A new paint color is always an easy way to update a bathroom. Have fun by choosing a color that complements your existing decor but is a bit unexpected. Choose colors and patterns that say, “Wow.” Even a small bathroom in a cramped apartment can become a fun getaway for you and your guests when you let your imagination take over your decorating style. For instance, if you have 1950s green tiles, try pale yellow as a wall paint. Or if you have a black or white motif, highlight it by painting the walls sage green or pink. If you don’t want to go too bold, update your color with tone-on-tone neutrals such as ecru, oyster, almond, or biscuit. Then you can add colorful touches with towels, soaps, and candles.

Buy a new shower curtain. For around $20, you can find a distinctive shower curtain with decorative hooks that will make a big difference in your bathroom. Sew a few bangles or bows on it for a custom touch. Just be sure that they are washable. If the room is small, a clear shower curtain or one in the same color as your bathtub will create the illusion of a bigger bathroom.

Get rid of an outdated medicine cabinet. You can make a dramatic  difference in your bathroom by replacing an old cabinet with a simple wood-framed mirror. Once the mirror is in place, you may want to add a matching freestanding storage unit or small table.

Lively wallpaper can infuse new life into a drab decor. The right design can fix flaws in just a snap. Choose a small print or stripe to enlarge a cramped space visually. A horizontal band can draw separate areas into one uniform zone. And an embossed paper installed as abacksplash painted in a gloss enamel can be used instead of tile to help waterproof walls and is perfect around a claw-foot tub or pedestal sink.

Change your hardware. An easy way to alter the look of your room is to update details such as drawer pulls, towel bars, shower controls, robe hooks, and soap holders. You could even splurge on a new faucet.

Don’t have a good place to hang your toilet paper holder or towel bars? Many companies offer freestanding designs that work really well.