Small Bathroom Before and After Makeover
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Small bathroom makeover ideas with bathroom remodel pictures to inspire you with budget-friendly and doable bathroom updating.
I have a few before and after bathroom makeovers under my belt from one where I Make $8 Decorative Feet to update a Boring Vanity Cabinet to only spending $265 Budget on a full Bathroom Makeover in my previous house.
The most recent Bathroom Makeover is where I transformed a piece of hand-me-down furniture into a sink vanity to save on costs.
Today I have a small, but pretty bathroom makeover to share with you.
Small Bathroom Decorating Ideas
Small Bathroom Decorating IdeasHere was my inspiration board to makeover the small bathroom that I use for guests.
Bathroom Makeover BEFORE
This second floor bathroom was a little bit 1980’s…
…with a few 1970’s touches underneath?
We were hoping after ripping the vanity out that the tile floor would be under it, but as you can see it was not, so we needed to put in new flooring.
Small Bathroom Makeover AFTER
Now the bathroom is cheery blue and white with a few pink touches. :-) The biggest change came by adding this vanity. It is from Lowes and called Andover. It fit perfectly along the wall in the small bath.
How I Made Over A Small Bathroom
What I loved most about the vanity? It required no DIY skills to make it. I enjoy DIY’ing, but when something is so perfect and doesn’t require it, what a treat!
It was delivered in a big crate. Luckily when it arrived, my youngest was visiting along with her boyfriend. His muscle and Ed’s made it possible to get it up the steps to the second floor of the house. It came intact with the marble top and sink, so it was heavy.
The vanity also came with a matching wood framed mirror, but it did not fit above the vanity since the ceiling is slanted. I gave it to my oldest daughter to use in her new house. I replaced it with this mirror framed mirror.
All we had to do for the vanity was slide it into the space with disc sliders and add a faucet.
Adding Glass Knobs to the Sink Vanity
I did do one small style change on the vanity. It came with pewter style knobs that were not my style. I changed them out with glass knobs.
The Flooring
The next big change was the floor. We had planned to keep the original tile, but when we removed the old vanity we found no tile under it so we had to add a new floor.
I used the same NuCore Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring that I used in my Studioffice, Hallway of Darkness, and Powder Room.
I receive many questions about this flooring. I LOVE it. It is easy to care for and doesn’t wear. It has a texture to it that adds a rustic quality.
It is very easy to install. It can go over sub-flooring or even existing flooring, so we didn’t have to demo the tile. We did have to buy a new white marble door threshold and then added new baseboards all around the room.
The Walls Are Stenciled
On the walls, I added horizontal planks on the bottom half.
- You learn how I did it in this post: DIY Wall Plank Shiplap.
I used Fusion Mineral Paint in the color, Liberty Blue to stencil the pattern called Floral Fireworks from Royal Design Studio Stencils on the top half of the walls.
It was the affordable answer to the expensive wallpaper I liked and showed you on my inspiration board.
It is just the look I was after.
The overall design camouflages the rough walls very well.
- Learn how I stenciled the walls to look like wallpaper in this post: Create Faux Wallpaper With a Stencil
I wanted to make the small room to be light and bright to give guests a pampered hotel spa experience. I chose a white hotel shower curtain. I had the rings from my previous house. They look silver in the photo, but they are clear glass balls.
After the big changes were made, I had fun adding a few decorative accessories to the room…
…from Birch Lane.
As well as items I already had.
The room is complete except for the entry door hardware. I was hoping to get the shiny chrome door hardware I ordered in time for this post, but will add it to the door and door jam when it arrives.
This room is the first room you see when you head up the staircase to the second floor. Seeing it is a welcoming sight now.
To see the guest bedroom that goes with this bathroom: Color Lovers Guest Bedroom Makeover
RESOURCES
Below are the links to the items I used in my bedroom makeover:
- Sink Vanity – mine came complete with marble top and sink.
