Thanks! And don't worry- I'm pitching my ideas to the landlord before I do anything. Should have mentioned that, oops!

Before anything as drastic as painting, see if you can get him to stump up for ROG for the tub. It's expensive for a cleaning product, but when it's that or refinish or ditch the tub, it's worth it, if you're willing to do the elbow-grease part.

It's the cleaner of last resort, but it often does do a great job on stuff you thought was beyond hopeless. It's what hotels use so they don't have to buy new tubs all the time.

Oh, forgot to say, forget the DIY kit for painting the tub. It won't last a month and you'll have a much worse mess afterwards when it starts peeling. Even professional refinishing for tubs eventually fails about 80% of the time.

I agree with the first comment

Yeah, I wouldn't touch the surfaces other than to clean them.

Cheery shower curtain, kept closed, nice piece of art over toilet, rug in front of sink, towels to match. The stronger the color, the more it will make the room feel coherent and distract from the parts you love less.

Rosie Brown "Sea Life" Green Yellow Shower Curtain · More Info

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I also wouldn't paint..not only for the obvious reasons it's a rental (of course checking first with the landlord is best but you're doing it already)..but I'm having a reasonable doubt(lol) the paint will stick or that it's stick in a way to justify the trouble..

found a helpful(I think) atricle on how to clean stubborn tubs..

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/cleaning-bathtub/

can you cange medicine cabinet? (you can Craigslist something cute. I know I did. took some time though to find it..) shower head?(i think the one that has this attachment will also make it easier too clean the tub and to perform specific tasks or to take a shower without getting your hair wet if needed..)

I'm pretty sure the landlord wouldn't object on you changing the knobs on the vanity. a small change, but can be really satisfying.

I'm also with eld in that the nicest shower curtain you can get and a cute rug will change your feelings toward the bath tremendously

if you tell us a bit more about your style and preferences-we can give suggestions on the sites, stores, etc

but looking on eBay, and your local TJ Maxx always works too

I quite like this checkerboard tile, so I'll draw some colors from it?

treat it like a (very small) room-even small art/hanging little ceramic for a succulent or something easy like that will make it much more nice to you.

styling goes a long, long, long way when we're not completely satisfied with the space.

any possibility to add storage?

What wonderful, upbeat ideas, Acm! I love them all!!!

Thanks! My style is very minimalist, modern, with lots of plants. So this isn't my style at all! lol. But those are some great ideas! I was thinking about replacing the medicine cabinet, hanging a few plants, peel and stick tile if landlord approves, wall shelves above the toilet.

ok..while I was writing my essay it looks like you already got all the suggestions..:)

agree with every poster above

you'll end up liking it. you'll see.

there's something very satisfactory too about making a room you dislike to work for you

the only place we didn't fully gut in our fixer upper was a hall bath. it was newer so seemed like a waste.

no it'll never be as cool and feel as integrated with the rest of the house, as two other baths we designed ourselves, yet i poured the same amount of thought into it if not more-how to increase storage? how to work with the tile I dislike? what colors and textures to choose? granted its bigger(but also supposed to serve up to 3-4 people when needed) and newer than yours, so was less challenging..and I had free reign since not a rental.

so it doesn't look as cool, never will. but it does feel pretty damn cozy..and I'm not fully done with it yet lol

It doesn't look too bad from here unless that these photos are not very clear! no painting no repairs allowed either ,if there is something that need to be looked after ask the Super but don't do anything on your own or you will hear about it . The only thing that I can suggest is to keep it very clean ,add a nice shower curtain, art, some nice towels and a large mirror that will create an illusion of space .

https://society6.com/product/ferns-5bf_shower-curtain?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=1027&c_kid=2971593p3435287&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItqXhsLjN1QIV04uzCh2C9w8IEAkYBiABEgKxO_D_BwE#35=287&adpos=1o6&creative=102421903486&device=c&matchtype=&network=g

not minimalist at all. lol. but cute!

more minimalist..one needs to make sure about the exact colors though.

(that is if you go to town with plants etc..)

https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shop/sc-imari-yarn-dye?category=shower-curtains&color=004

obviously the plainer you go the more chance you'll just see it everywhere around you, stores etc. including medicine cabinets etc. they just cost disproportionally high when new if you ask me..medicine cabinets.

(the second one I'd get myself.

it's a pity I've nowhere to hang it

can I buy it for somebody pretty please? lol

you need to understand..I'm a crazy shower curtains person..my poor friends and family each one suffered in a row, because of me trying to please them and giving them shower curtains..but one of my friends actually adored hers(I sent her two..just in case since I never saw her remodel at that time yet, was just hearing about it..and it was a perfect match, both of them! so at least once-my gift was a big success. I won't count them all as not to get the exact percentage of my success vs my failures..))

