27 Easy Bathroom Upgrades That Don’t Require Calling A Plumber Or Contractor
Easy, breezy, affordable changes you can make in minutes.
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1. A convenient tub and tile refinishing kit because you really can revive your dingy tub for less than $25. It's moisture-resistant, corrosion-resistant, all that good stuff.
Promising review: "After reading tons of reviews on this product, I decided to purchase this. Boy am I glad I did! This stuff worked wonders on our old 1980s tub. I would always scrub the tub but no matter how hard, the stains wouldn't come out. I've posted a photo of the before and after. Do yourself a favor and buy this to save yourself tons of $!" —Lauren Lewis
Get it from Amazon for $22.73+ (available in three colors).
2. A set of gorgeous hexagon tiles capable of turning the ugliest bathroom into a palace. They're waterproof and won't damage your rental.
Promising review: "I LOVE the finish on these peel and stick tiles. The brushed metal is beautiful! There is a rubber backing and it is very sticky, but you can reposition initially. They are so easy to apply and cut very easily with a utility knife. The hexagon is quite a bit smaller than I expected. It’s smaller then a dime. It could be a very busy pattern if you are using the multi-colored tiles in a large space. I would buy these again! I put them in our RV bathroom." —Teresa Sierra
Get a pack of five from Amazon for $29.99 (available in five colors and in packs of 10).
3. A renter-friendly dotted wall decal automatically shifts the feel of your bathroom and you won't even have to paint. They're waterproof (aka bathroom friendly) and can be used on basically any texture.
Promising review: "I was looking for something that would match up my abstract aesthetic and pastel colors. It really adds more personality to my room! It was easy to stick just probably spent 15 minutes trying to decide the best arrangements. I would 100% recommend." —Sofia Camarillo
Get it from Amazon for $10.89 (available in six colors).
4. A modern, renter-friendly wall sconce so you can really see what you look like before an important event. Hate the wires? Conceal them with a cable cover!
Promising review: "Wow! We were skeptical because of the cost but these are great! Super easy to install, they look great, and they’re adjustable. I would highly recommend these. In fact, after we got our first two, we bought four more. We have five others we plan to replace and we will purchase these!" —Devan Gunderson
Get it from Amazon for $27.17+ (available in four styles).
5. A wooden floor polisher, to restore your wood surfaces to their original glory and fool people into thinking your bathroom floors were just redone.
6. A peel-and-stick subway tile backsplash I'm so tempted to buy because my bathroom tile makes it the ugliest room in my home. Disguise your landlord's poor decor choices with this renter-friendly solution.
Promising review: "I have planned to install a backsplash in our kitchen for a long time now but I hate tiling and grouting. I did a ton of research on vinyl peel and stick tile and knew it would be the best product for me. No mess, quick install, don't have to seal any grout, and overall a simple process. I watched a lot of install videos and purchased a cutting mat, a good box cutter, and a straight edge. The most tedious part is overlapping the grout lines, you do have to be a perfectionist and patient for this part or the tiles will look off. I knew I would be caulking around all the edges so I didn't focus on making the edge tiles straight because if they were uneven at the bottom they would be covered by caulk but you have to keep them as level as possible. Overall the project took about half a day and I do get compliments on it." —xliu
Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in 13 designs).
7. A rechargeable light bulb so you can have the vanity of your dreams without needing to hardwire anything. These are also super convenient if you don't have enough outlets, or hate tripping over cords.
Promising review: "Seriously the coolest thing I've ever bought on Amazon. I live in Southwest Georgia and we get severe storms, tornadoes, tropical storms and even hurricanes. Power getting knocked out is a common issue. I bought the 2 pack and it is exactly as advertised and I wish I had known about these sooner. They're just as bright as a regular lightbulb and work in the same sockets. I will absolutely be buying more." —Linnea Ruzzo
Get a set of six from Amazon for $17.99 (available in two colors).
8. A gallon of white paint because there's nothing like starting with a clean canvas. White walls make the smallest rooms feel larger and they never go out of style.
