How to Make Your Bathroom Boujee: Simple Upgrades for a Luxe Feel

Let’s be real-most bathrooms are functional, not fabulous. You brush your teeth, wash your face, and get out. But what if your bathroom felt like a five-star spa every single morning? No, you don’t need a $50,000 renovation. You just need to swap out a few things and think differently about what ‘luxury’ really means. Boujee doesn’t mean gold-plated faucets or marble everywhere. It means texture, tone, and tiny details that make you pause and think, ‘Wow, this feels good.’

Start with the towels

Towels are the most overlooked luxury item in the bathroom. Cheap cotton towels feel scratchy, thin, and get stiff after a few washes. Boujee bathrooms use 100% Egyptian or Turkish cotton with a weight of at least 600 GSM. That’s the sweet spot-thick enough to feel plush, absorbent enough to dry you in one swipe, and soft enough to wrap around you like a hug. Buy them in neutral tones: ivory, charcoal, or warm beige. Fold them neatly on a wooden ladder or a marble shelf. Don’t just hang them. Arrange them. It’s not about being neat-it’s about creating a moment.

Switch to a smart mirror

Forget the old, foggy, cracked mirror above your sink. A boujee bathroom has a mirror with built-in LED lighting and anti-fog tech. Brands like Kohler and Moen make ones that dim automatically at night and brighten in the morning. Some even connect to your phone and play calming music while you brush your teeth. You don’t need the most expensive one. Look for a mirror with a warm white LED ring (around 2700K color temperature) and a defogger that kicks in when the shower runs. It’s not just practical-it makes your morning feel like a ritual, not a rush.

Upgrade your soap dispenser

Plastic pump bottles? No. Boujee bathrooms use heavy glass or brushed brass dispensers. Look for ones with a slow, smooth pump action-not the kind that spits out half a bottle at once. Pair it with a high-quality liquid soap from a brand like Aesop, Byredo, or even local New Zealand makers like Wild & Free or Te Kōrero. The scent should be subtle: vetiver, bergamot, or sandalwood. Not overpowering. Just enough to linger when you walk out. And don’t forget the hand towel. Use a small, folded linen one instead of paper. It’s a small thing, but it signals care.

Install a heated floor (or fake it)

Walking barefoot on cold tile in the morning is the opposite of boujee. Real heated floors are great-but if you’re renting or on a budget, you don’t need to rip out the tiles. Get a thick, natural rubber-backed rug with a plush, memory foam top. Choose one in a muted tone-charcoal, oat, or deep olive. Place it right in front of the sink and tub. Add a small, round wooden stool nearby for your bath salts or candles. The rug doesn’t just warm your feet-it grounds the whole space. It says, ‘This is a place to linger.’

Lighting is everything

Fluorescent bulbs kill any chance of luxury. You need layered lighting. One overhead light (dimmed), one sconce on each side of the mirror, and one small LED strip under the vanity. Use warm white bulbs-2700K to 3000K. No cool white. Ever. If you can’t rewire, buy plug-in wall sconces with fabric shades. Place a small, battery-operated candle on the counter. Real flame, not LED. The flicker changes the whole mood. Lighting isn’t just about seeing your face. It’s about how you feel when you’re in the room.

Texture, texture, texture

A boujee bathroom isn’t shiny. It’s layered. Think: woven basket for towels, matte ceramic soap dish, a small brass tray for your jewelry, a linen shower curtain with wooden rings. Avoid plastic. Avoid glossy finishes. Let materials breathe. Stone, wood, linen, brass, ceramic. These aren’t expensive materials-they’re honest ones. A $20 wooden soap dish from a local artisan feels more luxurious than a $100 plastic one from a big-box store. Texture tells your brain this space is thoughtfully made.

Smell like a boutique hotel

Every luxury hotel has a signature scent. Yours should too. Use a reed diffuser near the window or a small electric oil diffuser with essential oils. Lavender for calm, citrus for energy, cedar for grounding. Don’t use air fresheners. They smell chemical. Skip the plug-ins. Stick to natural oils. And if you’re into bath rituals, keep a small bowl of Epsom salts with dried rose petals on the counter. You don’t need to soak every night. Just knowing it’s there makes the space feel special.

Declutter like a pro

Boujee doesn’t mean cluttered with trinkets. It means everything has a home. Hide the toothpaste, the hairdryer, the extra shampoo bottles. Use a closed cabinet, a woven basket, or a floating shelf with a linen cover. Keep only what you use daily out: your favorite soap, a brush, maybe a tiny plant. A single succulent in a handmade ceramic pot does more than five plastic bottles ever could. Less is more. And silence is luxurious.

Final touch: the door handle

Most people forget this. But the first thing your hand touches when you walk in is the door handle. A brushed brass or matte black one makes a quiet statement. It’s not loud. But it’s deliberate. It says, ‘This isn’t just a bathroom. This is a space I chose.’

You don’t need to spend thousands. You need to choose with intention. Swap out the plastic. Bring in the natural. Light it right. Let it smell good. And stop treating your bathroom like a utility closet. It’s the first and last place you touch your body every day. Make it feel like a sanctuary.