Bar Keeper's Friend does wonders cleaning old rusty stained counters and tub/sinks. I use a powder, but someone on here found it in a liquid. The powder you sprinkle on a good amount and wet a cloth or paper towel and gently scrub in a circular motion. Add more as needed. Rinse well.

https://www.barkeepersfriend.com/

I concur on barkeepers friend. I also like the checkerboard tile.

Seriously, I had a similar bathroom in the first little condo that I rented in grad school, and I also used colors. At the time burgundy/maroons were in since this was the 90's, LOL. But I love the green/brown ideas.

Maybe change out the knobs on the cabinet as someone else suggested.

That looks like an fiberglass shower/tub .... make sure you don't use cleaner for porcelain. I used to use this when I had one in my home:

Fiberglass shower cleaner

Good catch about the tub. It does look like one of those one piece fiberglass. Don't use Bar Keeper's on the tub, but it will work wonders on everything else including the floor. It will be fine on the sink. That is cultured marble like I have. Get the fiberglass cleaner pokyhoky suggested for the tub.

You will be amazed how much better everything looks once clean.

Would you be willing to show us other rooms in the apartment?

Yeah, better advise as to your style will lead to a better fit of suggestions. Note: even if you do shelves over the toilet, don't just fill them with bunches of little things -- pick some accent color and put one or two things there in that, plus neutrals like metal or white...

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Use a double rod and do an opaque liner with some decorative panels on either side.

like this, NOT these panels, just set up like this.

Put rod up as high as you can, find long drapes for the decorative panels.

Yes, all good ideas, but this is $199 at Home Depot and includes vanity, top and mirror. If owner hesitates, offer to pay $100. Totally worth it if you've got a 1 year lease.

Do as little as possible. Most likely, you won't stay in this place very long. I'm a fan of white pique shower curtains - they always look fresh and nice with lots of fluffy white towels. They hand some art over the toilet. Don't mess with that fiberglass tub enclosure - it will only get FAR worse.

I love all of ACM's choices!

I didn't see anyone mention it, but I don't like the glass/soap/toothbrush holders that are on the wall by the sink....can they be taken off and the holes patched or maybe find some sort of art/tile/sculpture to cover them with? Or better yet, put a small shelf there to cover the holes....if you put shelves over the stool, maybe this shelf could match that one.

well as it's a rental it should be all cleared with the landlord

and first on that list would be trying to switch that vanity

you need to reinstall faucet and reconnect the plumbing. maybe the OP can do it, but as a landlord-I'd want a licensed plumber there. just in case. so add the cost of him coming and doing it, to whatever new vanity you think about..

also as much as I like mirrors..and mirrors with shelves..there's a very limited storage there..unless there are additional corners we don't see. Not everything I'd put over the toilet too. A medicine cabinet might be more appropriate, functionally speaking.

But. If you want a cool modern very streamlined, very well made mirror with shelf..I know one. I had it! Had to return it unfortunately-the lighting plan changed..But that was a great mirror. Wasn't really cheap less put it this way. But at least the price reflected the quality..

And maybe something like this you can take with you after..would work in a hallway too for example. A versatile thing.

So if you're interested let me know..I'll find the link for you.

For a rental, and I lived in rentals for many, many years, I would not bother with many of the things suggested here. If you bought it, heck yeah, there's a ton of stuff you could do.

But for a rental, I'd try the various appropriate cleaners to do the best I could for the tub, follow some of the clever suggestions for textiles and art, and let it go. I lived with an avocado green bathtub for two years and it didn't kill me, just made me happier in my next place.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!! I really appreciate it!

I think I'm going to do the following:

• repaint the inside of the medicine cabinet (got approval)
• remove the toothbrush/soap holders and add in a picture ledge shelf to hold small items
• put two shelves above the toilet
• add in some fairy lights
• put down a white rug
• put shelf liner inside the sink cabinet
• replace the curtain rod with a curved one to add more space in the tub
• use fiberglass tub cleaner to spruce up the tub

I've found great prices/DIY instructions for this project so luckily it won't cost much and will make me much happier! Oh and I'm definitely buying that Plant Fantasy shower curtain soon!!

Be VERY certain that it's a fiberglass tub/surround and not an acrylic one. They require different cleaners! (Don't ask how I made that mistake, LOL)