Apt Decorating Ideas On A Budget

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30 Stylish Bathroom Decorating Ideas Under $100

No renovations necessary.

PHOTO: Nicole Franzen; DESIGN: GTR

There's no denying that bathroom renovations can be costly. But we're big believers in the idea that good style doesn't have to have a high price tag, which is why we came up with a fresh batch of budget-friendly decor ideas that actually make a difference. Just because we can't splurge on the clawfoot tub of our dreams doesn't mean we can't give our bathrooms a major design upgrade. In an effort to make fresh, stylish interiors a little more accessible, we're spotlighting cheap yet chic bathroom styling tips and hacks. These bathroom decorating ideas that only cost $100 or less will give you the high-quality look and refresh you're looking for.

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Incorporate Brass Accents

Brass features add "a hint of luxury and a nod to older styles," designer Shari Francis says of this bathroom she gave a cosmetic upgrade. Any easy yet cheap way to do that? Incorporate brass accessories. If not with a faucet or mirror, use a brass soap dispenser, tissue box, toothbrush holder, or even a set of hardware for hanging towels and robes.

BUY NOW Brass Bathroom Hardware Set, $57

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Add a Small Table

Enjoy a regular bubble bath? Put a small table next to your tub, as designer Elizabeth Georgantas did here. A wood stool or small slim side table will not only make your space look more luxurious, but it's perfect for hosting your glass of wine, book, speaker, or candles.

BUY NOW Teak Stool, $78

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Get an Indoor Tree

Add a tree in the corner for a low-lift update that has a ton of transformative power. As seen in this bathroom designed by 2LG Studio, the palm leaf tree truly brings it to life.

BUY NOW Costa Farms Majesty Palm Grower Pot, $33

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Paint Everything One Color

Picking one color and sticking to it will make things a lot a easier, and this tonal look is both on-trend and visually interesting (even—no, especially—if you go for something as simple as white). In this bathroom designed by Leanne Ford Interiors, even the faucet is painted white.

BUY NOW Rust-Oleum Ultra Matte White Paint, $18

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Choose a Colorful Rug

One of the only ways to bring warmth into a bathroom with affordable decor is an area rug. It's also a fun way to add color, print, and texture. The fringe and pops of neon featured in this mostly-marble bathroom by Regan Baker Design is the perfect case study. A bath mat will do, too.

BUY NOW West Elm Half Moons Bath Mat, $40

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Swap In Eye-Catching Hardware

Always remember that extra storage is your friend in a bathroom, where you'll want to tuck away unsightly essentials. Eye-catching hardware, like the rose gold handle pulls in this space by Hecker Guthrie, make the cabinets look like a lot more expensive. And instead of installing custom marble countertops, you can just shop for an affordable marble tray to stack your items on.

BUY NOW Pink Marble Tray, $17

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Splurge on Soap

When you can't afford to renovate the bathroom, focus on minor additions that can make it feel a touch more elevated. Spending thousands on installing a new marble sink for example, may be out of the question, but a fancy soap for guests can do more good than you'd think, and it's a fraction of the cost. Aesop is always a good call, as seen in this bathroom designed by Arent & Pyke.

BUY NOW Aesop Aromatique Hand Soap, $39

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Use Fake Plants

This bathroom designed by Hecker Guthrie proves that you don't need a huge space to make an impact, especially when plants are involved. Love plants but can't keep them alive or don't think the ones that eventually die are worth the money? There are actually some pretty great artificial plants and leaves that don't look totally fake, whether you display them together in a vase or bolster a bouquet of flowers with them.

BUY NOW IKEA Smycka Artificial Leaf, $5

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Add Something Metallic

Adding a dash of metal can make the bathroom feel a little fancier and more polished. Even something as nondescript as a catch-all or soap dish will do the trick, but we're partial that round stool in Leanne Ford's bathroom.

BUY NOW Anthropologie Bridgette Toilet Paper Holder, $38

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Display a Robe

Even something as simple as hanging a robe can make all the difference. As seen in this Arent & Pyke designed bathroom, it makes the space feel spa-like. The small Art Deco area rug also plays up the blue tones throughout while introducing pattern and a pop of coral.

BUY NOW Parachute Classic Bathrobe, $99

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Hang a Pendant Light

Leanne Ford is the master of reclaiming old items and making them feel brand new again, like the shelf, mirror, antique knick knacks in this bathroom. The schoolhouse-style sink fits in with the retro look while the fresh white paint and oversized dome pendant polish things off.

BUY NOW Vintage Thwaites & Reed London Clock, $10

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Wallpaper Half the Wall

Not only is it a good idea to keep wallpaper out of splashing range, but it can also cut your cost in half if you only buy enough for half the square footage. The white tiles in this bathroom designed by Arent & Pyke keep things feeling fresh while the wallpaper adds a little more personality.

BUY NOW Wild Grass Removable Wallpaper, $40

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Warm Things Up

Design firm Alexander DB softens up the large factory-style windows and gritty concrete floors in this industrial space with a plush area rug and striped hand towels. Though they're decidedly more bohemian, they fit in with the modern black tub and warehouse vibes because they stay within that monochrome palette.

BUY NOW Cost Plus Black Villa Stripe Kitchen Towel, $2

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DIY Wallpaper

Give your walls some oomph and treat it like a canvas for your a collage project. Think vintage ads and magazine articles and a few records for some contrast. In this bathroom designed by Leanne Ford, the vintage magazine scraps play up the retro feel of the tiles.

