Looking for a renter friendly bathroom makeover that doesn’t start with replacing everything? A striped curtain, green accessories or a pretty storage shelf can give you somewhere to begin.
These pictures mix simple decorating ideas with bigger changes that need a little more checking.
You can keep things simple or bring in plenty of pattern. Start with pieces you can take with you.
For mounted storage, surface coverings or fixture changes, check your lease and get permission first. A photo alone doesn’t tell us whether something comes off without damage.
Bathroom Ideas to Make Your Rental Feel More Like You
beige tiles and dark cabinets
Working around beige floor tiles? This bathroom pairs them with dark cabinets and a white shower curtain. You don’t have to hide every existing finish to start making the room your own.
I’d try a patterned bath mat that brings those light and dark colors together. This picture shows the existing floor, not a finished tile covering.
a simple white starting point
If your bathroom has a pedestal sink and barely any counter space, this one probably looks familiar. White square tiles surround the tub while a dark cabinet sits beside the mirror.
Read also: 20 Palm Springs Interior Style Ideas With Color and Retro Details
Start with a colorful shower curtain and a matching hand towel if you want to give a similar room some personality without changing its fixtures.
stripes around the tub
How cute are these striped curtains? The cream, rust and brown stripes frame both sides of the tub beneath a gold-colored rod.
Try the same split-curtain look if you like having the opening in the middle. Keep an appropriate shower liner behind decorative panels.
a wide mirror frame
I love the broad brown frame around this mirrored cabinet. It gives the plain white wall a little more detail without adding another color everywhere.
For a similar look, check that any frame addition leaves the cabinet doors free to open. The attachment method isn’t visible here, so don’t assume this one is removable.
a brighter vanity top
What a difference in color! The before picture has a mottled tan counter.
The after picture shows a white counter and backsplash above the same dark-looking cabinet fronts.
If you want to borrow this idea, verify the actual treatment before trying it. The pictures don’t show whether the change is reversible or how the surface handles water.
green shelves and colorful towels
This green shelf may just be one of my favorites here. I love the little framed print on top and the coral and mustard towels beside it.
Group your everyday bottles on the lower shelves, then save the top for a small decorative piece. If wall mounting isn’t allowed, try the same color combination on a freestanding shelf.
green jars and playful patterns
Don’t want an all-white bathroom? This collage gives you plenty to choose from, including green jars, a tortoiseshell-patterned tray and a snake design on a green mat.
I’d start with the jars and tray rather than trying every pattern at once. The framed art is another lovely detail to borrow.
star-shaped hardware
How cute are these star-shaped backplates? The display pairs gold-colored stars with dark red knobs and silver-colored stars with black ones. There are rounded options below too.
If your landlord allows a hardware swap, choose pieces that fit the existing holes. Save the original knobs so you can put them back.
dark florals and green accents
I am obsessed with the dark floral shower curtain in this mood board. The deep green towels and ribbed countertop accessories look so pretty beside it.
You don’t need to copy the mounted lights or fixtures to try this look. Start with the curtain, a soap dispenser and a little botanical print.
a pale geometric wall
Love a pattern without lots of bright color? These pale, elongated shapes give you another option.
The picture shows a wall covering being positioned, with part of the gray wall still exposed.
Before choosing something similar, check its suitability for your wall texture and bathroom conditions. Pale and pretty doesn’t automatically mean rental-safe.
navy stripes and star patterns
The navy and white pairing is so pretty here. A panel with narrow blue rectangles is being held beside a wall covered in large and small star motifs.
This is an in-progress shower-area change, not proof of a waterproof finish. For a simpler way to borrow the pattern, I’d choose a navy star-print shower curtain instead.
little shelves for everyday bottles
Running out of places to put your skincare? Three shallow shelves beside the mirror hold rows of bottles and tubes, with baskets keeping smaller items together on the counter.
I love how the raised rails sit in front of the products. If you can’t mount shelves, borrow the basket idea for the space you already have.
trailing greenery in the corner
This trailing plant is just too pretty. The green-and-yellow leaves hang around a corner caddy, with a pump bottle below and a towel hanging underneath.
Read also: 20 New Years Mantel Decor Photos With Stars, Sparkle and Party Details
Try a plant suited to your bathroom’s actual light if you want a similar look. Keep the shelf’s weight limit in mind when adding a pot.
two pictures above the toilet
Don’t want to go overboard with accessories? No problem!
A small floral picture above a larger landscape gives this toilet nook something lovely to look at.
The gold-colored frames and lidded basket are my favorite details. You can borrow those pieces without copying the wall molding.
a dresser and vintage-style accents
If you love a more decorated bathroom, there’s so much to save here. The dark chest of drawers, red patterned rug and blue-and-white accessories are gorgeous together.
This room includes substantial fixtures and finishes, so I’d borrow the smaller details for a rental. Try a blue-and-white container or a patterned mat suitable for the space rather than recreating the whole room.
blue tiles before a change
Already have blue bathroom tiles? This in-progress picture shows blue lower tiles, pale upper tiles and a narrow decorative border.
Blue tape outlines the tub and surrounding edges.
Read also: 20 Very Small Bathroom Ideas With Pretty Storage and Clever Details
There’s no finished result shown here. If changing tile isn’t an option, try white accessories and a blue towel to work with the color you have.
a striped sink skirt
I am obsessed with this little sink skirt. The gathered gray-and-white stripes wrap around the basin and hide the area underneath.
This is a sweet alternative to the usual exposed sink base. If you try it, choose an attachment suited to your sink’s surface and make sure the skirt can be removed for cleaning.
a small pattern project
Want to try a decorative detail in a small area? This close-up shows blue masking around a section of white rectangular tiles beneath a light-brown cabinet.
A small brush and open containers sit nearby.
The finished design and room context aren’t visible, so treat this as project inspiration rather than a bathroom tutorial. Painting a rental backsplash needs permission, even when the design is small.
a long curtain and patterned runner
This is one of my favorite combinations on the list. The long cream curtain, muted patterned runner and small framed pictures look lovely with the white vanity and dark floor.
Start with the curtain and a bathroom-appropriate runner if you want to follow this look. You can leave the walls and counter just as they are.
an ornate frame shelf
Last but definitely not least, we have this gorgeous gold-colored frame shelf. I love the carved-looking flourishes around the edges!
Dark and white bottles sit on the little shelves with clear containers in the middle.
Choose a similar decorative organizer if you want storage that feels less plain. Check its mounting requirements before bringing it into your rental.
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.
And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Isabella