The 7 quick, inexpensive and transformative jobs I'm doing to spruce up my guest bathroom ahead of hosting season

While there is nothing horribly wrong with our guest bathroom, there are a few aspects that have been niggling me lately. This has led me to feel the need to apologize every time a guest comes to stay – 'Ignore the patchy paintwork!'

With one of the most sociable times of the year approaching, I am turning my attention to areas of the home that are likely to be noticed by guests – the entrance hallway, guest bedrooms, living room and, of course, the all-important guest bathroom.

With not much time to spare and a reluctance to spend too much on a quick spruce up, I decided to research a few small bathroom ideas and carry out some quick and inexpensive DIY to give the room a smarter look.

How to spruce up your guest bathroom cheaply and effectively

I tried to focus on the things that would make the biggest difference in the least time to update my bathroom without replacing it.

If you are beginning to feel a little panicky about how to get your bathroom ready for Thanksgiving guests fear not, my tips could just help.

1. Cleaning the bathroom

We are actually not too bad at keeping on top of cleaning the bathroom and my husband is a little obsessive about scrubbing the grout and keeping the sealant in good order. However, if you have let these little jobs slide, begin by giving the space a deep clean and familiarize yourself with how to clean grout in floor tiles.

Lana Wear, founder and CEO at HomeWear Designs says, 'Cleanliness is key to making guests feel comfortable. Scrub off water stains, launder linens and bathmats, and wipe down surfaces before your guests arrive.'

Did you know buffing candle wax on your faucets will prevent water stains for up to a week? Doing this will keep your guest bathroom looking shiny and fresh during their stay.

Clint Collins, owner of Houston Furniture Rental & Sales adds, 'Much of the grout material we use in our homes is white, which ends up making dirt, mildew, and dust extremely visible. A quick trick we use when staging a home is to mix baking soda (such as Arm & Hammer baking soda, at Walmart) and water and use an older rag to scrub the grout. The baking soda is a mildly abrasive substance that will help break down stains and reduce any odors.'

All prices correct at time of publication.

2. Repainting the walls

The biggest issue I had with our guest bathroom was the blue color. I did quite like it when we first chose it as a bold and colorful bathroom color idea. It was more dynamic than the all-white scheme we originally opted for. However, over time, the vibrant greenish-blue lost its appeal and cast an odd, grayish hue over the skin when looking in the mirror.

Ginger Curtis, founder and CEO at Urbanology Designs says, 'A quick and easy way to transform a guest bathroom is with a fresh coat of paint. Consider a moody, rich tone like deep blue or dark charcoal for a luxurious feel, or a soft, neutral color to create a serene environment.' Definitely something to consider if you are thinking about new bathroom color ideas.

Lately, I have been longing for a forest-green kitchen, but that isn't on the cards right now, so I decided to use the shade in the guest bathroom instead.

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Before painting the room, I began by removing the mirror, artwork, box shelves, and cistern to give myself a blank canvas. I then vacuumed up a not-inconsiderable number of cobwebs and cleaned the walls. I also lightly sanded a few flaky spots.

I began by cutting in around the ceilings and fixtures, a job I loathe, though it's the best way to paint walls without tape, before getting started on the main wall.

I chose to use a paintbrush instead of a roller as the space is small and I didn't want the paint to splatter on everywhere. Two coats were needed for good coverage and I did need to go over a few spots with white paint elsewhere in those areas where my cutting-in wasn't quite up to scratch.

I live in the UK and the shade of green I used was Everglade Forest by Dulux, and I love the finished look. Always make sure to pick the right paint finishes for bathrooms to avoid mold and mildew later down the line.

3. Giving small details a makeover

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It never fails to amaze me how much of a difference giving a few smaller details a little zhuzh up makes. Take a look around your own guest bathroom – corded light pull looking a little dirty? Mirror begun to rust? Are baseboards a little scuffed? It is the smaller things, such as failing to find out the best way to clean baseboards, that can really drag a space down.

In the case of my guest bathroom, the knobs on the cleaning cupboard were looking a little worse for wear, the metal box shelf we use for hand soap and lotion was rusted and the wooden crates that we turned into wall shelves really need a good clean up.

I removed the metal box shelf and cupboard knobs and used gold spray paint to glam them up fast. You can also clean rust with aluminum foil if you like the original color or don't have paint to hand.

Next up, I turned my attention to the crate shelves. I thought gold could be a little overkill here so I dug out a tin of my favorite ever paint shade – Manna Ash by Fired Earth. After cleaning them off and sanding them I applied two coats and I love the powdery pink against the forest green.

4. Introducing a moisture-loving plant

Certain plants do so well in bathrooms and there are some house plants that banish condensation too. With no window, our guest bathroom needs all the help it can get when it comes to mopping up excess moisture so I did a little research into the best bathroom plants and invested in some greenery that not only looks great but will also help on a practical level.

