We all have ugly items in our bathrooms. The mouthwash bottles, the budget hand soap, the bulky hairdryer, the tacky tissue boxes; and not every rental bathroom offers the option of hiding unsightly items in closed storage. So, if they have to be on display, the very least we can do is make those ugly bathroom items look cute.
Let’s explore said ugly-item-solutions, shall we?
Ugly Item #1: The Tissue Box
Seems extra. Maybe it is. But I think we can all agree that this wicker tissue box atop my toilet looks a whole that better than those bonkers neon-aquatic-floral designs from the bulk tissue box packages from Costco. I love how this one adds texture and ties in the warmth from the rest of the room. I got it from Simons, but there are loads of cute options on Etsy that I would also highly recommend! (Cognac leather tissue box holder, anyone?)
Ugly Item #2: The liquid hand soaps, shampoos, and bathroom cleaners
I’m not here to throw any shade at particular brands’ packaging. But most cleaning products, soaps, and shampoos come in packaging that is designed to stand out and draw all your attention away from the other product competitors in an aisle in your local drugstore. This may result in a sale on their end, but that flashy, vibrant, plastic packaging just doesn’t wind up looking so attractive when you bring it home and put it on your bathroom counter. The solution? Decant that sucker into an amber glass bottle and stick a retro label on it. Top the bottle off with a pump, a lid, a dropper, a sprayer; whatever you need. Bonus points if you skip the “decanting” by buying empty amber glass bottles and filling them up directly at a zero waste store that offers refillable soaps, cleaners, and hair products in bulk.
Ugly Items #3: The clutter inside your shower
Maybe it’s that you don’t want everyone to see that you use an anti-acne body wash, or maybe your shower tiles are outdated and unsightly. Nothing a cute shower curtain can’t fix! I wanted to inject some bold personality and warm tones into this otherwise clinical-looking rental bathroom, so went with the ever famous peach shower curtain from Urban Outfitters. Pick whatever design that tickles your fancy — anything is better than seeing the soap scum and slimy razor in your shower.
Ugly Item #4: The everyday items that you can’t decant
If your small bathroom has no closed storage, add closed storage! I bet you didn’t even initially notice that cabinet tucked away next to the window until I said anything about it, did you. And not to go against my second tip in this post, but I also realize that not everything is worth decanting. Sometimes it’s unavoidable to have some ugly items in your bathroom. This sleek, narrow IKEA cabinet was the perfect solution for us. It has adjustable shelves and is where all the eyesore items are hidden in our bathroom — and you hardly even notice it’s there when the door is closed.
Ugly Item #5: The overstock and giant bulky items no one knows where to put
The hair straightener, the blowdryer, the hand towels, the toilet paper, the epilator that you’d really rather not have in plain sight — I cannot stress the use of baskets enough! Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head. Invest in baskets. You will always use them. Thrift them if brand spankin’ new ones are out of your current budget. I’ve never bought a basket I haven’t immediately put to use. They conceal everything and are a great way to aesthetically corral and categorize things that wouldn’t normally have a designated home.
