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or somewhere else out of view. Add a matching bath mat to complete the set.

A big problem area for bathrooms can be the bottles, tubs, tubes and brushes that need storing by the bath, shower and basin. Groups of half used shampoo bottles, scrunched up tubes of toothpaste, old bars of soap and so on can create unsightly clutter. There are two possible solutions to this, either hide the clutter, or make it look attractive.

Hiding the clutter can be achieved by adding storage to the bathroom. A mirrored cabinet over the sink, a cupboard or drawer unit by the bath, shelves with decorative boxes or whatever else works for your bathroom. You can get any of these things on a small budget if you shop around. Find something that compliments the rest of your bathroom, or something that you can paint to match.

If you don't have the space to add storage, you can disguise your clutter and make it match the room. Try buying soap and shampoo that compliments the colour of your bathroom. If this isn't possible, you could buy containers that do match. Soap dish holders, a basket to sit on the side of the bath to hold the shampoo bottles, a shower caddy that will hold your bath products and can be hidden from view by your shower curtain. Again, these things are usually fairly cheap.

If your bathroom has a window, a window covering can help to tie the look together or hide a less than perfect view. As most bathroom windows are small, it should be easy to pick up a cheap piece of fabric to make your own blind or curtain. You could even use a second shower curtain to dress your window, and use the left over plastic to make storage bags to hang in the shower. You just need a little creativity. You could also use the window sill to hide your clutter in a basket or display your matching shampoo bottles.

If you have a nice room, matching accessories and well disguised clutter but your bathroom still needs a lift, there are plenty of cheap ideas that can help. Tile transfers are inexpensive and can brighten up expanses of boring tiles. They are easy to apply and also fairly easy to remove if you decide to update your bathroom again in the future.

You could add candles to your bathroom to create a luxurious feel. Even a row of tea lights on a tiled surface can cheer up a neglected corner of the bathroom, and you can enjoy a relaxing candle lit bubble bath after you've finished the hard work of sprucing up your bathroom.

Nice scents can help to cheer up a room, and the bathroom is no exception. Make those candles scented, choose complimentary soaps, and consider adding a bowl of pot pourri or a decorative air freshener. This can be great even if you're unable to change the look of the room, and all those things are very low cost.

If you keep your laundry in the bathroom, perhaps a new laundry basket could help bring a new feel to the room. A plant could bring new life into the room (be careful to choose one that will thrive in the humid atmosphere). A new mirror or a piece of wall art could also help. Use your imagination and pick something that will go well within your bathroom.

Of course, updating everything I've mentioned would cost a small fortune, but if you start with your bathroom's weakest features you can make a big difference to the room with one or two low cost changes or additions. You can always update the rest later.

Learn more about this author, Kate Hudson.
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