Small Bathroom Makeovers for Apartment Dwellers

When you’re living in an apartment, you don’t have the same type of bathroom remodeling options that homeowners have. You can’t really tear a wall down, put up a shower enclosure door, or drill holes all you want to hang stuff here and there.

Since I also currently live in a rented space, I love to explore ideas to improve the look of a bathroom without having to do anything permanent. I’m going to share some of my ideas here. You’re going to love it.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

1. Space Illusion Techniques

So, one of the things everyone wants in a bathroom is size. It feels good to be in a large bathroom, it feels good to take a shower in a large bathroom…and so on.

But let’s say that you can’t tear down a wall and increase the area of the bathroom because you’re in an apartment. What do you do then?

You can use space illusion techniques to make the space appear larger and create a roomy vibe. That way, even if your bathroom has the same size functionally, it looks and feels larger, making it more relaxing to be in.

What You Can Do Here

• Hang a large mirror or lean an oversized one against the wall. It reflects light and makes the room feel like it has more depth than it actually does.
• Switch out a dark or patterned shower curtain for something clear or frosted. It opens the space up instantly.
• Keep your towels, bath mats, and accessories in a light, cohesive color palette. Too many competing colors make a small space feel busier and smaller.
• Use tall, narrow shelving to draw the eye upward rather than across. Vertical always wins in a small bathroom.

Benefits: These changes make the bathroom feel noticeably bigger without you having to touch a single wall. It’s especially effective if your bathroom doesn’t get much natural light.

Price Range: Roughly $20 to $150, depending on mirror size and where you’re shopping.

2. Storage Without Drilling

One of the most common complaints apartment dwellers can have is that there is simply nowhere to put anything. The bathroom has a tiny vanity, maybe one cabinet, and that’s it. Everything else ends up on the counter, and before you know it, the place looks like a drugstore shelf.

If you have any say in it, choosing the right bath vanities for small bathrooms can solve a big chunk of this problem before it even starts. Slim profiles, vertical drawer stacking, and built-in organizers make a surprising difference in how much you can actually fit into a small space without it feeling cramped.

But even if you’re stuck with whatever vanity came with the apartment, there are storage solutions designed specifically for renters, and some of them are genuinely clever. You just have to know what to look for.

What You Can Do Here

• Get an over-the-toilet shelf unit. It uses dead space that would otherwise just sit there doing nothing.
• Use a hanging door organizer on the back of your bathroom door for smaller items like cotton pads, hair ties, and travel-sized products.
• Place a slim rolling cart beside the vanity or inside a cabinet. It slides in and out easily and holds a surprising amount.
• Try adhesive hooks rated for bathroom use. They hold well on tiles and come off cleanly when you’re ready to move out.
• Put a small basket or bin under the sink to group items together rather than letting them scatter around.

Benefits: You get a more organized bathroom without risking your security deposit. Everything has a place, which automatically makes the space look cleaner and less chaotic.

Price Range: Between $15 and $100 for most of these solutions. The rolling cart tends to be the bigger spend, but it’s worth it.

3. Quick Swaps with Big Impact

You know, landlords generally allow you to swap out certain fixtures, as long as you keep the originals and put them back before you leave. That one little fact opens up a lot of options.

Think about it. The showerhead, the toilet seat, the faucet handles, even the light fixture. These are all things that can be changed out over a weekend and swapped back on moving day like nothing happened. And the difference they make to how a bathroom looks and feels is pretty significant.

What You Can Do Here

• Replace the showerhead with one that has better pressure or a rainfall setting. Keep the original in a bag under the sink.
• Swap out the toilet seat. It’s one of the easiest changes to make and one that actually makes a noticeable difference.
• Change the faucet handles if they look outdated. Hold onto the originals.
• Replace a generic light fixture with something that has more character. Better lighting changes the entire mood of a bathroom.
• Add a new shower curtain rod in a finish you like, brushed gold or matte black instead of basic chrome.

Benefits: These swaps give your bathroom a genuinely upgraded feel rather than just a styled-up one. The difference between a builder-grade showerhead and a good one is hard to overstate.

Price Range: $25 to $250 depending on which swaps you go for. Fixtures cost more, but they also make the biggest impact.

4. The Spa Feel on a Rental Budget

Okay, so this one is my personal favorite. Because at the end of the day, a bathroom isn’t just a functional space. It’s where you start and end your day. It should feel good to be in.

You don’t need a renovation for that. You don’t even need to spend a lot of money. A lot of what makes a bathroom feel like a spa comes down to atmosphere, and atmosphere is something you can build with candles, plants, and some good towels. 

What You Can Do Here

• Add candles or a small diffuser for scent. It shifts the feeling of the room immediately.
• Bring in a couple of small plants. Eucalyptus hanging from the shower rod, a pothos on the windowsill, or a small succulent on the counter all work beautifully.
• Invest in better towels. Thick, fluffy towels rolled or folded neatly make a bathroom look and feel more luxurious than almost anything else.
• Use a wooden bath tray across the tub or a small teak mat on the floor. Natural materials add warmth.
• Display your skincare or bath products in a small tray or basket rather than leaving them scattered around. Organized and visible storage can look intentional and stylish.

Benefits: This approach is less about the bathroom itself and more about how it makes you feel when you’re in it. A calm, well-styled bathroom genuinely affects your daily routine in a positive way.

Price Range: $30 to $120. This is the most budget-friendly category of the four, and honestly, the results are the most immediate.

Which Idea is Right for You?

Not every approach suits every bathroom or every apartment. Here’s a quick guide to help you figure out where to start.

Your Situation	Best Starting Point
Very small bathroom with poor lighting	Space Illusion Techniques
Cluttered counters and nowhere to put things	Storage Without Drilling
The bathroom looks outdated, but is otherwise fine	Quick Swaps with Big Impact
Space is functional but feels cold or uninviting	The Spa Feel on a Rental Budget
Modern, minimalist apartment	Space Illusion Techniques + Quick Swaps
Cozy or bohemian apartment theme	Spa Feel + Storage Without Drilling
Tight budget, maximum impact	Spa Feel first, then Storage
New to the apartment and starting fresh	All four, in the order listed above

Wrapping Up

And there we have it.

You can totally give your bathroom a makeover, even if it is a small apartment one. You just have to be smart about the steps you take.

You should, for instance, avoid doing anything that would leave a permanent mark in the bathroom. That way, you don’t lose your security deposit.

We’ve discussed a couple of different things that you can do in the post above. Of course, not all of the things that we’ve discussed are perfect for every occasion and scenario. That’s why we’ve wrapped up with a table highlighting what makeover you should prioritize based on your exact situation.