Install Towel Hooks
If you have a tub that’s separate from your shower enclosure, the space above the tub is almost always wasted space. It can be the perfect spot to install a series of towel hooks (one for every family member, plus an extra or two for guests) so towels can both dry properly and add a decorative element. Invest in some thick bath sheets and you’ll be able to admire them every time you enter the room.
Add a Plant
A huge, healthy plant will not only add a shot of verdant green to your bathroom, it will create three-dimensional visual interest. If your bathroom isn’t big enough for a plant stand, there are lots of wall- or ceiling-mounted plant hangers you can use instead.
If your bathroom isn’t very bright, look for plants that thrive in diffused light. Bonus: since many houseplants are actually tropical, they’ll love the bathroom humidity. Remember to take cuttings regularly so you don’t have to get out your machete to hack your way through the jungle to the tub.
Install a Standalone Linen Cupboard and Laundry Hamper
Built-in linen closets are great things to have, but their placement in hallways is often problematic. If you’ve forgotten your towel or realized you need a clean one after you’re in the bath or shower, a wet footprint trek down the hall is the last thing you need.
Look for a small but tall standalone cupboard with both open shelving and cupboard doors and store your linens out in the open where you can easily grab them when needed. Use the cupboard space for a laundry hamper to try to catch as many dirty clothes in one place as you can. It will make the laundry round-up a lot easier. You can also store bathroom cleaning materials in the cupboard space so they’re handy when needed without announcing their presence.
Add Shelving
While premade over-toilet shelving fixtures may solve many bathroom storage issues, they tend to be functional rather than decorative. You can probably get more mileage from a couple of small floating shelves above the toilet and add open seagrass baskets to hold bath bombs, lotion, leave-in conditioner, hair spray, mousse, gel, curlers—all the things that end up clattering to the floor when you try to extract them from a too-small space that’s jam packed with other occasionally used items. The shelves can complement or contrast with your bathroom’s color scheme, depending on the impact you want to make. Whatever you decide to do, take advantage of every bit of wall space and every new hook, holder, cupboard and drawer organizer you can find. Your bath restoration should leave you feeling you’ve got a new room in the house where form and function meet.