Aesthetic Bathroom Decor Ideas: Voicemails I left my sister during a three-week bathroom makeover. She saved them all. She says they’re “the best thing I own.”
Voicemail #1. Sunday, 9:14 a.m.
“Hi, it’s me. So, I measured the bathroom. It’s 5 by 7. I can sit on the toilet and touch the tub with my foot. I’m going to make it feel like a spa. Don’t laugh. I can hear you laughing. Anyway, call me back.”
She didn’t call back. She texted: “Send updates. I need this.”
So I did. Fifteen of them. Here’s the whole saga, one message at a time.
The First Week: Clear and Calm
Voicemail #2. Monday night. “Okay, I cleared everything off the counter. Everything. Turns out I own four half-used lotions and a razor from 2019. Put back only soap, a toothbrush, and one tray. The room already looks bigger. It cost nothing, and I feel weirdly proud.”
Idea 1: Clear the counter
Keep only daily items, and set them on a wood or stone tray ($12 to $25).
Voicemail #3. Tuesday. “Swapped the bulbs. Warm ones, 2700K, about eight bucks. I can’t explain it. Everyone suddenly looks rested. I looked at myself in the mirror and thought, huh, I look okay.”
Idea 2: Switch to warm bulbs
Harsh white light is the fastest way to ruin a spa feel.
Voicemail #4. Wednesday. “I bought one set of thick cotton towels in cream, $55 on sale. Rolled two in a basket, hung one on the hook. I swear it looks like a hotel. Stop laughing.”
Idea 3: Buy one matching towel set
Roll a couple in a basket for that boutique look.
Voicemail #5. Thursday. “Moved the shower curtain rod up near the ceiling. Free. Used a plain white curtain with a weighted liner. The ceiling looks a foot taller. Hang on, I need to go admire it.”
Idea 4: Hang the curtain high
A weighted liner ($10 to $15) keeps it hanging straight.
The Second Week: Layers and Texture
Voicemail #6. Saturday. “Found a big round mirror at a thrift store for $40. Thin black frame. I leaned it on the counter first to see. It bounces light everywhere. The room feels twice as big. I might cry.”
Idea 5: Hang a big round mirror
Thrift stores and online marketplaces often have frames for $30 to $90.
Voicemail #7. Sunday. “Put a teak bath mat down. $30. It smells like a sauna. My feet are very happy.”
Idea 6: Add a teak or bamboo mat
Natural wood warms up cold tile.
Voicemail #8. Monday. “Tied a bundle of eucalyptus to the showerhead. Eight dollars at the grocery store. This morning the steam woke it up and I just stood there. Smelled like a spa. I was late for work and didn’t care.”
Idea 7: Hang fresh eucalyptus in the shower
It lasts a few weeks and costs about $8.
Voicemail #9. Tuesday. “Poured soap and lotion into matching glass pumps. $15 for a set. Hid the plastic bottles under the sink. The counter looks like a boutique. Okay, I’m done talking about the counter.”
Idea 8: Decant your products
Matching glass or ceramic bottles make a counter look curated.
Voicemail #10. Wednesday. “Hung a floating shelf over the toilet. $25. Rolled towels, a candle, one small plant. I put in a pothos. Please don’t ask how many plants I’ve killed.”
Idea 9: Use the wall above the toilet
Anchor the shelf into studs, and keep it to three or four items.
The Third Week: The Finishing Touches
Voicemail #11. Friday. “Lit one candle. One. I used to light five and the whole room smelled like a perfume store. Cedar this time. I stood in the doorway and just breathed.”
Idea 10: Pick one scent
Light it while you bathe, and blow it out before you leave.
Voicemail #12. Saturday. “I bought a small teak stool for the tub. $30. It holds my towel and a cup of tea. I sat on it for ten minutes tonight with my hair in a towel and did nothing at all.”
Idea 11: Add a stool
It tells you, “You’re allowed to stay a while.”
Voicemail #13. Sunday. “Replaced the old showerhead with a rainfall one. $35, and no plumber. I’m keeping the old one so my landlord can’t say a word. Best thirty-five dollars I’ve ever spent.”
Idea 12: Upgrade the showerhead
Keep the original so you can swap it back if you rent.
Voicemail #14. Monday. “Added a tiny waterproof speaker, soft piano. Low. Like someone humming in another room. I think I’m the calmest I’ve been since March.”
Idea 13: Add soft sound
Keep it away from the sink and the volume low.
Voicemail #15. Tuesday. “Framed a photo of the lake from when we were kids. Put it on the shelf. It cost six dollars. It’s the first thing I see when I walk in. Call me back, I’m getting emotional.”
Idea 14: Frame one personal thing
It keeps a pretty room from feeling like a showroom.
Voicemail #16. Wednesday. “Last one. I left one stretch of wall completely bare. On purpose. Empty space is what makes everything else look chosen. I did nothing, and it was the hardest thing I did all week.”
Idea 15: Leave a bare wall
Empty space is the biggest luxury in a tiny room.
Notes to Self (Played Back at the End)
Stay in three colors. Cream, warm wood, and one muted green looked calm and planned.
Match your finishes. Black or brass on the hooks, frame, and faucet kept things tidy.
Go slowly. One idea per day felt gentler than one chaotic weekend.
Do it for you. Nobody else sees this room as often as you do.
Quick Questions
How much does this cost in total?
Most people spend $150 to $300 by choosing eight to ten ideas. The first four cost under $100.
Can renters do this?
Yes. Towels, trays, plants, mirrors, stools, and plug-in lights all move with you. Keep the original showerhead.
What if my bathroom has no window?
Warm bulbs, light colors, and a big mirror do most of the work. A faux plant fills in.
Where should I start?
Clear the counter, switch the bulbs, and buy one set of towels.
Final Voicemail
Sunday, 8:52 p.m.
“Hi, it’s me again. You still haven’t called back, so I’m going to tell you anyway.
“I just finished a bath. I lit the candle and sat on the stool afterward with the music on, and I realized I’d been crying a little. Not sad crying. The other kind. I think I’d been so tired for so long that I’d forgotten what it felt like to be gentle with myself.
“The bathroom is still 5 by 7. It didn’t grow. I don’t need it to.
“Come over this weekend. Bring your own towel, but you won’t need it. I’ve got an extra, and it’s folded like a hotel.
“Okay. Love you. Bye.”
My sister called back an hour later. She said, “I listened to all fifteen. In order.”
“Did you laugh?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said. “And then I cried a little, too.”
So leave yourself a voicemail tonight. Tell it the one thing about your bathroom you’d change. Then change it, even if it’s only a bulb. A tight space can hold a lot of peace if you let it.
