My first apartment bathroom had a pink sink. Pink. It also had almond tile, a light fixture that hummed, and a shower curtain rod that fell on my head twice in one month.
I lived with all of it for 8 months before I admitted that glaring at the room wasn’t fixing it.
If your bathroom still looks like 1987 never left, you’re in the right place. These 23 old apartment bathroom decor ideas work for small, outdated spaces, and most of them cost under $100 and respect renter rules.
Save the ones you like to a Pinterest board as you read. Before-and-after bathroom pins are dangerously easy to binge.
Before you spend a dollar
Grab a tape measure and your phone. Photograph the room from the doorway, then shoot each wall.
Photos expose problems your eyes stopped noticing years ago, like the yellowed caulk you’ve been ignoring since 2022.
Then check your lease. Most landlords tolerate paint and hardware swaps if you keep the originals and put them back before you move out.
FYI, I always email my landlord first and save the reply. It takes 2 minutes and has saved me from a deposit fight.
Make two lists: what stays (tub, toilet, tile, sink) and what you can change (almost everything else). The ideas below follow that split.
Fix the surfaces that look the oldest
Surfaces take up the most visual space in a tiny bathroom, so they give you the biggest payoff per dollar. Start here.
1. Paint dated tile with a tile-specific coating
Almond, mauve, and avocado tile all respond well to a good epoxy-based tile paint.
Brands like Rust-Oleum sell kits that include a cleaner, a primer, and a topcoat.
A crisp white or a soft warm gray makes a 5-by-8 bathroom look twice as clean.
I painted a peach tub surround once and I’ll be honest: the prep takes longer than the painting.
Scrub the tile, sand it lightly, and let each coat cure fully. Rush the cure time and the paint peels in weeks. Check your lease first, since this one is semi-permanent.
2. Lay peel-and-stick floor tiles
Old vinyl or yellowed linoleum drags the whole room down.
Peel-and-stick tiles in black-and-white checkerboard, warm terracotta, or a faux marble pattern cover it in a single afternoon. A small bathroom takes maybe 12 to 20 tiles.
Cut around the toilet base with a utility knife and a paper template. Press each tile down hard, and run a rolling pin over the seams.
When you move out, a hair dryer softens the glue enough to lift them.
3. Repaint the vanity
A builder-grade oak or white laminate vanity is a blank canvas. Sand it, prime it with a bonding primer, and roll on a cabinet-grade paint.
Deep green, navy, and warm greige all photograph beautifully, which matters if you plan to post your progress.
I painted my last vanity a muddy olive and got more compliments on that than on anything else I owned.
Use a small foam roller for a smooth finish. Brush marks look charming for about 10 minutes.
4. Swap the cabinet pulls and knobs
Tiny change, huge result. Replace the plastic or brass-toned 90s pulls with matte black, brushed brass, or ceramic knobs.
Measure the distance between the screw holes first so the new ones fit without drilling.
Keep the old hardware in a labeled bag. You’ll thank yourself in 2 years when the lease ends.
5. Color-drench the walls and ceiling
Here’s a trick I’d steal if I were you: paint the walls and the ceiling the same color.
The edges of the room blur, and the space reads as bigger. A pale sage, a soft greige, or a warm white all work.
Want something bolder? A deep inky blue in a tiny windowless bathroom feels cozy, like a cocktail bar.
Benjamin Moore has a color tool that shows how sheen and light change a shade, which helps when you test samples.
6. Add peel-and-stick beadboard or wainscoting
Lower-wall paneling hides scuffed or ugly wall finishes and adds a cottage feel.
Paint it a satin white or a muted color. It also gives your Pinterest photos some texture, which flat walls never do.
IMO, this is the most underrated renter upgrade. The panels cost around $30 to $60 for a small room, and most come off with gentle heat.
Replace the fixtures that scream “old apartment”
Fixtures date a bathroom faster than paint color does. Swapping them takes basic tools and a free Saturday.
7. Install a new faucet
A corroded two-handle faucet with a yellowed handle ruins the look of an otherwise decent sink.
Swap it for a single-handle model in matte black or brushed nickel. Most apartment sinks use a standard 4-inch spread, but measure before you buy.
