A Century-Old Rental Bathroom Gets a Temporary, Style-Focused Refresh

Sarah Bryant updated a bathroom in her historic brownstone rental without making permanent changes. She addressed an awkward window near the toilet with a frosted decal and a swing-out half curtain, then used peel-and-stick flooring and other removable details to replace dated tile and hardware. The project kept the apartment's vintage charm while improving privacy and appearance.

Sarah Bryant rents a brownstone unit older than a hundred years, featuring early woodwork, a pair of fireplaces, planters by the entrance, and welcoming neighbors. Its bathroom had a sizable window beside the toilet, tan-and-black tile that looked dated, and pewter-toned hardware with a brushed finish that she thought fought the century-old cabinetry.

For daylight and privacy, she put a leaded-glass-style frosted film on the window’s upper portion and a swing-away half curtain below. Removable changes included FloorPops black-and-white faux tile flooring, stick-on chair rail molding, green paint under the rail, and brass-look fixtures plus vintage-style switch plates. Short on molding, she left one wall behind the door unfinished.