![](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fields/sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-design-cabinet-Remodelista-733x533.jpg)
The challenges of the bathroom in my family’s rented house in Northern California ran the gamut from fusty glass lampshades and a heavy wrought-iron curtain rail to limp, musty curtains and a bold green-and-white striped shower curtain. The solution was pretty straightforward: Strip the place down to its bare elements, make everything white, and add layers of texture to prevent the room from feeling sterile. Here’s my 10-step action plan.
Photography by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.
1. Swap out (or doctor) the light fixtures.
I initially tried to find better-looking shades than the glass ones that were in place above the mirror, but in the end, I opted for no shades and silver-tipped bulbs: They’re not only visually pleasing but also they provide better light.
![sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-design-white-mirror-Remodelista](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fields/sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-design-white-mirror-Remodelista.jpg)
2. Hang as much as possible.
Built-in towel bars work well for larger towels, but I also keep out hand towels on a hanger. It’s a practical storage solution and a way to add texture.
![sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-design-fog-linen-hanger-towels-Remodelista](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fields/sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-design-fog-linen-hanger-towels-Remodelista.jpg)
3. Introduce warm elements.
All-white walls and tiles can feel a bit clinical; I added my wooden stool and rush mat to introduce texture and warmth to the space. I love the feeling of standing barefoot on straw first thing in the morning, and in winter it’s so much nicer than cold tiles.
![sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-danish-stool-straw-mat-Remodelista](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fields/sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-danish-stool-straw-mat-Remodelista.jpg)
4. Utilize every bit of space.
Any handle or knob is fair game for storage in my book. I like keeping my jewelry on hand.
![sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-cabinet-knob-Remodelista](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fields/sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-cabinet-knob-Remodelista.jpg)
5. Display well.
I put out only the good-looking bottles, and I typically decant (or hide) anything with packaging that’s not appealing. I think of the shelves in my cabinet as a series of vignettes that I am constantly changing.
![sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-design-cabinet-Remodelista](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fields/sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-design-cabinet-Remodelista.jpg)
6. Declutter.
The smaller the space, the more that things need room to breathe.
![sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-design-towels-Remodelista](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fields/sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-design-towels-Remodelista_0.jpg)
7. Be creative with storage.
I stow toilet paper in a Japanese fisherman’s basket, and all the extra stuff goes into a leather-handled market basket picked up in a French supermarket, both shown below.
![sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-design-straw-bag-storage-Remodelista](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fields/sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-design-straw-bag-storage-Remodelista_0.jpg)
8. Ditch the plastic.
There was no good reason to keep the cheap plastic shower rings, so I swapped in my own leather ties.
![sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-leather-shower-curtain-ties-Remodelista](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fields/sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-leather-shower-curtain-ties-Remodelista.jpg)
9. Remove anything that doesn’t look good.
After removing the ugly curtains and rod on my bathroom window (and putting them in storage), I used Round Wooden Thumbtacks found on Etsy to pin up a piece of unhemmed linen as a privacy screen. I also added a white linen roller blind.
![sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-shower-head-Remodelista](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fields/sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-shower-head-Remodelista.jpg)
10. Accent with white.
I replaced the loud shower curtain with a plain, thick, white cotton one, and our towels and linens are all white—this keeps the look clean and fresh.
![sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-design-Remodelista](https://media.organized-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fields/sarah-lonsdale-rental-house-bathroom-design-Remodelista.jpg)
For more bathroom inspiration, see our posts on Shower Curtains and Clothes Hangers. Considering a remodel? Read 10 Essential Tips for Designing the Bathroom.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on October 10, 2014.
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