Some call it the second most important room in the house after the kitchen, but for many of us, it’s number one. The bathroom gets a lot of use, and having an attractive and well-designed one can make your daily routine that much more pleasant.

But many of us live in houses where the bathrooms are sorely outdated. Remodeling costs are high, and a lot of us don’t have the time or skills to do it ourselves. But you don’t have to tear it up to improve it. Here are some easy and inexpensive ideas for updating your bathroom from bgh.com, iVillage.com and Environmental Graphics.

• Add some new towels. You don’t have to buy a whole new set. Just buy a set of hand towels or washcloths in a new color that will complement your existing color scheme. You could get a mix of colors or just one shade. Try rolling them up and keeping them in a basket for an attractive decorative accent.
• Add tile appliqués. "Too often people think they are stuck with the tired old tiles in their bathrooms," says Todd Imholte, president of Environmental Graphics, a company that specializes in decorative products for the home. An easy fix is provided by Stick’n Stile decorative appliqués, which can be applied to bathroom surfaces such as tile, fiberglass or mirrors. They come in a fun array of shapes and sizes from whimsical butterflies to contemporary geometric squares to tropical leaves. You can create your own design to fit any color scheme, and the adhesive-backed appliqués are easy to apply and remove.
• Frame your mirror. Make a plain mirror more decorative by creating a custom frame. Cut your choice of molding to fit around the mirror and paint it, using neutral colors or a brushed gold or silver. The frame can be attached to the mirror with liquid glue.
• A new paint color is always an easy way to update a room. Have fun by choosing a color that complements your existing tiles, but is a bit unexpected. For instance, if you have 1950s green tiles, try pale yellow. Or if you have black or white tiles, highlight them by painting the walls sage green. If you don’t want to go beyond white, update your color with tone-on-tone neutrals like ecru, oyster, almond or biscuit. Then you can add colorful touches with towels, soaps and candles.
• Get a new shower curtain. For under $20 you can find a distinctive shower curtain with interesting shower hooks that will make a big difference in your bathroom. If the room is small, a clear shower curtain or one in the same color as your bathtub will create the illusion of a bigger bathroom.
• Get rid of an outdated medicine cabinet. You can make a dramatic difference in your bathroom by replacing an old cabinet with a simple, wood-framed mirror. Once the mirror is in place, you may want to add a matching, free-standing storage unit or small table.
• Change your hardware. An easy way to alter the look of your room is to update details like drawer pulls, towel bars, shower controls, robe hooks and soap holders. You could even splurge on a new faucet. If you just want to change a few things, mixing metals is perfectly acceptable.

For more information on decorative products for the home, including Stick'n Stile appliqués, visit www.sticknstile.com. They are also currently available at most Bed Bath and Beyond stores.