Promising review: "This paint works marvelously for staining interior brick! I researched for a long time and looked at many project reports for staining a raw brick fireplace. Finally, I committed to this chalk paint and my fireplace looks better than any I have seen elsewhere. I diluted it to a half paint: half water ratio applied one coat with a brush and worked it into holes and crevices with a sponge. Very easy to do, if surroundings are appropriately protected from the very thin splashy paint." —maina donaldson
Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (also available in two-pack and 12 colors).
9. A brushed-nickel Command hook that's just a little more upscale than the plastic ones. You can hang your face masks, towels, or jackets rather than throwing them on the chair.
I bought one of these and I'll definitely be buying more. It has the style of a real hook without the hassle.
Promising review: "Bought these to put on the back of the guest bathroom due to lack of towel racks in our rental apartment. My family who stayed for five weeks used it every day to hang the large bath towels and it works well. It's also much nicer looking than white or clear plastic and love the large size for bath size towels and robes." —Olivia
Get it from Amazon for $14.75.
10. A water-based, nontoxic tile pen that'll get rid of the moldy crevices that never seem to get clean, no matter how hard you scrub. It'll cover up to 60 meters of surface!
Promising review: "These things are awesome! I cleaned my bathroom tile grout first because the lady who lived there before me really let it go. A few places stayed stained and I was worried it wouldn't cover them, but all grout areas are bright white and look new after using this." —Donna K Cook
Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (also available in a wide tip).
11. A game-changing TubShroom that your shower drain won't thank you enough for — believe me. No more showering in a pool of cloudy water because your drain is clogged.
Promising review: "I was skeptical about this little rubber strainer, but I needed something to save my drains from the piles of hair that fall out of my head. I tried others and they all failed miserably. This thing is amazing! It fit into my standard drain perfectly, and I don't think a single hair slipped by it. It was pretty gross to see how much hair I lost in just one shower, but it was comforting to know it wasn't clogging my drain. Cleanup is super easy, too. I just took a tissue and wiped it from top to bottom, grabbing all the hair as the soft rubber strainer released it all easily. Not a hair was caught in it. Best strainer I've ever had. I strongly recommend it!!!" —Lawyer For Justice
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in five colors and a two-pack).
12. Or a flexible drain snake to pull ponytails worth of hair out of your drain with its "micro-hook" head and rotating handle. The best-looking bathrooms are clean.
This pack contains a reusable handle and five single-use heads that you just remove and dispose of after handling your clogged pipes.
Promising review: "Wow. Best thing ever. Seriously. I have had tweezers and sticks and plumbers and chemicals trying to get my master sink to drain. Plumber even said I need an entirely new faucet to get the drain plug part because they don't sell those separately. Well, I have two sinks, a tub, and shower that all match so that was not a valid solution. Doubt I can find the same model. So I bought this thing. Stuffed it down, pulled up hair, and black muck. Did it about eight times quickly, ran the water, went right down the drain. Seriously. This is the best tool ever and the best $12 I have ever spent. Everyone with a sink needs this tool. Seriously." —juliejules
Get a five-pack from Amazon for $17.95.
13. A Keith Haring bath towel that'll shake things up by introducing some flavor to your otherwise bland bathroom.
Promising review: "Very large and soft towel. Dries fairly well. Doesn’t leave any now towel fuzz on your body either. Pretty towel that works well. Definitely recommend if you’re in the market for new towels." —Connor Shirley
Slowtide is a small business started by three friends that sought to transform mundane towels into a work of art. Their products are made with a love of the beach in mind. The company regularly collaborates with artists like Keith Haring as well as other brands and nonprofits that align with their values.
Get it from Slowtide for $44.95 (available in three colors and various bundles).
14. A peel-and-stick toilet paper holder for your wall if your ceramic holders look aged.
Promising review: "This is the coolest. I literally stuck it to the side of the toilet in my guest bathroom vertically instead of horizontally. My old stand was noisy, in the way, and announced the toilet paper to anyone who entered the room. Yuck. This thing is great. Huge sticky pad ensures it's not going anywhere. I love it!" —Cristie
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two finishes and in packs of two).
15. An eco-friendly bidet, which means needing less space for toilet paper storage. If your nether regions are sensitive, you'll love this booty shower.