- Flooring – LVPlank
- All Over Wall Stencil and Paint
- Roman Shade
- Mirror
- Light Fixture
- Faucet
- Shower Curtain
- Bath Mat/ Glass Knobs/Waste Can – HomeGoods
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Hi, Diane. I ordered the exact stencil today. I already have headboard so I will keep that on the bottom half. I can’t wait to be a copycat and hope it looks as good as yours. Xoxo Paige
Hi Paige – The nice thing about using All-0ver stencil designs is that any mistake is not noticeable. :-). The hardest part is getting the design into the corners. You really have to push and then tape the stencil in first and then pouch the stencil brush into it. After I was done, I looked over all the walls for mistakes and used a small artist’s brush to fix them using either white (background color) or the blue color. Your room will turn out great. XO
The stencil comes in small and large. Which would be the right one for this look? Thank you 😊
GM, where did the vanity come from?
Thanks.
Hi Ann – I got the vanity from Birch Lane quite a few years ago. They no longer sell the exact vanity, but have many similar. I did change the knobs on mine. It came with silver ones, I replaced them with glass knobs. You can see the vanities here: https://bit.ly/3tw4rWZ
What a gorgeous bathroom!! I am so drawn to blue and white and I love the pink as an accent color. When my mama lived with us, she wanted her bedroom and adjoining bath (which also serves as a powder room) painted a brighter blue than I would’ve picked for myself. But we had it painted the color my sweet mama wanted and she loved it! She passed away two years ago at almost 100 and I just can’t bring myself to repaint. This stencil is a great option!! Thank you for the wonderful idea. One question: did you diy the shiplap yourself? We have not tried that, but I love it. The powder room part of the bathroom is small and I would love that look. If you diy-ed it, I’m guessing there is a blog on how you did it….?
Thank you for inspiring me on how to keep my mama’s blue and also have something I love too! You are the best!
Hi Delani – Your mom sounds like she lived in her own style. Love that! Yes we did the shiplap ourselves the budget way. We used subflooring sheets from Home Depot or Lowes. At around $16 a sheet you get a lot of wood. Here is a link to a post where I explain how we did it. I added it to the bathroom, an accent wall in my kitchen and a powder room. We had the boards cut right at the home improvement store- the hard part is getting them home. Here is the post: https://bit.ly/3pF2ZjY
I absolutely love the Stencil. I thought it was Wallpaper. Love it!
I would never have dreamed this was a stencil! You did such a great job and it looks beautiful. I really admire the creative ways you redo your home while keeping the costs low.
Hi Nancy – Thanks – The stencil was the best way for me to be able to disguise the uneven and bumpy wall. :-) It came out better than I imagined.
This is absolutely gorgeous—everything about it! The stenciled walls are exactly right and the patterned towels are perfect against the wall. Now I wish I had a room to redo!
Thank you Theresa – It has a very deep bathtub in it also. In my master bath we have a very nice walk in shower, but no tub, so when I need to destress this becomes my spa when there are no guests in the house.
Do you think that Lowe’s could paint match the Liberty Blue Fusion Mineral Paint? The pint is sold out online right now in that color and there aren’t retailers close to me!
Hi Melanie – Yes – Paint matching is pretty easy nowadays. If Lowes doesn’t have the formula number, they may be able to read a paint chip of the color. If you can get this or a good photo of the color, they may be able to create the color.
Nice bathroom renovations ideas totally stunning and very modernistic. Thank you for sharing.
Your bathroom is gorgeous. We are about to install LVP floors in our basement, and I love your color. It is perfect! It looks lighter than the “Gunstock” color you used in your other rooms. Can you please confirm if you used “NuCore Gunstock” in your bathroom? Thanks!
Hi Amanda – The NuCore LVP is the same color, Gunstock Oak in all my rooms. If it looks lighter in one room it is only because of the lighting in the room.
The “wallpaper” is fabulous, Diane! That’s a stencil I would love to do. Similar wallpaper is soooo expensive and if you change your mind in a year or three… you and your budget won’t feel badly about making a switch. Everything in this bathroom makeover is perfection! Please send it all my way! ;)
Hi Diane – Thanks. I really enjoyed making over the bathroom. The stencil I used was large enough with an overall random pattern that I didn’t have to line up the stencil perfectly every time – which made it easier than using one that had to be lined up with precision. I wish I could send the room right to you. If you are ever in SC, you can come see it in person.:-)
I am looking to do a similar bathroom makeover and the flooring store said I am not able to place a bathroom vanity on top of this flooring as it could mess with it expanding etc. I structions even say not to place on top of flooring but place the flooring around the vanity. ??? Did you have any issues with this ?
