Bathroom Essentials For Renters

Splurge or Save: Bathroom Essentials For Renters

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I’ve spent about $350 on our bathroom over the years. Not on renovations – just storage, lighting, and small upgrades that make the space more functional. Some purchases have lasted a decade.

Others were mistakes I learned from. This is my bathroom breakdown – what I splurged on, what I saved on, and the wallpaper lesson I learned the hard way.

Total invested: ~$350

Best purchase: 5-level shower caddy ($40, 10 years old)

Biggest mistake: Wallpaper in a bathroom with no windows

SPLURGE: What’s Worth the Money

5-Level Corner Shower Caddy – $40 (HomeSense)

This is the best $40 I’ve ever spent in any room.

What it is: Matte black tension rod caddy that goes from tub to ceiling with five shelves.

Why I bought it: We needed shower storage. Suction cup caddies always fell. This one uses tension – no drilling, no falling.

10 years later: Still using it. Still holding strong. No rust, no issues.

Why it’s worth it: One purchase, a decade of use. That’s $4 per year. Best bathroom investment I’ve made.

Square Rainforest Shower Head with Detachable Sprayer – $130 (Costco)

We’ve gone through three shower heads in this rental.

The evolution:

• 1. Standard small Moen (came with rental – low pressure, tiny)
• 2. Round shower head (Home Depot, $60 – upgrade but nothing special)
• 3. Square rainforest with detachable sprayer (Costco, $130 – LOVE IT)

Why the third one is worth it: The square head feels like standing in a rainforest. The detachable round sprayer clicks into the square part for rinsing or cleaning the tub. Taking it when we move? Absolutely. Saved the original to reinstall.

Why I splurged: Quality shower experience matters. We use it twice a day, every day.

Over-Toilet Wall-Mounted Shelving – $30 (JYSK)

Three round tiers mounted above the toilet for extra toilet paper and backup supplies.

Why it’s worth it: Vertical storage when you have no linen closet. Uses wall space that would otherwise be wasted.

Still using it? Yes. Simple, functional, cheap.

SAVE: What’s Not Worth Big Money

DIY LED Mirror – $75 Total

I wanted a frosted glass mirror with LED backlighting. They were $200+ at the time.

What I did:

• Bought a frosted glass mirror on Amazon: $60
• Bought Govee white LED strip lights: $15
• Glued LED strips to the back frame of the mirror
• Hung on the wall

Total: $75

7 years later: Still works. Still looks good. Saved $125+ by DIYing it. Worth it? YES. Same look, way cheaper.

Shower Curtain – $15 (Giant Tiger)

Black and white shower curtain. Matches our black and white colour scheme.

Why I saved: Shower curtains get wet, get moldy, and need replacing. I don’t want to spend $50 on something temporary.

Strategy: Buy cheap, replace guilt-free.

Bath Mats – Walmart. Simple, neutral, washable.

Why I saved: They wear out. They fade. I replace them every few years for $10-15.

Dollar Store Storage: Under-sink bins:

Organize cleaners and backup supplies.

Fake plant + pot: $8 total (adds life without maintenance)

Why I saved: Hidden storage doesn’t need to be expensive. The plant is fake – no one knows it’s from the dollar store.

Over-Door Hooks – $15

Two matte black hooks for towels and bathrobes.

Why I saved: Functional, not decorative. Cheap hooks work fine.

My Biggest Bathroom Mistakes

Wallpaper in a Bathroom with No Windows. I love peel-and-stick wallpaper. I’ve used it in four rooms. But the bathroom was a mistake.

First attempt: White and silver geometric print. I thought I’d love it. Put it up. Hated it immediately. Too busy, too much pattern in a small space. Ripped it down and switched to white shiplap.

Second attempt: Shiplap on all walls. I loved this. Clean, coastal, exactly the vibe I wanted. For three years, it looked perfect. Then it started peeling.

The problem: Our bathroom has no windows. No ventilation beyond a small fan. Moisture and humidity from showers caused the wallpaper to discolour and peel at the seams.

What I learned: Don’t put peel-and-stick wallpaper in bathrooms without windows. The moisture kills it. Would I do it again? No. If I had a bathroom with a window and good ventilation, maybe. But not in this one.

What I’d Do Differently

Skip the wallpaper. Paint would’ve been smarter. Or skip walls entirely and focus on storage and lighting. Invest in the shower head earlier. We waited years before upgrading to the $130 one.

Should’ve done it from the start. Buy the LED mirror pre-made. DIYing it worked, but if I were doing it now, I’d just buy a finished one. They’re cheaper now than they were 7 years ago.

DUPES: High vs Low

Dupe #1: LED Mirrors

High: Pre-made LED mirrors – $200+ (when I bought mine)

Low: DIY mirror + LED strips – $75

Difference: Pre-made is easier (no assembly)

Function: Both provide a backlit mirror. Savings: $125+. Worth the dupe? YES (7 years ago). Today, pre-made LED mirrors are $80-120, so DIY isn’t worth it anymore.

Dupe #2: Shower Caddies

High: Designer shower caddies – $80-100

Low: HomeSense tension caddy – $40

Difference: Brand

Function: Both hold shower products. Savings: $40-60. Worth the dupe? YES. Mine’s lasted 10 years.

Dupe #3: Shower Curtains

High: West Elm shower curtain – $60-80

Low: Giant Tiger black and white – $15

Difference: Material quality

Function: Both cover the shower. Savings: $45-65. Worth the dupe? YES. It’s a shower curtain. Buy cheap, replace when needed.

Bathroom Budget Breakdown

SPLURGES:

• Shower caddy: $40 ✅ (10 years – BEST PURCHASE)
• Square rainforest shower head: $130 ✅
• Over-toilet shelving: $30 ✅

SAVES:

• DIY LED mirror: $75 ✅
• Shower curtain: $15 ✅
• Bath mats: ~$15 ✅
• Over-door hooks: $15 ✅
• Dollar store storage/plant: ~$20 ✅

MISTAKES:

• Wallpaper (white/silver): ~$30 ❌
• Wallpaper (shiplap): ~$30 ❌

TOTAL INVESTED: ~$350

BEST INVESTMENT: Shower caddy ($40, 10 years)

BIGGEST REGRET: Wallpaper in a no-window bathroom

Key Takeaways: Bathroom Splurge or Save

SPLURGE ON:

• Quality shower head (use it daily, worth it)
• Durable storage (10-year caddy proves it)
• Vertical shelving (maximizes small spaces)

SAVE ON:

• Shower curtains (temporary, replaceable)
• Bath mats (wear out, replace)
• Hidden storage (dollar store bins work)
• Hooks (functional, not decorative)

DUPE IT:

• LED mirrors (DIY vs pre-made)
• Shower caddies (HomeSense vs designer)
• Shower curtains (Giant Tiger vs West Elm)

AVOID

• Wallpaper in bathrooms with no windows (moisture kills it)
• Cheap suction caddies (always fall)

Ready to Upgrade Your Bathroom?

Start with your biggest pain point (storage? shower pressure? lighting?) and solve that first.

Next Steps:

• 1. Assess what’s not working (low-pressure shower? cluttered counters?)
• 2. Invest in quality where it matters (shower head, storage)
• 3. Save on temporary items (curtains, mats, decor)
• 4. Skip wallpaper if you don’t have ventilation

Want the complete framework? → Back to Splurge or Save Hub

Browse more room guides:

• → Living Room: Splurge or Save
• → Kitchen: Splurge or Save
• → Bedroom: Splurge or Save
• → Entryway: Splurge or Save
• → Kids Rooms: Splurge or Save

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