The bidet's nozzle retracts to keep it safe and clean. Everything you'll need for installation comes in the box. It's also compatible with most toilets.
Promising review: "Speaking as a hirsute gentleman, the Luxe Bidet Neo 120 has soured me on pooping in bidet-less toilets forever. It's shown me the difference between rubbing peanut butter out of shag carpeting with a paper towel, and that sparkling-clean feeling you get right when you step out of the shower. The unit took me all of about 10 minutes to install on my existing toilet with only a wrench. The easy-to-control flow valve allows you to provide just the right amount of water pressure for a full range of cleaning, from 'gentle trickling stream' to 'full-on Silkwood decontamination,' ensuring that the end of your bowel movement leaves you feeling cleaner and more refreshed than using just toilet paper alone. Even flushable wet wipes pale in comparison." —Mercury
Get it from Amazon for $37.94+ (available in two colors).
BTW, the Luxe Bidet Neo 120 was our $$$ pick for best toilet paper (well, best way to get your butt clean).
16. A steel mirror shelf so cute you'll kiss those dated medicine cabinets goodbye and never look back. Circular mirrors look dope in bathrooms and an open storage moment could be really cute!
It's rust-proof and comes with mounting hardware.
Promising review: "The shelf is a little thin, but still sturdy enough to put something small and lightweight on it. Very easy to install and came with two screws. I highly recommend and you can’t beat the price for something so chic!" —Quimani
Get it from Amazon for $42.49 (available in two colors).
17. A pack of stainless-steel cleaning wipes to restore your sink, bath knobs, and other surfaces to their "fresh out the box" state by erasing fingerprints, residue, watermarks, and grease. Believe it or not, those streaks in your sink can be removed.
Promising review: "I purchased these wipes to clean my stainless-steel refrigerator. I wanted something that would remove water stains and restore the shine, and these wipes delivered! After a few minutes of vigorously wiping back and forth along the grain, my refrigerator was looking brand-new. I was impressed with the results and noticed that the canister said the wipes could be used on sinks, so I tried one in my stainless-steel sink to see what would happen. As you can see from the pictures (above), after just a few minutes of cleaning, my sink was sparkling and incredible! I began cleaning all of the stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, and just a few wipes and 20 minutes later my kitchen was looking better than ever." —Connor
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.55.
18. A wooden switch cover because it's the small details that really make a space feel like home. I get compliments on these all the time.
19. A set of amber soap dispensers so soothing to look at, you'll never want to keep branding in your kitchen or bathroom again. Plus, nobody will know you got your soap from the Dollar Store.
Promising review: "These are amazing soap dispensers. The amber glass is sturdy and strong, and the pump works great. They're easy to fill and they look so good on your bathroom or kitchen countertop. Highly recommend!" —Emily
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $15.99 (available in five different pump colors).
20. And a set of simple yet sleek labels so you can label your beauty supplies after you change the dispenser. Streamline your bathroom and make it feel like The Home Edit was there.
Promising review: "These labels are beyond my expectation! I'm totally in love with the way they look. My pantry looks so organized and modern. I’m in love and will definitely purchase from this shop again!!" —Sandra Yzaguirre
Real And Vibrant is a woman-owned small business. When cook and author Sapana Chandra was looking for a way to organizer her spice drawer, she just decided to create her own durable, beautiful, and modern labels. She's been selling them on Etsy since 2020. This bundle has labels for both spices and pantry items — you can see what is included in each set in the description for the item. And if there are labels not included that you're interested in you can always custom order the labels you need.
Get the set from Real + Vibrant on Etsy for $30.06+ (available in 20-, 40-, or 80-packs for both spice and pantry sets, plus in four sizes for spices, and three sizes for pantry).
21. A natural air-purifying bag for anyone who finds artificial scents overwhelming but needs a fresh bathroom. If you have a sensitive nose, this sack will absorb everything without giving you a headache.
