Bathroom Design: Make the Most of What You Have

By Leslie Judson

Use Bottles for Display and Storage

Don't keep your beautiful bracelets hidden away in a jewelry box: display them in your bathroom on bottles. Use vintage glass containers like RMS user mysweetsavannah did in her bathroom, or recycle a beautiful bottle from your pantry.

Tray Magnifique!

If you store necessities on top of your bathroom counter, try grouping them on a tray. Just make sure that the items are pretty, like in this bathroom by RMS user nesting. Keep the toothpaste and hair dryer out of sight, and you've tackled one major area that often cries out for clutter control.

Go Accessory Shopping in Your House

This lovely accessory displayed in RMS user mysweetsavannah's bathroom could have come from any room in the house, even the garden. If you'd like to spruce up the details in your personal space, look around your home. Think beyond the kinds of items sold in the bathroom section of a department store.

Add a Fresh Scent With Flowers

Sweet-smelling flowers in a bathroom just make sense. It can be as simple as cutting from your garden.

Make a Towel Rack

Take down the typical towel bar and replace it with a one-of-a-kind piece you can make yourself. This charming rack hangs in RMS user mysweetsavannah's guest bath and holds four times as many towels as a bar.

Clean and Organized

A clean and organized bathroom is a prettier bathroom. If your bathroom is dirty or cluttered and filled with old toiletries and accessories that are gathering dust, it's time to clean house: you'll be happy you did.

Display Keepsakes

Beautiful shells, coral and other organic treasures are ideal bathroom decor. Instead of spending money to create a beach-inspired vignette, use souvenirs from a family vacation. Display them in a clear vase or a container from your kitchen such as a wine glass or bowl.

Breathe Easier With Plants

If your bathroom has a window that will sustain a plant, take advantage of the sun and clean the air with lots of greenery.

Think Beyond the Basket

Think about alternative containers when accessorizing your bathroom. RMS user CafeIzzy15 stores her linens in a rustic metal bucket. Towels are easy to reach and add texture and color to the neutral nook.

Bring In a Piece of Furniture

Furniture in a bathroom instantly adds warmth and style. RMS user theycallmemartha uses furniture to store quilts and a collection of favorite things. Consider adding a chair or a bench and get off your feet during your morning routine.

Add Privacy With a Screen

It takes a fairly large bathroom to accommodate a screen, but if you've got the square footage, it's a great way to delineate space and create privacy. If you have a screen in another part of the house, try it in the bathroom; consider embellishing it with paint, molding or other decorative details.

Dress Up Family Photos

Hide CaptionIf you need artwork to fill a bathroom wall, look no further than your family photo album. Or borrow an idea from RMS user designing_diva and take room-appropriate photos. Decorate the frames, add a song lyric or a quote to the wall and create a fun, one-of-a-kind focal point.

(Source:HGTV)