How to Give Your Bathroom a Luxe Makeover For Under $50

* We clean our bathrooms a lot, but often fail to decorate them
* Bathrooms are worthy of attention, too
* Transform your bathroom or powder room with these budget-friendly upgrades

While the bathroom may consistently rank first on your cleaning to-do list, when it comes home decor, it’s often the most neglected. Let’s face it: even if you have an immaculately chic home, if your bathroom is a poorly lit and totally lackluster, it really eliminates any home-decorating bragging rights you’ve boasted to to your friends and co-workers.

You don’t have to re-create an in-home spa in your apartment — all the little details really do make a big difference, especially when we’re talking about a room as small as a bathroom. You don’t need a ton of money either. Read to find out how to give your bathroom a luxe makeover for under $50.

1. Replace Your Lighting

Most bathrooms are equipped with the standard 80 watt bulb, resulting in that ultra-bright — and ultra-unflattering — lighting that is great for grooming your eyebrows, but horrible for your confidence. After all, you really don’t need to see every pore and wrinkle under that stark, fluorescent glow.

Replace your current lighting getup with a lower wattage bulb for a softer ambiance, or go with an even lower watt option for a moody, romantic effect. To help you gauge your illumination needs, a 40 watt bulb offers enough light for you to be able to groom and even apply makeup, but is much less stark than a standard 80 watt bulb.

2. Invest In A Good Towel Set

If you don’t have a proper set of matching hand and shower towels in your bathroom, it’s time to invest in a good quality set. Plus, towels have decorative power as well. They offer a great opportunity to add a pop of color to the space, without a permanent change or paint job.

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3. Switch Out Your Shower Curtains

Your shower curtains can make a big impact on the overall look of your bathroom space–especially if it’s is on the smaller side, in which case your shower probably accounts for 90% of the space in your bathroom altogether. A chic curtain will add an artful element to your bathroom without committing to a more permanent change.

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4. Elevate Your Fixtures

There’s no need to keep the base-level toilet paper holder in tact when you can upgrade to a antique-inspired bronze style, that offers a space for your phone while you go. While it may not be a marble counter top, updating your bathroom with antique-inspired accents will make a big impact.

5. Decorative Storage

You have to have a place to hold your toiletries and bath supplies, but what you put them in doesn’t have to look clinical and tasteless. Toothbrushes, tissues, and cotton swabs don’t need to be stowed away in the medicine cabinet or left in the packages your purchased them in (yikes). Instead, invest in some chic bathroom accessories that make even the most mundane items in your hygiene routine look pretty.

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6. Add Shelving & Curate Your Display

Adding shelving units to your wall is not only a great hack for space-saving, but it also allows you to decorate with your prettiest beauty products. Your old shampoo bottles, deodorants and tubes of crusty toothpaste probably shouldn’t make the cut, but displaying sleek perfume bottles, scented candles, and other stylish products with lust-worthy packaging will give your bathroom a personalized touch of elegance, regardless of your color palette or decor style.

7. Add Plants

If space allows, give your bathroom some life by adding greenery. Plants almost make any room in your home look instantly better, and the same goes for your bathroom. Snake plants, orchids, and bromeliads actually grow better in your bathroom thanks to the humidity, while spider plants can actually help clean the air. Place them in the windowsills, display on a shelf or on accent table for a botanical touch.

8. Wallpaper

Wallpaper can make people feel uneasy and hesitant when it comes to adding it to an entire room. But your bathroom is actually the best place to start for beginners who want to test it out the trend. If you’re feeling creative, opt for a printed variety or select a calming color like pink or pastel blue to add some character.

9. Elevate Your Dirty Laundry to Decor

If you keep your dirty clothes hamper in your bathroom, why not make it a decor-worthy piece? No one wants to see an overflowing hamper with odorous dirty clothing on display, so invest in one that closes and adds to the aesthetic of the space.

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10. Replace Your Mirror

Mirrors are a must-have for your bathroom, but if you’re stuck with the frame-less mirror adhered to the wall with plastic clips, chances are your bathroom won’t look good regardless of what you decorate it with. Give your bathroom an instant upgrade with a chic wall mirror. It will instantly transform your space, making it appear larger and more spacious without having to invest in a full renovation.

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