Promising review: "I have no idea how these work, but they put anything stinky to rest. I purchased these and one in kitchen and the other in a “new” 13-year-old car we just bought. Within 24–48 hours all odors are gone and it just smells clean and fresh (reminds me of Dasani water?). Love the linen packages, makes this look less 'industrial' and blend in better. They come in a three-pack, one is saved and stored in a sealed plastic bag, for later use." —Ellen
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $9.95+ (also available in packs of three and five). Learn about more ways to use these deodorizing bags in our Moso charcoal bag review!
22. A jumbo clothespin hook so you can stop doing towel origami just to fit them onto a single rack. With this, each person in your house can have a dedicated hook.
The handmade wooden clothespins come from Barwood Shop, a small custom home decor shop in Adirondack, New York.
Promising review: "OMG! So much fun. Unique and functional! Easy to order, arrived as advertised and on time. Made everyone who has seen it smile! I call that a win :-)" —Doris Morgan
Get it from Barwood Shop on Etsy for $28.97 (available in seven finishes).
23. A set of reusable swabs because a floor littered with q-tips isn't a good look. Keeping track of them and reducing waste has never been so easy.
Promising review: "Been looking to get a product like this for a long time to replace the use of all the cotton Q-tips that I use and these are great! They come in a small little sturdy container and are all well made. These are perfect for travel and are very easy to use. They work just about the same as a regular Q-tip. They also are very easy to clean and seem that they will work awhile. I love that there are multiple swabs with different textures for different uses too. Great product." —Michelle
Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.99 (available in two colors and various configurations).
24. A pack of toothpaste tablets that you can stylishly store in a jar so you'll never have to go to extremes just to squeeze the last drop of product out of that annoying tube.
These come with a reusable tin you'll never have to buy (or throw away) again. I tried these and they're just as effective as my tube toothpaste. Plus I never have to worry about using too much toothpaste at a time anymore.
Get a pack of 62 from Huppy for $12 (available in three flavors and two case colors).
25. A fresh coat of caulk sealant takes years off of your vanity, tub, and tile with a flick of the wrist.
Promising review: "This worked beautifully. Never caulked before in my life. Had warm water, several utility rags, a roll of paper towels and a putty knife at the ready. It’s been a week. Here are the pics. Needs a touch-up in one or two places due to user error, but it was awesome. If you’re halfway competent and don’t want to mess with a caulk gun, this is a fantastic tool and material." –Gina Marie
Get it from Amazon for $20.84+ (available in four colors).
26. A privacy "leaded-glass" film because life is too expensive to be giving free peep shows. Pop this on the window and get an Only Fans.
Window film is available in 17.5'' x 78.7'', 17.5'' x157.4, 23.6'' x 118.1'', 35.4'' x 78.7'', 35.4'' x 157.4" sizes and can be trimmed or combined to fit any size window glass.
Promising review: "This film was just what I needed. It provides enough privacy without blocking light. I didn’t have any problems with it not sticking to the window. You just have to make sure the windows are very clean and remember to peel off the backing and spray lots of water before sticking it on the glass!!! I used an old credit card as a squeegee to get rid of the air bubbles. The application was very easy. I highly recommend this product!!!" —Selenable
Get it from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in five sizes).
27. A hard water stain remover for your shower door that has never truly been transparent. Clean up those tiny annoying spots that never seem to stay away for long.
Promising review: "This stuff is a miracle. My husband and I just bought a house and there is very hard water. It looked like the previous owners never tried to get the hard water off the shower doors and walls. I tried vinegar and Dawn first — it didn't even scratch the surface. I tried Scrubbing Bubbles next and it was the same. I was feeling so defeated. I did some research and bought Bar Keepers Friend. With a grade 0000 steel wool piece, it took me about two hours to clean a quarter of the window in my shower. My arm also felt like it was going to fall off. I was determined, so I researched more. Then, I found this stuff. I was so anxious that I cracked it open minutes after receiving it in the mail. I applied it to my grade 0000 steel wool and started scrubbing away. BINGO! It took me about 15 minutes to clean the same size section as I did with the Bar Keepers Friend. I'm not gonna lie, this stuff needs some elbow grease but it definitely works. It took off what seems like years of hard water stains. It does have a smell to it but it's not super harsh and totally able to withstand. This is going on my 'always available in my house' list! I love this stuff!" —Tyrene A. Gapol
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
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Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.