Hi Amy –
We put the flooring right over the tile. It has been about 2 years now since we installed it. It has not changed at all and the vanity we placed on top is very heavy!!! When you install the flooring you need to make sure you leave about 1/4″ all around the perimeter so the floor can expand. We did this and have no problems whatsoever. I sometimes think the sales people are not that informed. If your vanity is built-in then you should go around it, still making sure to leave 1/4″ gap around it that you then cover with base shoe molding. I hope this helps. We have installed luxury vinyl plank in 5 rooms so far and love it.
Oh my heavens I simply adore this space! LOVE! xo
You are truly a woman after my own heart with the blue and white! I have been in love with this color combination for a long time, you out did yourselfon this bathroom, it is absolutely gorgeous!!!
I love that blue! I can’t believe thats paint! It’s gorgeous!!
I love the bathroom makeover. I need to do an update too, and I am honestly considering your walls for our FLOOR. Hmmm. If that works, I will send the image. I need to address, on a budget, some very dated linoleum. If I keep the walls a solid color, this fab stencil design might – MIGHT – be lovely. I cannot do it on the walls and the floor, but I need to do it somewhere as it is SO lovely. One thought on your room makeover with the cute lamps on the green stool night tables – have you ever thought of turning those lamps into sconce/wall mounted babies? I saw it in a blog, and it was such an OF COURSE. There was a post on turning any lamp into cordless and there was a post on making lamps into wall mounted ones. It frees space and you don’t lose style or function. xoxo
Hi Di – In my previous house I had swing-arm wall mounted lamps in every bedroom. They are the best since they open up the on bedside tables. I didn’t think of using the the lamps you mentioned as wall mounted. Great idea. I will have to look how I could do it. I have stenciled floors in two different homes I lived in. The key to making it a successful project is to make sure you go over the floor with sandpaper on a sanding block to rough up the surface a little, clean the floor well and let it dry. You can use Porch and Floor paint – very light coats or a good brand name bonding primer and paint and then the stencil. Use very light coats. To seal it use water-based poly only. Oil-based poly will turn the paint colors yellow.
The bathroom makeover looks gorgeous. We actually just purchased the same stencil and plan to use in our powder room update?
What color did you use in the shiplap, and what base color did you use under the stencil ???
Hi Kristin –
The paint color on the shiplap is semi-gloss Kilz Complete Coat that I bought at Walmart. Color: Ultra Bright White right out of the can. I used the same color on the walls, but in a satin finish.
I love those knobs on the bathroom cabinet! What beautiful rooms you have created. My husbands doesn’t like any changes either. What’s with these guys anyway?
WOW…EXCELLENT JOB (Yes I am screaming…its beautiful)
Oh, that looks so beautiful (and comfortable!) all round, especially the bathroom. Nicely done!
Your bathroom looks gorgeous. I love everything about it. You did an amazing job with it. And I just love your guest room, it is so much fun. All of the beautiful colors and prints. Thanks for sharing.
I love both rooms! It’s a nice break to view color as much of the blog world is neutral. I just finished painting my kitchen cabinets white ( I can’t believe you did it twice!) and can’t wait to add pops of color. My husband thinks all the white is a little much, but once we put things back my blue accessories will be brilliant. You are an inspiration to the world of color!
Thanks Tina – Congrats on completing painting your kitchen cabinets. You should be very proud of yourself. Sending a “high-five” your way. Most husbands seem to have to get used to seeing changes, I know mine does. I am sure he will come around once you start adding color and your personality in the way of decorative accessories to the room.
Lovely! Where did you find the soap dispenser?
Hi Veronica – I bought the soap dispenser at HomeGoods.
Such beautiful rooms! I’m so impressed!
