You don’t need a major renovation to make your bathroom look and feel better. Sometimes it’s just about knowing what to remove. Three interior designers shared the six things they consistently recommend clearing out, and a few simple swaps that make a real difference.
1. Too Many Small Decorative Items
Little objects scattered around the bathroom seem harmless, but they add up fast. JoAnna Baum, founder of JoAnna Baum Interiors, puts it plainly: bathrooms aren’t the right place for lots of small things. They collect dust quickly and create visual clutter.
Her advice? Keep it simple. A beautiful tray, a vessel for soaps, or a single piece of art goes much further than a collection of knick-knacks. If you want to bring in decorative items, make them earn their place. Baum says she loves using large vintage jars for cotton rounds or a glass container for Q-tips, pretty and practical at the same time.
2. Plastic Accessories
That plastic toothbrush holder or canister on your counter? It may be doing more harm than good to how the room looks. Baum recommends swapping plastic accessories for stone, glass, or ceramic. She says that making that one change instantly makes a bathroom feel more refined and pulled together.
3. Trendy Plumbing Features
Body sprays and other flashy plumbing add-ons can seem exciting when you first see them. But Sarah Brady, founder of Salt Design Company, urges caution. These features require significant plumbing work, and they can be very expensive to replace once the technology becomes outdated or the trend fades.
Brady always encourages her clients to choose timeless fixtures and practical functionality over anything that might not age well.
4. Over-the-Toilet Storage Units
Those shelving units that sit above the toilet are common, but Baum isn’t a fan. She says they tend to feel bulky and end up being more of a visual distraction than a real storage solution. Her preference is to use built-in millwork or closed cabinetry elsewhere in the bathroom so the whole space feels calm and intentional.
5. Overhead Mirror Lighting
Many bathrooms have a light fixture mounted above the mirror. Ali Shoemaker, founder of Alison Interiors, says that’s one of the first things she’d change. Overhead lighting casts downward shadows, which isn’t helpful when you’re trying to get ready in the morning. It also does nothing for the overall look of the room.
Her recommendation is to place wall sconces on either side of the mirror instead. They light up the sides of your face more naturally, and they add a warmer, more attractive feel to the space.
6. Unframed Mirrors
A plain, unframed mirror gets the job done, but it doesn’t do much else. Shoemaker says unframed mirrors offer no real design appeal and leave a bathroom feeling unfinished. Swapping in a decorative framed mirror makes a statement, adds visual interest, and ties the whole room together.
None of these changes requires a contractor or a big budget. A new mirror, a set of ceramic accessories, a pair of sconces, small moves that add up to a bathroom that feels genuinely put-together.