Give your bathroom the glow-up it deserves
We spend a large portion of our lives in the bathroom, yet other rooms in the home, such as the kitchen and lounge room, tend to take priority when it comes to styling efforts and conscious design choices. Buying environmental kitchen items such as beeswax wraps and compostable waste bags has become second nature, but this considered thinking doesn’t always extend to the bathroom.
Rachel Burke is proof that becoming more eco-conscious doesn’t have to mean compromising on style or quality. The work of this Brisbane-based artist and designer has caught the eye of celebs including Harry Styles, whose team commissioned her to create a custom recycled tinsel birthday suit.
Rachel Burke, artist & designer. Photograph: Natalie McComas.
As well as a vibrant and joyful style, Burke has a love for recycling and upcycling, and consistently proves that “green” doesn’t have to be boring. When we talk to her, she is framed by a wall of thoughtfully chosen decor in her signature pops of colour, including fuchsia frames and terrazzo-effect recycled plastic pots. The timing couldn’t be better, as she’s just finished an overhaul of her bathroom.
Judging by her work, such as her styling of immersive Airbnbs with Bluey and Hobbiton themes, and this glimpse into her space, it’s surprising any corner of her abode had been neglected. But chefs often don’t cook at home.
“When I approach my space, I always ask: how can I make this nicer for myself?” she says. “There are some really simple things you can do to spruce up your bathroom. It’s about having those nice little experiences for yourself, too.”
Here are Burke’s tips for giving your bathroom the glow-up it deserves – with consideration for the planet.
Imagine that your bathroom is a little gallery space for you.
- Rachel Burke
1. Look at what you’ve got
Before you chip away at tiles, there’s no need for a top-to-toe renovation. A beautiful space can be created with simple tweaks.
Making the most of what was already there, Burke has chosen to hold on to one of her favourite items: a vintage bathtub. “That’s what was in the house – it’s super old and it’s such a great piece.”
Repurposing special items you already have is one way to keep things looking unique.
It’s important to not discount your own taste and fall into the trap of what Burke calls “zombie styling” – looking the same as everyone else’s home on Instagram.
“It may look pleasing, theoretically, but you can really lose sight of what you actually like and what you enjoy,” she says.
Instead, choose pieces you love while considering what functions best for you and those who live in your home.
2. Keep the canvas clean
Keeping the room organised, with considered storage and presentation solutions, helps create a calm bathroom haven. To make it easy to see what you’re working with, donate duplicates or anything you don’t use any more to keep your space clutter-free.
“You don’t want to sit and have a nice bath in a space that smells funny or is covered in cobwebs or dirty clothes, so it’s about consciously making it a space that you love,” Burke says.
“I love Aykasa stackable crates,” she says, because they’re reusable, don’t date, and double as storage and a splash of colour.
When it comes to cleaning products, consider their ingredients and swap chemical products for more natural options. And whether you’re cleaning the space or your face, use washable cloths instead of disposable wipes.
3. Make good choices once
When it comes to giving your bathroom the glow-up it deserves, do it once and do it well.
Burke believes it’s worth investing at the first opportunity so you won’t have to spend again to replace poor quality. To prevent overshopping or leaving a store with the “wrong” items, she says: “Make a shopping list, do 10 minutes of research and order things online so they will arrive at your door ready to go.
“It’s about having one of each nice thing. That’s it. You don’t have to go crazy. I just added a nice mirror which I’ve had in a box for so long. Unpack the things we buy and use them.”
Bougie body wash and hand soap can make any bathroom feel luxurious. “If you’ve got counter space, I definitely recommend getting a nice ceramic dispenser for your liquid soap,” Burke says. “Robert Gordon has some really beautiful ones, and you can just top up the pump instead of always buying new plastic containers.”
4. Go green
Adding plants to your space not only looks pleasing but can improve air quality. With so many plants available, you can choose the perfect ones to make things personal.
“I really do love the plants that I have in my bathroom,” Burke says. “A lot of them were picked out by my son and he also helps water them and keep them clean, so that’s a fun activity.”
Make your plants a feature by displaying them on a plant stand or in a recycled plastic planter by Melbourne brand Precious Plastic.
5. Set and forget with easy swaps
Take the thinking out of tedious household tasks such as replenishing hand soap by investing in subscription refills made of better stuff. Plastic-free packaging is a must, and has infiltrated every category from sunscreens and deodorants to toothpaste and bamboo toothbrushes.
Good Time’s plastic-free soap bars look chic and feel good to use, and Who Gives A Crap toilet paper has the added benefits of toilet paper replenishment delivered to your door and jazzy paper packaging – a styling choice in itself. It’s also made from biodegradable bamboo or recycled paper and shipping is carbon neutral.
“Who Gives A Crap is great, particularly if you have a bland bathroom,” Burke says. “The thing to remind yourself is you can be a curator in your own home. You can treat each space as something really special. Imagine that your bathroom is a little gallery space for you.

“You do have the power to make good choices, and it’s so surprising – the rewards you get back – when you do these little touches and little investments of time.”
Who Gives A Crap donates 50% of its profits to clean water and sanitation nonprofit organisations. Shop its 100% recycled or bamboo toilet paper.