effect instantly by applying this adhesive trim directly onto your existing frameless mirror edges.
- Self-Adhesive Wood Veneer Tape: Apply this real wood veneer tape to plain mirror edges for a surprisingly authentic and warm wooden finish.
- Customizable Mirror Frame Kit: Transform your bathroom vanity with this kit designed to adhere over existing clips for a polished, finished look.
Make Sink Accessories Minimal
In my tiny rental bathroom, switching to matching (but simple) sink accessories made the counter feel twice as big. I also learned the hard way that fewer items means less daily clutter creep.
Give these a look:
- Ceramic Soap Dispenser: Upgrade your sink instantly with a refillable ceramic dispenser that minimizes visual clutter and adds elegance.
- Matching Bathroom Tumbler: Keep toothbrushes organized and hidden away in a simple tumbler that perfectly coordinates with your dispenser.
- Small Vanity Tray: Corral your new accessories on a small, sleek tray to protect surfaces and keep everything tidy.
Go Vertical Over The Toilet
The best fix I’ve found for a storage-starved apartment bathroom is over-the-toilet shelving because it uses space you’re already paying for. In my current setup, it holds extra towels and toiletries while keeping the floor totally clear.
These products might help:
- Over-The-Toilet Ladder Shelving: Maximize your vertical space with this stylish ladder shelf, perfect for organizing towels and toiletries in tight bathrooms.
- Amber Glass Dispenser Bottles: Upgrade your rental bathroom aesthetic instantly by decanting shampoos and soaps into these uniform, spa-inspired refillable bottles.
- Woven Storage Baskets: Hide clutter and add texture with woven baskets that slide easily onto shelves for organized, accessible storage.
Add A Slim Freestanding Shelf
In one rental apartment bathroom with zero cabinets, I slid in a narrow freestanding shelf beside the sink and finally had a home for backups. I like this option because it moves with you and doesn’t require drilling.
A few suggestions:
- Bamboo Ladder Shelf Unit: Maximize vertical space with this natural bamboo storage unit, perfect for organizing towels and toiletries in tight corners.
- Woven Storage Basket: Keep smaller items tidy and hidden away by adding these textured baskets to your open shelving units.
- Amber Glass Dispenser Bottles: Elevate your bathroom’s aesthetic and reduce visual clutter by decanting soaps and lotions into these uniform glass dispensers.
Rely On Removable Wall Hooks
I’ve used removable adhesive hooks in every rental bathroom for towels, robes, and even a hair tool caddy. It’s such an easy win because you get vertical storage without upsetting your walls (or your landlord).
Items that may come in handy:
- Heavy Duty Adhesive Hooks: Securely hang damp towels and robes without drilling; choose moisture-resistant options for long-lasting bathroom organization.
- Waffle Weave Bath Sheet: Add texture to your bathroom decor with quick-drying, lightweight towels that hang beautifully on wall hooks.
- Command Bath Hook Strips: Ensure damage-free removal when moving out by stocking up on water-resistant replacement adhesive strips for hanging.
Use A Rolling Cart For Overflow
When my apartment bathroom couldn’t handle all my skincare and hair stuff, a narrow rolling cart saved me. I keep daily items on top and “backup stock” below, and I love being able to roll it out when I’m cleaning.
A few choices to try:
- Narrow 3-Tier Rolling Utility Cart: Maximize tight bathroom spaces with this slim mobile organizer, perfect for keeping daily essentials accessible yet tidy.
- Amber Glass Soap Dispenser Set: Upgrade your cart’s aesthetic by decanting lotions and soaps into these elegant, refillable bottles for a spa-like look.
- Small Woven Storage Basket: Keep washcloths or smaller loose items contained on the bottom shelf with a natural-texture storage basket.
Add Under-Sink Tension Rod Storage
In my last rental apartment bathroom, I installed a cheap tension rod under the sink and hung spray bottles from it to free up the base. It’s a small tweak, but it made that awkward cabinet space actually usable.
Maybe worth checking out:
- Small Tension Curtain Rod: Install a simple tension rod inside your cabinet to hang cleaners and maximize vertical storage space easily.