Lana Wear says, 'Plants are a great way to warm up the space. In a windowless room, faux succulents work well and add a modern touch. If you have natural light, humidity-loving plants like orchids, pothos, or ferns are ideal. For a pop of color, cut flowers in a low vase also do the trick."

After a little research, I opted for a Philondendron Scandens Brasil – which is also known as the Sweetheart Plant, I'm guessing because of its heart-shaped leaves.

It thrives in really humid environments and is a great indoor low-light plant, although I will have to keep the bathroom door open when it isn't in use to allow some natural light in. I love the way it trails and tumbles and might consider hanging it up in the next few weeks.

5. Cleaning the extractor fan

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As the guest bathroom is small and has no natural ventilation, the extractor fan, which is located within the shower enclosure, has to work really hard – and it does a fantastic job.

However, I really haven't been very good at keeping it spotlessly clean and now seemed as good a time as any to give it a thorough wash down to improve bathroom ventilation. I have to admit that I wasn't quite sure where to begin so after looking into how to clean and replace a bathroom extractor fan I got to work.

After turning off the circuit breaker, I unscrewed the front grille, while getting a face-full of fluff and dust – beware. Next, using my best handheld vacuum I sucked out as much debris and dirt as I could. After this, I went in with an old toothbrush. In all honesty, the toothbrush method was far more effective than the vacuum. I then wiped the whole thing down with a damp cloth.

Finally, I asked my husband to pop the cover back on (he's taller than me) and enjoyed the sparkling results.

6. Swapping out the old shower curtain

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I have to admit, I am not much of a fan of shower curtains. I prefer glass shower screens or walk-in enclosures where a wall forms the barrier between the wet area and the rest of the room.

However, we do have one in the guest bathroom at present, although we haven't ruled out replacing it with a screen at some point in the future.

With my quick and cheap makeover in mind I decided that the old shower curtain was up for retirement. In its place I wanted something a little textured that would add some warmth to the room. I also wanted something heavier than our old design as I had read this is how to stop a shower curtain from blowing in.

I opted for a cream linen effect curtain, much like this BTTN Linen Textured Polyester Cloth Shower Curtain from Amazon. It came complete with all the hooks needed to hang it too and is such an improvement on the flimsy old one.

7. Added in some finishing touches

Now for the fun part. I love nothing more than a final decorative flourish and if you are wondering how to make a bathroom look more luxurious, thoughtful details make all the difference.

Melanie Olson of Melanie Olson Design Group says, 'Bath accessories are a great way to spruce up the space. Updating the tissue holders, towel bars and rings can really elevate the room. Most outdated guest bathrooms have rusted chrome finishes, with little to no decorative detail. Replacing these with a fresh polished nickel or brass finish can help tie the space together.'

I've recently got really into battery-powered side lamps – they're perfect for lighting up those spots in the home where no power outlet is located nearby and also where you don't want messy cables trailing.

The one I bought for the guest bathroom has a textured, smoky glass shade which throws out some lovely shadow effects onto the new rich green walls.

I can't resist the best scented candle and at this time of year, I love anything warm and cozy-smelling. I have a Jo Malone Pine & Eucalyptus candle which I am trying to eke out as long as possible, but it is perfect in this room.

And, finally, I noticed the signs you need to replace your towels and swapped out the threadbare hand towel for a fluffy new one.

Clint Collins points out that, 'Hand towels can be a strategic tool in a guest bathroom. If you're staging your home, a seasonal color pop (warmer colors for fall and winter, cooler colors for spring and summer) can help attract the eye to a sometimes overlooked room of the home and make it stand out.'

I risked white but I think I'll only bring it out when we have guests staying as my two children seem to use towels as floor mops, make-up removers and even to clean their muddy trainers.

The end result

I'm really pleased with the end result considering it only took me a day from start to finish. I'd love to have been able to change the wall tiles and we made one of the biggest bathroom lighting mistakes by not adding any lights into the shower enclosure, but that's a whole other project.

That said, I am considering this advice from Bohdan Duha, director at CreoGlass: 'If replacing tiles isn’t on the cards, try temporary vinyl tile stickers. They’re a simple and inexpensive way to cover tired tiles, adding a pop of personality without the commitment.'

Meet the experts

Lana Wear

Lana is a business executive turned entrepreneur. She is founder and CEO of HomeWear Designs, focused on property flipping, staging, and all things 'home'.

Ginger Curtis

Ginger Curtis, founder and CEO of Urbanology Designs, is the author of Beauty By Design (Harvest House Publishers) and a sought-after speaker and design & lifestyle authority/expert. Her work has been featured in prominent national magazines and books including Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Better Homes & Gardens, Raw Interiors, and Architecture Today. 

Clint Collins

Clint Collins is the owner of Houston Furniture Rental & Sales, which is a Houston-based home staging business.

Now you have some ideas for getting your bathroom ready for visitors, it is time to find out how to design a guest bedroom to ensure that your home is the go-to destination for all your friends and family.