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DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After

by | Sep 1, 2020 | Decorating Inspiration, Bathrooms, Before and After Home, My Downstairs Bathroom, My Seattle House

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DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After

A few weeks ago we had a rather boring bathroom in our basement. I had wanted to redo it ever since we moved in, but it wasn’t high on our priority list. When our daughter Courtney decided to move into our lower level this year, we started thinking about what we could do to make it “better than it was.” That perspective was SO FREEING! Instead of settling for a room that didn’t inspire us simply because we couldn’t make it perfect, it gave us permission to get creative.

When my blogging friends and I decided to challenge each other to a Makeover in a Month project, it gave us the motivation to make it happen! While we technically had a few weeks to finish this space, in reality we were so busy that we actually only had a few hours to work on it, stretched out over the month :).

We decided to leave the vanity, countertops, sink and tile as they were and focus on just a few simple changes. (You can see our bathroom mood board here). But I have to say, we are SO happy with how it turned out! It’s fun, quirky and far more in keeping with the coastal cottage vibe we want for our home.

All it took to give it more character was a little paint, charming new faucets, mirrors, and the most adorable wall lights! And look at it now! I hardly recognize it. Yay for simple changes!

Remember what it looked like before?

DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After
DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After

We didn’t want to do anything permanent to the walls so paint and a stencil were the way to give it a fun personality.

Our inspiration for using this stencil came from this Serena and Lily wallpaper I love!

Read more about the stencil and how we did it here.

DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After

Since we weren’t changing out the vanity or counters in this makeover, we knew we had to find just the right faucets to bring style to the space. The stone counter has flecks of black and a bluish gray, so the matte black faucets and the bluish paint on the vanity pulled it all together (and even made the marble floor look better!). The faucets are SO ADORABLE! They feel amazing to use, too.

DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After

We installed a Kingston Brass faucet in my kitchen remodel a few years ago and I still love it, so when I saw these I knew they’d be perfect for giving this vanity a brand new look.

DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After
Vanity Paint // Bath Mat Source

A snazzy new vanity would have been wonderful, but we decided to picture the one we had as if it had been an old cabinet turned into a vanity, and that made me think a little more creatively about how to accomplish that look.

We painted the vanity with this milk paint in the color Bergere! Read more about the paint in this post.

DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After
DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After

The white wall lights we installed above the vanity are my favorite! We went with the Austin Double Straight Arm Vanity Lights from Barn Light Electric in powder coated white. They have lots of gorgeous color options! I LOVE Barn Light and have had many of their fixtures in my homes over the years (see several of my other light fixtures from Barn Light here). I am SO happy with how these transformed the space. They set just the right mood.

DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After

We switched out a few other things in this room like the towel rods from Kingston Brass (to match the faucets), a new Kingston Brass toilet lever, and added the shower curtain and towels. The little white cabinet with the glass front is one I put in a bathroom makeover in my home 20 years ago! It was from Pottery Barn–here is a similar one.

DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After
DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After

While there are still things we could do, we are very proud of what we accomplished in a month! It makes us happy when we walk in here! Now, to tackle that mint green and pink bathroom. :)

Do you have any spaces in your home that could be better than they are now? Maybe challenge yourself to a makeover in a month and see what happens! You can see the other bloggers who are doing their own makeover in a month projects, below. Everyone’s doing a totally different space, so it’s fun to see all the things one can accomplish in a short period of time.

Check out the other Makeover in a Month Bloggers:

Miss Mustard Seed
My 100 Year Old Home
Thistlewood

DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After
DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After

Thank you to Kingston Brass and Barnlight for the partnership in products for this makeover.

Have more questions about the painted vanity and stencil? Click HERE for another post!

Click HERE for more of our home before and afters! (Transforming our 1950’s brick ranch into a charming coastal cottage)

Related Posts:
My favorite bathroom vanities
My mint and pink bathroom
Create a Spa Bathroom Atmosphere and Detox Bath Recipe
How to Add Character with Light Fixtures
Small Kitchen Remodel Reveal
Kitchen Remodel: Four Key Design Tips

DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After
DIY Bathroom Makeover in a Month: Before & After

SOURCES:

  1. Comb Art Print
  2. Wall Lights
  3. Paint Stencil
  4. Round Brass Mirror
  5. Planter
  6. Milk Paint for Vanity
  7. Bath Faucet
  8. Towel Rod and Hook Set
  9. Black Toilet Lever
  10. Bath Towel
  11. Similar Laundry Hamper
  12. Bathroom Hardware
  13. Large Bath Mat
  14. Striped Tassel Shower Curtain
  15. Black Shower Curtain Rings
  16. Similar White Bathroom Storage Cabinet
  17. Black Vanity Knobs
  18. Waffle Weave Towel
  19. Gray and White Striped Bath Towel

Check out the other Makeover in a Month Bloggers:

Miss Mustard Seed
My 100 Year Old Home
Thistlewood

19 Comments

  1. Linda Salvatore

    What a beautiful job you did in this bathroom! What a difference! Love it!!!
    Thank you for inspiring me to do something great with my boring little bathroom!

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Thank you, Linda! It’s fun to see what you can do with a little time and elbow grease!

  2. Brenda Taft

    I love the wall stencil behind the vanity, it really finishes it all off and highlights the mirrors and the light fittings.

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Thanks, Brenda! I hadn’t used a stencil in years but I’m glad we took a risk and tried it! I think it does seem to bring it all together in a fun way. Thanks for stopping by!

  3. Deanna Rabe

    It looks really great! I love this makeover because it was all cosmetic changes but they really made it a new room!

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      It’s crazy what a few cosmetic changes can do! I’m getting so used to seeing everyone’s fully gutted remodels online that I was pleasantly surprised what could be done so simply. Thank you Deanna!

    • Joan

      Do you have a link detailing how you painted the vanity cabinet? Thanks.

  4. Lisa M.

    What a great little makeover! It’s amazing what just how the little changes make a huge impact!
    And yes, I cannot wait for the green and pink bathroom makeover ;)

  5. Jennie

    It looks wonderful. I’m looking for the cabinet that is next to the toilet. The link posted is different – for a laundry hamper.

  6. Arli

    It looks fantastic, like a brand new space! Great job.

  7. Jeanne

    I love your new bathroom! I am working on a total gut of my one and only full bathroom. It is daunting for me. I wish I could see a renovation of your mint bathroom for some guidance!

    I saw your comments about bathtubs. Are you a fan of acrylic? I’m thinking of cast iron, which is what we have for durability.

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      I would much prefer cast iron for the tub! Remodeling is daunting, but how fun to get to remodel it! Since it’s your only full it will be so nice when you get to enjoy it!

  8. Marion

    Can you share how the vanity was painted?

  9. Eileen Herlihy

    What color and brand of paint did you use on the stencil? Was it the sames as the milk paint on the vanity?

  10. Diane Smith

    Your “new” bathroom looks FABULOUS! As other readers have said, I would love to see a post on how you did the vanity, start to finish. And, I’m so excited to seethat, I’m subscribing!

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Yay, I’m so glad Diane! And we will for sure do that post, we are pretty pleased with how it turned out. I’m so glad others are enjoying it, too!

 

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