- Amber Glass Pump Bottles: Decant your soaps and lotions into matching amber bottles for a cohesive, spa-like look under your sink.
- Woven Storage Tray: Organize bottles and towels in a shallow woven tray to keep items contained and accessible.
Skirt A Pedestal Sink
I once had a pedestal-sink rental bathroom with nowhere to hide anything, so I added a simple fabric sink skirt on a tension rod. It gave me a sneaky spot for bins and toilet paper while making the room feel softer and more “done.”
You might give these a try:
- Adhesive Hook and Loop Tape: Secure your fabric skirt firmly to the ceramic pedestal without drilling; apply this tape for easy, damage-free removal.
- Rust/Terracotta Linen Fabric: Choose a textured, earth-toned fabric like this to recreate the warm, ruffled look shown in the inspiration photo.
- Curved Under-Sink Storage Organizer: Maximize the newly hidden space behind your skirt with organizers specifically designed to fit around pedestal sink bases.
Corral Clutter With Baskets And Trays
In every apartment bathroom I’ve organized, baskets are the secret to making open shelves look calm instead of chaotic. I use a small tray for daily items so the counter always looks styled even on busy mornings.
Products that could assist:
- Woven Storage Basket with Lid: Hide unsightly toiletries and reduce visual clutter instantly with a stylish lidded basket for your counter.
- Floating Wood Shelf: Add vertical storage space to your rental bathroom walls easily for extra towels and decorative items.
- Round Woven Tray: Group your soap dispensers and small plants on a textured tray to create a purposeful vignette.
Bring In Greenery (Even Faux)
My windowless rental apartment bathroom still felt alive once I added low-light greenery on a shelf and one small plant by the sink. I’ll totally use faux plants too when the lighting is terrible—no shame, it still works visually.
Possibly handy products:
- Potted Faux Pothos Plant: Instantly brighten your bathroom shelf with this lifelike trailing plant that adds vibrant color without requiring sunlight.
- Floating Wood Bathroom Shelves: Create valuable vertical storage and display space for your greenery with these easy-to-install, warm wood shelves.
- Small Textured Planter Pots: Upgrade your plant display with neutral, textured ceramic pots that add an organic, spa-like feel to shelves.
Warm Up The Lighting
I’ve made more than one rental bathroom feel spa-like just by adding battery-powered wall lights or a soft-glow option near the mirror. In my own tiny space, warmer light made cheap finishes look instantly more expensive.
Check if these fit your needs:
- Battery-Operated Wall Sconces: Instantly upgrade your rental bathroom without wiring issues by mounting these stylish, easy-to-install battery-powered wall sconces.
- Rechargeable Vintage LED Bulbs: Create a cozy, spa-like ambiance with these warm-glow rechargeable bulbs that fit perfectly into battery-operated fixtures.
- Amber Glass Soap Dispenser Set: Complement your warm lighting scheme with amber glass accessories that catch the light and elevate your vanity.
Try Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper As An Accent
One of my favorite apartment bathroom tricks is peel-and-stick wallpaper behind the toilet or on a single wall to create a focal point. I’ve used it to distract from dated tile, and it peels off cleanly when it’s time to move.
You might like:
- Geometric Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper: Transform your rental bathroom walls instantly without damage; easily applies and removes for a quick, stylish refresh.
- Wooden Stool or Accent Table: Add warmth and function to your bathroom space with a natural wood stool perfect for holding decor.
- Small Faux Succulent Plant: Bring a touch of greenery to your bathroom shelves or sills without the worry of maintenance or sunlight.
Fake A New Floor With Removable Decals
The biggest “whoa” moment I’ve seen in a rental apartment bathroom is using peel-and-stick floor decals to cover ugly flooring without renovations. I tried it in a tiny bath once and couldn’t believe how much more intentional (and brighter) the whole room felt.
Consider these options:
- Removable Floor Tile Decals: Refresh dated bathroom tiles quickly with these easy-to-apply, waterproof stickers that add instant character and style.
- Squeegee Smoothing Tool Kit: Ensure a bubble-free finish and crisp edges by using this essential tool to smooth out your new flooring.
- Deep Clean Floor Degreaser: Prep your surface properly before application to help your decals adhere better and last much longer.
