Explore Quick Bathroom Update Tips

The holiday season is officially upon us! It’s also a season of dropping temperatures and early sunsets, which is why cultivating a warm, welcoming atmosphere in your home is a must if you want to provide your guests with a cozy sanctuary from the cold. Here are six last minute touch-ups you can make to get your bathrooms guest ready.

Bathroom Touch-up #1: Add Some Green

Bathrooms tend to feel a bit too utilitarian but filling them with too much décor only serves to crowd already-small spaces. Add a few live plants instead. Not only do they provide color and dimension, but they’re good for your health, too. Bathroom plants like Orchids, Bamboo, and Aloe, often get watered from the steam in the shower and don’t need much light, making them a low-stress addition to your decor. Don’t have a green thumb? Try botanical-themed, removable wallpaper or pair a few faux plants with a lavender-scented diffuser for the full effect.

Bathroom Touch-up #2: Declutter

Bathrooms have a way of collecting clutter, don’t they? Near-empty bottles of shampoo and long-forgotten jars of moisturizer tend to overstay their welcome, leaving less space for real necessities. Before your guests arrive:

  • “Marry” (but don’t mix!) almost-empty bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash and recycle the empties.
  • Remove excessive décor (bowls of stale potpourri, old candles)
  • Throw out all those slivers of soap bars
  • Clear a drawer or shelf for guests’ personal items
  • Relegate all the bottles, tubes and containers scattered on your vanity (we see you!) into a handy basket or bowl underneath the cabinet. You’ll have more space for tasks and the bathroom will appear larger, brighter, and cleaner, too!
  • Need extra storage space? Consider upgrading to anew vanity with more drawers and cabinet space to accommodate overnight guests.

Bathroom Touch-up #3: Upgrade the Fixtures

Rusty, old fixtures can turn your entire bathroom into an eyesore. Give your space an instant facelift with new drawer pulls, towel bars/hooks, and faucets. There are countless metal styles and finishes to choose from, and if done well, you can mix them for a fresh, eclectic look. Not sure where to start? Modern Bathroom Ideas: Trending Metal Finishesprovides plenty of inspiration!

Bathroom Touch-up #4: Eagle-Eye Your Tub

Your tub might not get much use these days, but if you’re going to have overnight guests (expected or not), you’ll want to make sure it’s ready for visitors. While you’re giving it a routine cleaning, inspect the grout around the edges and along the tiled walls. If you discover mold and mildew, try one of the following products:

  • Clorox Clean-Up
  • Formula 409
  • Liquid Comet
  • X-14 Soap Scum & Bath Cleaner
  • Ajax Mildew & Stain
  • Ajax Ultra
  • Comet Homecare Gel
  • Grease Lightening

If these products don’t work, it may be time to re-grout your tile or consider a tub and shower conversion. This can be a quick way to freshen up the look of your entire bathroom, and with a modern, grout-less solution like our DuraBath® wall surrounds, you’ll never have to scrub grout again!

Bathroom Touch-up #5: The 5-point check

You don’t want to put your guests in any awkward situations, so even if you don’t have much time for anything else, be sure to check these five off your list:

  1. Toilet flushes properly

Make sure the flapper, flush valve, and chain are in good condition, with no cracks or signs of deterioration. If your toilet has a manageable quirk that you can’t fix before your guests arrive, it’s good form to leave a note (“Please hold down handle for 5 seconds when flushing.”) to let them know.

  1. Faucets don’t drip

It might not be unsightly, but it’s definitely annoying, especially if the guest bath is attached to the guest bedroom. It also ratchets up your water bill!

  1. Tub drains easily

If standing water collects in the tub even with the drain open, you could have a clogged drainpipe.

  1. Lightbulbs are in working order

Admit it, if one of the bulbs in your bathroom’s overhead light fixture goes out, how long does it take for you to replace it (probably long enough for all of them to go out!). If your bathroom lighting is somewhat dingy, take down the overhead fixture, replace the bulbs and clean the glass before replacing the cover. You’ll be amazed how much brighter the room looks!

  1. Bathroom door shuts and locks easily

In the comfort of your own home, you might not be too concerned if a toddler interrupts your private space. Your guests, on the other hand, will be none too pleased. Give the knob a quick check to ensure privacy.

Bathroom Touch-up #6: Add a Touch of Luxury Hotel Convenience

Once you’ve tidied up and are happy with your bathroom décor, it’s time for the final touches. These are the little details that will really make your guests feel cared for. Refill the soap dispensers, put extra toilet paper rolls in a visible spot, like in a small basket on top of the toilet tank, and leave fresh (white) towels on the rack. If you’re anticipating overnight guests, stock a basket with mini bottles of shampoo and conditioner, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a razor and shaving cream. Finally, light a candle or some incense before your guests arrive, and leave out a small bowl of mints for a post-meal refresher.

Interested in making some bathroom upgrades before you host for the holidays? Our entire process takes you from start to stunning in as little as one week, so it’s not too late to better your bathroom before the guests come knocking! Schedule a free in-home consultation now.