Question submitted Monday, June 1, 2009 from Jennifer in Brooklyn, NY:

Hi Echo - I just moved into a new apartment and the landlord renovated the bathroom (we are so lucky!)  He chose some nice fixtures but because it's a rental he opted for plain white.  We're a little bored with the look and strapped for cash these days. What do you recommend for a quick, easy and inexpensive way to spice up the room?  Thanks! -Jennifer, Brooklyn NY

Hi Jennifer-

An all white bathroom is a great, blank canvas to start off with!

The easiest thing to do to spruce up a space is to add great color. Color can quickly change an otherwise ordinary space into one with a lot of character, whether you want to do something bright and fun, or neutral and subdued, and can be added into your room in a few different ways. The most obvious (and quickest fix) is to paint your walls, while another is by adding in some beautiful accessories…or you can do both!

One of my favorite Echo bath collections that will add excitement to any bathroom is Kiko Floral. This pattern has a lot of great colors to play with. I especially like the idea of using the light aqua shade to add into your bathroom. If painting the walls isn't an option, it would be really fun to paint the cabinet next to the sink in the accent color of your choice, which will really highlight your accessories. Kiko also has a coordinating towel, which could look great layered in with the beige towels you have hanging in your bathroom already.

I would also recommend finding a metal or canvas enclosed basket that fits into the open shelf of your cabinet, which will provide a clean and organized way of hiding your hair products and plays up the graphic, Asian inspired mood of the Kiko collection. The finishing touch to completing your bathroom is to add some simple decorative details to your walls. Hanging a couple of clean, dark wood shelves might be a nice alternative to hanging artwork, which will allow you to display some of your own personal touches.

These small changes will give your bathroom a fresh, new make-over that I think you'll love. Enjoy!

-Rebecca, Associate Designer, Echo Home