Watch a video tutorial from a source like Family Handyman before you start. Turn off the shutoff valves under the sink first. Learn from my flooded cabinet.
8. Replace the builder-grade light bar
That row of bare bulbs above the mirror makes everyone look tired. Replace it with a modern vanity light, or a pair of wall sconces flanking the mirror.
Your landlord may need to approve this since it involves wiring, so ask first.
Can’t change the fixture? Swap the bulbs for warm 2700K LEDs. Wow, the difference a 12 dollar pack of bulbs makes.
The room goes from interrogation chamber to boutique hotel.
9. Upgrade the small stuff on the toilet
A cracked plastic seat and a rusted flush handle make a clean toilet look grimy.
Replace the seat with a slow-close model in white orwood. Swap the handle for a chrome or matte black one. Total cost: about $35.
Nobody posts toilet pictures to Pinterest, but everyone notices when the details are fresh. I do.
10. Redo the caulk and grout
Moldy, cracked caulk around the tub looks worse than almost any outdated tile.
Scrape it out with a caulk removal tool, clean the gap with rubbing alcohol, and run a new bead of white silicone. This takes 45 minutes and costs about $8.
For stained grout, a grout pen or a deep scrub with an old toothbrush brings it back.
This Old House has solid guides on caulking techniques if you’ve never done it.
11. Hang a curved shower rod and a better curtain
A curved rod adds about 6 inches of elbow room in the shower. That sounds small until you stop getting a wet curtain stuck to your thigh. Tension-mounted versions leave no holes in the wall.
Pair it with a heavy, textured curtain in a solid color. Hang it 2 inches above the old rod height so the ceiling looks taller.
Skip the clear plastic liner on its own and hang a fabric one in front of it.
Quick cost check
Here’s a snapshot of rough costs for popular projects. Prices vary by region and brand, so treat these as ballpark figures.
| Project | Rough cost | Time needed | Renter-friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peel-and-stick floor tile | $40 to $100 | 3 to 4 hours | Yes |
| Painted vanity | $30 to $60 | 1 weekend | Usually, with approval |
| New faucet | $50 to $150 | 1 to 2 hours | Ask first |
| New caulk | $8 to $15 | 1 hour | Yes |
Squeeze in storage without crowding the room
A small bathroom usually has the same problem: too much stuff, not enough surfaces. These ideas give your toiletries a home and keep the room looking calm.
12. Put shelving over the toilet
The wall above your toilet is wasted space. An over-the-toilet shelf unit or a pair of floating shelves holds towels, baskets, and a plant. Choose one with an open design so the room doesn’t feel boxed in.
My opinion: pick wood or metal shelves over plastic ones. They look better in photos and they don’t sag.
13. Mount floating shelves on empty walls
Even a 24-inch shelf next to the door gives you space for a candle, a stack of folded washcloths, and a small framed print.
Use heavy-duty drywall anchors if you can’t hit a stud. Space the shelves at least 12 inches apart so the wall doesn’t look cluttered.
Here’s a random side thought: I’ve always believed a bathroom is the best room in a home for singing, because the tile gives your voice an echo.
A clean, styled bathroom makes me sing more. Make of that what you will.
14. Replace the medicine cabinet or add a framed mirror over it
Old medicine cabinets often have rusted shelves and a chipped mirror. Swap the whole unit if your lease allows it.
If it doesn’t, hang a framed mirror directly over the existing door with removable hanging strips.
A black or wood frame adds instant character. You hide the dated cabinet and gain a bigger reflective surface at the same time.
15. Add a corner shower caddy
Cheap wire racks rust and drip. A stainless steel or bamboo corner caddy holds shampoo, a razor, and a loofah without cluttering the tub ledge.
Choose one that hangs from the showerhead or uses suction, so you avoid drilling.
Rust-proof matters here. I’ve replaced 3 caddies in 5 years because I bought the bargain ones.
16. Use the back of the door
Over-the-door hooks hold towels and robes. A narrow over-door organizer holds hair tools, backup toilet paper, and cleaning spray. All of it vanishes behind the closed door.
For a Pinterest-friendly touch, pick matching hooks in brass or matte black. Mismatched hardware shows up in photos immediately.
Layer in the decor that makes it feel finished
Once you fix the surfaces and the storage, decor ties it all together. Skip this step and the room reads as a repaired bathroom instead of a designed one.
