This week I finally shot my home tour with Chicago photographer Aimee Mazzenga! Hoorah!! Of course that means I spent all of last weekend cleaning, organizing and zhushing. Because no matter how “done” your place is, there are always a few last minute styling requirements to get it photo ready – dusting and ironing, picking up live plants and flowers, and getting fresh versions of anything that gets used regularly or might be stained (think soap, hand towels).

I also realized while styling each of the rooms, that there are just a few key ingredients to really gives rooms like kitchens and bathrooms that finished look, so I want to share them both with you!

Keep in mind that can very quickly be underdone or overdone. When scrolling through my favorite magazines and interior designer’s Instagram accounts, I noticed there is hardly anything on any of the counter, shelves, or surface areas. Things are pared down as much as possible.

Here are the 5 things you need to style your bathroom like a magazine:

1. fresh, lovely linens
2. pretty (often overpriced) soap (Aesop is a common choice among stylists)
3. chic storage to hide or organize bathroom necessities
4. some type of plant or flower to add life and color
5. a really great small area rug (doesn’t have to be a bath mat)

I’m sharing a few of my favorite options below.

1. Lovely Linens
white chevron spa towels
colorblock towel collection
border towels

2. Really Pretty Soap
Savon de Marseilles Coton
Milk & Honey hand soap
Soap Co. soap and lotion

3. Storage

ceramic canisters
gold and glass vanity organizer
black and glass vanity stand

4. Plant Life
potted aloe
faux peonies
mini faux potted orchid

5. Small Rug
oushak rug
grey bath mat
black and white striped rug

photo by Marcus Design