• Pastel walls and flower accents spell low-key cuteness.bathroom image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  Having a cute bathroom doesn't have to mean painting it pink and filling it with wide-eyed puppy figurines. Cute decor means stylish with a dash of sweetness. Aim for aesthetic balance in furnishings, paint and decor. If the walls are orange with big white polka dots, choose a subtle, low-key print for the curtains rather than a zany print. Soften edgy, modernistic fixtures with pastel-colored walls or lighten up a stodgy formal bathroom with bright, playful accent pieces.
  
  

Ice Cream Parlor Style

• Hang an ice cream parlor sign on the wall.ice cream sign image by Christopher Nolan from Fotolia.com
  
  Adorn the bathroom with colors, graphic elements and accessories reminiscent of an old-fashioned ice cream parlor or soda fountain, borrowing an idea from the article "8 Great Bathroom Color Combos" on the Apartment Therapy website, which shows an aqua-colored wall festooned with shelves displaying plastic ice cream cones and vintage toy boxes. Start by painting the walls a sweet pastel shade, like strawberry pink or sorbet yellow. Frame and hang antique advertisements for candy, ice cream or small-town tourism to establish a gentle retro feel. Display bathroom necessities like Q-tips, cotton balls, hair ties and spare soaps in fountain glasses lined up on a shelf. Plunk a red and chrome diner stool in the corner to hold stacked clean towels.
  
  

Bird Mural

• Model the bird silhouettes in your mural after your favorite local species.bird image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com
  
  Paint a cute and simple mural of birds sitting on branches, taking design inspiration from the article "Cheep Chic DIY Bird Pillows" on the Good Housekeeping website. Mask off the outlines of the birds and their branch perches (and leaves sticking out of those branches) with blue painter's tape. Using the same color for the bird, branch and leaves will make the mural more subtle, while choosing different colors will make it a visual centerpiece in the room.
  
  

Polka Dots

• Sprinkle the walls with dots to instantly add an element of lightheartedness to a room. Polka dots can be huge, for a cartoon speech bubble effect, or tiny, evoking a vintage blouse. Use stencils if you want perfect dot edges. Sponge painting will give the dots texture. White and black--yes, black--are suitable dot colors that complement almost any existing decor.