17. Hang an oversized mirror
A big round or arched mirror makes a tiny bathroom feel open and bright. It also bounces light from the window or fixture around the room.
If your old mirror is a basic rectangle, this swap changes the look of the whole wall.
Go larger than you think you need. A mirror that covers about two-thirds of the vanity width looks balanced.
18. Layer textiles
A plush bath mat, a nubby hand towel, and a pair of matching bath towels add warmth to a cold, hard room.
Stick to 2 or 3 colors so the room feels calm. Cream, sage, and terracotta make a great palette for a small space.
Rolled towels in a basket always get saved on Pinterest. Why? Because they look like a spa, and a spa is what everyone wants their bathroom to feel like.
19. Add humidity-loving plants
Pothos, ferns, and snake plants handle steam and low light better than most houseplants.
Place one on the back of the toilet or on a floating shelf. Real plants make the room feel alive.
If your bathroom has no window at all, a high-quality faux plant works fine. I won’t tell anyone.
20. Create a mini gallery wall
Three or four small framed prints give a boring wall a story. Pick prints that handle moisture, like botanical line drawings, vintage ads, or black-and-white photographs.
Use plastic or sealed frames so steam doesn’t warp the paper.
Hang them in a tight cluster, with about 2 inches between each frame. A loose spread looks accidental. A tight grid looks intentional.
21. Cover one wall with peel-and-stick wallpaper
A bold pattern on a single wall changes everything. Try a subtle botanical, a geometric print, or a rich textured grasscloth look.
Pick the wall behind the toilet or the one that faces the door, since it’s the first thing you see.
Apartment Therapy regularly covers renter-safe wallpaper options and shows how people use them in small rooms. Smooth your walls first. Textured walls won’t hold peel-and-stick well.
22. Style a small vanity tray
A little tray corrals your soap dispenser, a candle, and a small jar of cotton swabs.
Marble, brass, or wood trays all work. Decant your soap into a glass or ceramic pump so the plastic bottle logos disappear.
It takes 10 minutes and about $20. A styled counter makes the whole room feel curated, even if the tile behind it is still 30 years old.
23. Add soft lighting and scent
A battery-powered LED candle on the tank, a plug-in sconce, or a small dimmable lamp creates a glow no overhead bulb can match. Add a reed diffuser or a real candle for scent.
Light the room at night and snap a vertical photo. Pinterest favors tall images, so frame your shot to show the floor and the ceiling.
Real-life tips from fixing up 3 old bathrooms
A few lessons I learned the hard way:
- Start with the cheapest fix first. New caulk and a fresh bulb change the room more than you’d expect, and they cost less than lunch.
- Test paint swatches on the wall for 2 days. Bathroom lighting lies, and the color you loved in the store can look like oatmeal at 7 a.m.
- Skip trendy patterns on permanent surfaces. I regret a bold geometric floor I picked in 2019. Save loud patterns for removable items like curtains and prints.
- Buy one splurge item. For me, it’s a good mirror. For you, it might be a great faucet.
Short FAQ
Can I really paint tile in a rental?
Yes, but get written permission first. Tile paint holds up well when you prep correctly, but it’s hard to reverse. If your landlord says no, peel-and-stick tile stickers cover the same ground with less risk.
What’s the cheapest way to update an old bathroom?
Start with caulk, bulbs, and a shower curtain. All 3 cost under $40 combined and make the room look cleaner right away. Then move on to hardware and paint.
How do I make a small bathroom look bigger?
Use light colors, a large mirror, and warm lighting. Keep the floor clear and mount storage on the walls. A curved shower rod and a single-color wall-and-ceiling palette help too.
Final thoughts
An old, outdated bathroom doesn’t need a gut renovation to look good. Fresh caulk, a painted vanity, better lighting, and a few smart decor pieces cover most of what makes these rooms feel tired. Pick 3 ideas from this list and finish them this month.
My pink sink is long gone, but I still think about how much better that bathroom could have looked if I’d started sooner.
Which of these 23 ideas will you try first, and what’s the ugliest thing in your bathroom right now?
1 thought on “23 Old Apartment Bathroom Decor Ideas for Small, Outdated Spaces”