My Vintage Bathroom Decor Before and After: A Vintage-Inspired Makeover
My rental bathroom was certainly nothing to boast about before I laid my hands on it. The builder-grade medicine cabinet installed above the sink was spacious, for sure, but it had become cracked, giving it an unsightly appearance. The floors and sink were worn looking, which only makes sense given how much turnover there is in New York City rentals—and on top of that, my unit is quite old, and surely dozens of people have called it home over the past handful of decades.
Since the basic elements of my bathroom were so blah, I didn’t think there was much I could really do to dress it up, so I kind of chose to ignore it entirely, viewing it solely as a utilitarian space. I hadn’t even bothered painting the walls or hanging more than a couple of small pieces of art because I was convinced that my efforts would simply be the equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig. Boy, was I wrong!
It may have taken me nearly four years of living in my rental unit to get a jump start on my bathroom makeover project, but I’m so glad that I took it on. It all started when I had the idea to put up some peel and stick wallpaper, and the process snowballed from there. With the help of the new wallpaper, a painted ceiling, new shelving, a functional, contemporary looking medicine cabinet, and so much more, my bathroom is now a space that brings me joy every time I set foot in it. And when you live in a 650 square foot apartment like I do, it’s important that you genuinely like each area of your home!
Thoughtfully curated vintage decorative arts elevate this apartment bathroom and make this DIY bathroom makeover look effortless. ~ photo by Kate McReynolds
How to Decorate a Rental Bathroom on a Budget
Since I’m passionate about all things vintage, I had to make sure to add some secondhand elements into my bathroom, too. Below are some of my favorite used finds that add charm and character to my space.
Vintage Art:
I hung two pieces of vintage artwork in my bathroom. The larger one is a beautiful portrait of a woman that I purchased from an Instagram shop, which I believe is now defunct, several years ago. I snapped up the piece as soon as the seller posted it, but I’ll admit that it sat in storage until I started to work on this space and realized that it would complement the colors and design scheme I was going for perfectly. I popped it into a new (but vintage-inspired) ornate gold frame that I sourced online, and I couldn’t love the finished product more.
The second piece of vintage art is something I picked up at one of my favorite local flea markets, the Grand Bazaar on the Upper West Side in New York City. I was at this market the day that I was planning on installing my wallpaper, so I was mindful to keep my eyes peeled for accent pieces that would look nice in the bathroom, and this framed portrait caught my attention immediately.
Of course, you don’t want to hang any art that is too precious in your bathroom, as it will be exposed to the elements—water, steam, and more. Save the ultra-valuable finds for the main living area or bedroom!
Vintage perfume bottles, soap dishes, and porcelain decorate a styled shelf. ~ photo by Kate McReynolds
Vintage Trinket Dishes:
I have a few vintage trinket dishes scattered throughout my bathroom, and they always come in handy as a place to set down jewelry, lipsticks, and more. One of these pieces is a scalloped-shape glass dish that sits on my bathroom’s open shelving. I like knowing that I can set rings there before taking a shower without having to worry about losing them. I also love the pop of personality that this small dish adds to these mass-produced shelves, giving them a little bit of individuality.
Vintage Perfume Bottles:
I have been fortunate enough to score some stunning glass perfume bottles at various flea markets over the years, and I knew that they deserved to be displayed front and center in my bathroom once the makeover was complete. I decanted some of my favorite fragrances into these bottles, which automatically make me feel more chic as I get ready for the day. I love the glamour they add to my space. While plenty of perfume bottles do feature labels that are aesthetically pleasing, there’s just nothing like one of these old-school vessels.
Other decorative arts such as black and white toile-inspired vintage canisters and a diminutive brass desk lamp with blue and white patterned shade help tie the vintage theme together. ~ photo by Kate McReynolds
Other Vintage Things To Look for at Estate Sales, Thrift Shops & Markets
While these are the pieces that I personally sourced secondhand for my bathroom, this is by no means an exhaustive list of all of the possible vintage items you can weave into such a space. As you visit estate sales, thrift stores, and markets, you should also be on the lookout for the following:
Vintage art, including a gilt-framed painted portrait of a lady and other decorative elements set the tone for this vintage bathroom. ~ photo by Kate McReynolds
Vintage baskets:
Every bathroom needs baskets, which can be used to house extra toiletries, makeup wipes, cotton balls, and so much more. Bathroom organization with vintage items such as vintage baskets tend to boast more character than newly-made ones!
Vintage lighting:
Do not underestimate the power of a good vintage light fixture; designers absolutely love how many stylish secondhand options are on the market. I would have added one of these to my own bathroom but was able to repurpose a perfectly good sconce that I already had on hand.
Vintage hooks:
Add cute wall hooks or a fun towel bar to your bathroom.
Vintage soap dishes or pumps:
A vintage soap bottle (or even better, a complete bathroom set containing a corresponding trashcan and tissue box cover) will add a glam touch to your space.
Vintage mirrors:
I really rely on a medicine cabinet for storage in a small space and couldn’t find any vintage options that were sizable enough for my needs, but had this not been such a strict requirement personally, I would have been more than happy to hang an eye-catching vintage mirror above the sink.
Sarah Lyon is a Washington, DC, native living in New York City. As a freelancer, she frequently covers pieces pertaining to interior design, travel, and other lifestyle topics. Her pieces have appeared in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and more. When she isn't writing, Sarah works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots (and can't stop rearranging and redecorating her own apartment, either!). She has a penchant for shopping secondhand and loves giving preloved pieces new life. Sarah’s own spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz, and Washingtonian.com. Her Dupont Circle apartment was featured in both the spring 2019 print edition of Small Space Decorating and the January 2019 print edition of Washingtonian Magazine.
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