Guest Blogger #353, Entry #931, February 1, 2012
When renting your home it’s not really your job to renovate the bathroom but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need it and that you don’t want to. There is no reason why you can’t ask your landlord to address any major bathroom items that need to be replaced such as a cracked toilet seat or leaking shower base, however, it’s not often that a landlord will be keen to pour money into replacing the olive green tiles or the bright orange towel rail that you want to see gone.
Transform your bathroom without permanent alterations
Image via: Decorati
So what’s a renter to do when faced with an uninspiring bathroom? Read on to learn ways to creatively give your rented bathroom a lift.
Ideas for temporary transformations for your apartment
Image via: Live Creating Yourself
Temporary Transformations
Take a look at your bathroom and note down all the items that you would like to replace if you could. Now go back over each one and determine if there is a way you can temporarily replace that item. One example would be if your bathroom sports a hideous light shade, why not see if there is a way to remove it for now and replace it with something more in keeping with your taste. Then when it comes time to move out you simply take your tasteful shade with you and put back the old one to keep the landlord happy.
Another temporary transformation would be adding a new window shade. So long as you don’t go creating new holes in any timber or ceramic surrounds, you can install a nice new blind or curtain that will instantly give the room a lift. Remember to keep the old one and its rail somewhere safe so it can be put back when you move out.
Tips to transform your bathroom
Image via: Bhg
An alternative to a curtain or blind is to add a decorative film to the window. These are easy to install and reasonably easy to remove too and would definitely modernize the room in an instant. Similar to adding film to the window is to change up those unsightly tiles by adding creative tile stickers, which are easy to remove once you decide to leave.
Bathroom furnishings such as towel rails, toilet roll holders and even taps can relatively easily be replaced and with some well thought out purchases really make a huge positive impact on the room. Some landlords might even be happy to see these items be replaced and throw in some money toward it but don’t bank on that happening. Either way, if you’re planning to stay for at least twelve months it would be worth updating these things as they don’t have to cost a lot of money but will definitely make your time in the home much more enjoyable.
Add aesthetics without altering your apartment
Image via: Decorati
Add Your Own Touches
Another way to give a rented bathroom a renovation is by purchasing freestanding bathroom furniture. Whether it be a unique chair or a lovely storage unit, adding your own pieces can bring things together nicely and bring a sense of ownership and homeliness to the space.
By adding a few touches of luxury your bathroom can feel completely different and so then will your experiences in the room. Replacing your old towels is one quick way to bring new color and style to the room. Invest in deluxe bath sheets, foot mats and face washers and roll them up in beautiful baskets or on open shelving to give the room an inviting feel.
It goes without saying that any old shower curtains that might be in the room be replaced with a fresh new curtain that boasts an up to date design. Another accent point you can replace would be the shower curtain hooks. There are a number of creative hooks available and they don’t cost a great deal yet they can have quite an impact.
Bathroom fixes that you will love
Image via: dbfix.Threadbare
So as you can see, just because you’re renting your home it doesn’t mean you can’t renovate the bathroom, it just needs to be done a little more creatively than usual. Bathrooms really are our little sanctuary, a space to start our day quickly and a place to end it luxuriously, so don’t hesitate to replace all those bathroom items that need to go – after all, everyone deserves a place to indulge after a hard day’s work.
Tauseef Hussain is a media blogger for QS Bathrooms, the on-line shop for Designer Bathroom Suites.
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A Very well written article. I rented a place in London and the bathroom was really mess. If i would have read this article before, it could have helped me a lot.