Your Toilet's Tell-Tale Sign That You Need A Design Makeover

Next time you head to the bathroom, take a look around. We're not saying you have to peek at anything unsavory — but focus on the fixtures like the hooks, water tap, shower heads, or toilet handle.

If they're brass, copper, or another warm-toned metal, it might be time for a bathroom renovation (or at least a little update to the room's fixtures). In recent years, trendy decorators made it popular to replace classic older fixtures with copper, rose gold, or brass ones. While often aesthetically pleasing, the idea took hold so quickly that now the look is beginning to feel a little dated.

Plus, in many cases, wear and tear can begin to show quite quickly on these warm tones, especially when faux materials or fixture fittings were used instead of the notably durable solid brass. All in all, the brass and copper fixtures are one of the tell-tale signs that a toilet makeover is in your future.

Manufacturers use different names for their styles of brass fixtures. In general, though, the style that catapulted to popularity in the past decade is usually referred to as unlacquered brass. The texture and finish can vary, but it's typically warm and industrial, and can help to bring in a touch of old world charm. It was a trendy, eye-catching alternative to more classic fixtures like stainless steel, and since it does look great, it's probably not going anywhere. But if you want a toilet handle or bathroom fixture with a more modern look, silver and stainless steel are great options.

If you don't want to replace all the fixtures but want to avoid falling into the dated look, consider sprucing up other elements of the room to take the focus off of the fixtures. Your bathroom is the ideal place for color in your home, and bold wallpaper, artsy posters, or a unique frame around a mirror can reduce how noticeable the brass is while making more one-of-a-kind design elements the star of the show.

And don't forget to wipe down your bathroom fixtures after you use them. This simple step can help minimize the rust or wear and tear that the fixtures show, helping to ensure that your bathroom still looks like it was recently renovated even after years of use.