If the ’50s blue and lavender drive you mad, talk to the landlord about getting replacement fixtures. Perhaps you can collaborate on the design (using the landlord’s ideas to upgrade the property) and then split the bill. (Reglazing the tub, by the way, is one good way to economize.) Otherwise, rather than trying to fight the color, work with it, choosing a fresh color scheme that complements the blue (or lavender) by balancing it throughout the room. Blue, yellow and cream, for example, work well. When colorcoordinated with your wall coverings, shower curtains, accessories and towels, those outdated fixtures will begin to fade into the decor. Lavender can be grounded with tones of earthy gray and accented with a hot pink. But if bringing it up-to-date seems too much of a stretch, consider taking the entire bathroom retro with postwar posters and mid-century accessories like hand-embroidered fingertip towels.

Steam showers must be sealed properly to maximize their spalike benefits and to protect your bathroom decor. While some are built with windows or portholes that open to the exterior, exhaust fans will also provide adequate ventilation when installed properly. Inside the stall, tiled walls and ceilings are recommended. Always be sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines closely and remember that working with a reputable contractor or other experienced professionals will ensure that your investment in this new shower system will pay you back for years to come.

Freestanding or wall-hung towel warmers, available in both contemporary and traditional styles, can add function and a handsome sense of style to any bathroom—and in smaller rooms they’re certainly the preferred option. On the other hand, warming drawers provide the same luxurious warmth in a more visually demure way. When built into custom vanities, tucked into closets or designed to virtually disappear into the architectural shell of your room, they discreetly hide the towels, allowing you to choose other design elements, such as art, decorative accessories or even a small seating area to take center stage. While warming drawers never make an eye-popping first impression, the impression they do make—for function and understated elegance—always endures.