BUY NOW Vintage Life Magazine, $10

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Lean a Ladder

Introduce extra storage space for your towels in style by leaning a wooden ladder against the wall. It brings in more dimension than a traditional wall shelf and looks more unique.

BUY NOW Lazy Susan Whitewash Wood Ladder, $60

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Craft a Narrative

The beauty of this bathroom sink area is that everything looks like it has a history, even the soap dish. While the oval hanging mirror and sink feel grounded and rustic, the sconces and gold faucet introduce a nice formal flair. You'd never guess these old fixtures came from the house of an old friend of the designer, Leanne Ford. "It's a perfect example of how things can look so different depending on where they live," she says.

BUY NOW Lucy Michel Whatever Bowl, $50

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Camouflage Toilet Paper

In this bathroom designed by Elizabeth Roberts, our eye is immediately drawn to the pretty linen towels, marble hooks, hexagonal floor tiles, and whimsical floral wallpaper as opposed to the toilet paper. For a similar effect, make your toilet paper blend in or look cooler than it is with a wall-mounted holder.

BUY NOW Ferm Living Black Toilet Paper Holder, $35

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Opt for an Etagere

Another great way to introduce a ton of storage without having to drill into your walls for custom cabinetry and shelving is by sliding in a etagere, as done in this bathroom designed by Elizabeth Roberts.

BUY NOW Bamboo Ladder, $89

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Be Bold

You don't need a giant space to design a bathroom that stands out. Take notes from this one by Regan Baker Design. An accent wall with a classic toile pattern, a timeless mirror about a small sink, an artful hand towel, and a geometric light make this powder room feel complete.

BUY NOW Project 62 Round Mirror, $60

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Install a Shelf

If your bathroom is tiny, clear clutter and add more surface space by installing a shelf above the toilet or right under the mirror and above the sink, as done in this space designed by Leanne Ford.

BUY NOW Anthropologie Wood Shelf, $48

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Add a Fun Shower Curtain

A fun shower curtain with geometric shapes will spruce up a bathroom or play up existing tiles, as seen in this space designed by Studio DB.

BUY NOW CB2 Triangle Shower Curtain, $50

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Pay Attention to Details

Don't overlook the details, like a a toothbrush holder, soap dispenser, and other catch-alls for thing like Q-tips, cotton pads, and more. Transferring those drugstore items from their original packaging makes the whole room look so much more put-together and beautiful, as Hecker Guthrie proves with these minimal containers. Even a toilet brush can be pretty!

BUY NOW CB2 Nexus Toilet Brush, $30

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Add a Wall Sconce

The turquoise tiles in this small bathroom designed by Elizabeth Roberts are balanced by a more natural rattan-framed mirror, while modern scones bring the look into the 21st century. See how the color makes those other items pop even more?

BUY NOW West Elm Metal Sconce, $79

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Swap a Mirror for Wall Art

It's all in the details—by giving accents an offbeat twist, you'll make a big impact. For example, instead of hanging a mirror above the sink, consider displaying artwork instead (Pro tip: shopping for your artwork on eBay and Etsy or scouring flea markets is a lot more affordable). Then put your hand soap and lotion on a small elevated shelf above the sink and hang a single slim pendant light like Hecker Guthrie did here.

BUY NOW Abstract Faces Art Print, $21

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Splurge on Towels

Hanging a few fancy and colorful hand towels can brighten things up immensely and also elevate a space that feels rundown or outdated. These butterfly-print Missoni hand towels in a little girl's bathroom designed by Studio DB are the perfect example.

BUY NOW Missoni Josephine Hand Towel, $30

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Add a Magazine Holder

A magazine rack and custom linen curtains are both beautiful finishing touches. And the contrast between the hyper realist, gritty photograph against the classic black and white striped wallpaper and glitzy chandelier create a nice juxtaposition in this Leanne Ford-designed space.

BUY NOW EQ3 Perch Magazine Rack, $60

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Repaint Old Furniture

Want a pop of a color in the bathroom? Transform a flea market find or dated family heirloom by sanding it and then repainting it a fun color. Bonus points if it's a dresser, armoire, or something else that provides extra storage. We love the chalky look of this painted armoire in the 2LG-designed bathroom.

BUY NOW Rust-Oleum Chalked Blue Matte Spray Paint, $42

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Upgrade Your Waste Basket

A tasteful wastebasket and matching tissue box cover will tighten up your bathroom nicely. We also love the removable wallpaper from Chasing Paper in this bathroom by Regan Baker Design. It's temporary, affordable, and delightfully whimsical.

BUY NOW Crate & Barrel Sedona Waste Basket, $25

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Put Out a Luxury Room Fragrance

A high-end room fragrance will instantly elevate the overall feel of a powder room. In this bathroom designed by Catherine Kwong, she chose Byredo's classic yet intriguing scent, Gypsy Water. If you don't want to splurge on one of their home fragrances, opt for a candle instead—they're a little easier on the wallet.

BUY NOW Byredo Cotton Poplin Candle, $85

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Paint the Floors

Instead of laying new tiles—which can be super expensive and time-consuming—consider using paint instead. Hand-painted details add a personal touch you can't get in many other ways. Get inspired by this graphic painted floor situation by Leanne Ford if you're not sure where to begin.

BUY NOW Glidden Black Interior Paint + Primer, $25

Hadley Mendelsohn Senior Editor Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior editor, and when she's not busy obsessing over all things decor-related, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again.

Kelly Allen Kelly Allen is a writer based in New York and the editorial assistant at House Beautiful, where she covers design, culture, shopping, and travel.

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