This post covers three small bathroom updates: frosting the window for privacy, tidying the top of the toilet tank, and installing suction-cup shower storage. Each change is inexpensive, practical, and makes the room feel less cluttered.
The window above the toilet has long been an awkward feature — it sits directly across from the neighbor’s house and offers a near line-of-sight when you step out of the shower. It’s not as though we’re shoulder-to-shoulder with them, but the view was enough to make us uncomfortable. To keep the light but block visibility, we frosted the glass using a store-bought frosting film. We’ve used this film before with good results, and for this project it cost us nothing because we already had leftover material. Normally the film runs around twenty dollars for a large roll that covers multiple windows or even glass doors.
One note about the window: it has muntins (those white crossbars) that are encased between the panes of glass, so they don’t protrude. That meant we didn’t need to cut a dozen small rectangles of film—just two larger pieces to cover each pane. The film adheres smoothly, lets plenty of natural light through, and provides the privacy we wanted without sacrificing brightness.
We’ve applied this frosting film on other projects before, including the side door of our current house and the basement windows at our previous home. Rather than repeat a full step-by-step tutorial here, we documented this installation with photos and captions so you can see the results and pick up tips from our experience.
After frosting the window the difference was subtle in photos but obvious in real life: the glare and brightness still flood the bathroom while the view in and out is effectively blocked. It’s a simple fix that feels like a significant upgrade for a small investment (or free if you already have the film).
Next up: the top of the toilet tank. We added a few small decorative and practical items. One is a potted succulent that we made earlier, which adds a touch of greenery and softens the space. The other is a small dish that holds earrings and other tiny items Sherry tends to remove right before showering. Before, these pieces were left on the tank or the windowsill where they could be easily misplaced. Giving them a designated spot keeps things tidy and reduces the chance of losing jewelry during a quick morning routine.
Finally, we replaced the over-the-showerhead caddy with suction-cup storage mounted on the shower wall and hidden behind the curtain. The old caddy was bulky and visible from other parts of the room, so we wanted a solution that would store shampoo, soap, and razors but remain mostly out of sight when the curtain is partly closed. We picked suction-cup hooks and baskets with a locking mechanism that mounts securely to the tile. Installation requires pressing the cup and turning a locking element to create a strong hold.
We purchased two hooks and two locking baskets, and after applying coupons the total came to about twenty-two dollars. So far they’ve held up through multiple steamy showers and an overnight test without detaching. For safety, we installed them away from the faucet to avoid the risk of a basket dislodging, falling into the tub, and obstructing the drain.
These three changes — frosted glass, a styled and functional toilet-tank top, and concealed suction-cup storage — have made the bathroom feel cleaner, less cramped, and more intentional. Small adjustments like these can have a big impact on the overall impression of a compact room.
Updated to-do list:
paint the walls so they have some contrastreplace the boob lightpaint the cream trim whitehang some bathroom-friendly artcraigslist the toilet and replace it with a classic white onedo something to add privacy to the windownix the ugly and cluttered showerhead caddy- remove the door so we can shave the bottom to allow for a rug/bathmat (and add a door stopper so it doesn’t squash the art)
- replace the border tile around the room (maybe in phase 2?)
- move the blue pendant light to hang centered in front of the window
- replace the floor tile down the road (just to break things up since there’s so much of it)
Do you have a favorite method for adding bathroom window privacy, a go-to item for the top of the toilet tank, or a reliable shower storage solution? We’re always open to suggestions and small upgrades that make daily life easier and the room look better.