Hi Katie – Thanks so much. I don’t really go upstairs in my house much since my bedroom and bath are on the first floor. Since redoing the bath and guest room, I find myself wanting to head upstairs more often now. :-)
I am a color loving reader…and I love your bathroom and bedroom makeovers. I need to make some pompoms too. How fun! And for the bathroom…love the vanity and the walls!
Hi Sheila – Color and pom-poms in any room = happy. Thanks for reading my blog. :-)
Diane.
Each room is so beautiful. I’m redoing my master bathroom and your color scheme is divine.
Question.. my daughter in law just relocated for medical residency. Noticed they used vinyl plank flooring throughout. We found our socks and bare feet got really dirty walking on it. Flooring is brand new. Any thoughts?
Hi June – I am not sure as it didn’t happen on my vinyl plank floor and I am always in my bare or stocking feet. I am wondering if the dirt and dust after installing the floor was never cleaned up all the way?
Thanks Diane for your thoughts. They are still waiting for the building management to get back to them. In the meantime I called a local flooring store. The salesman indicated the vinyl planking typically comes boxed underside to underside and it is black. He is thinking they stacked the planks and did not clean up afterward.
He also indicated she should use Bona when cleaning and not a Swiffer product because it leaves a residue. Curious what you use?
Love all your bright and cherry colors:)
Hi June – That is interesting that the vinyl planks your daughter used have black backs, mine have tan cork. I have used both a Bona mop and a Swiffer. I used to always use a Bona mop and cleaner as the old Swiffer wood floor cleaner did streak. The folks at Swiffer did realize that their original wood floor cleaner made streaks, but about a year ago, they changed the solution and cleaning pad. It now has a purple strip that makes sure there is no residue left on the floor. since it has been about a year now, most stores now carry this :-)
With current, large-scale wallpapers running in the $100’s for a small room, I think your stencil project is the perfect answer. The color and application is gorgeous! Thank you for the inspiration. If you can source the pattern, I would seriously look at buying it (unless you would consider a resale to me?).
Hi Terri – I linked to the stencil in my post. It is from Royal Designs Stencils. It is called Floral Fireworks. Here is the link to the stencil: https://www.royaldesignstudio.com/products/floral-fireworks-allover-wall-stencil
Oh my gosh! This is uncanny….this is what I want to do to my 1/2 bath off the kitchen/laundry/back entry! I can not believe that is a wall stencil, Diane. Seriously? I’m not sure I want to tackle a stencil….hope you plan a detailed tutorial! love both rooms.
Hi Sharon – Yes I will post a tutorial very soon. It is not hard to stencil when your ceiling height in the room is the same. Mine ceiling was slanted which did make the process a little harder. I will share everything I did.
My favorite is the bathroom! Just lovely. And the wifi password idea is brilliant, except I’m not sure if you meant to spell it the way you did, or if it was just a typo. It should be “hacienda,” not “haceinda”. What can I say–I’m a spelling freak. Lol
Hi Beverly – I realize now that I created the typo. I made up the name and password for the post as I didn’t want to share our real logins in the post. :-)
love that bathroom, especially the walls which are prettier than the wallpaper. the guest rom is just WOW!
Thanks Pamela – :-)
Oh, Dianne! You are a master with color! I love everything you’ve done here. Just stunning!
Thanks Jane. Color makes me happy. I love being able to mix and match it in a room.
When I first heard Kelly was doing this series, I knew your space would be amazing! You know how to do color and make it work! The blue stenciled walls – swoon! So good!!! You did not disappoint!
I love everything! You have done a terrific job???
I love so much in these rooms, but my favorite is the picture stamps! I bought forever stamps when they first came out, and I’m not even close to using them up. And the picture stamps are a great idea for a housewarming gift!
Gorgeous! simply gorgeous!
Thanks so much for sharing.
Congratulations on both rooms, they look great. And I must say that your guests are lucky to have such a nice room waiting for them!
Awesome space Diane! I love all of the color! It looks amazing!
I ant stop looking at the pictures of the bathroom. I love every aspect of it. What did you use for the horizontal planks? I think that’s just what I need in my quest bath.
Awesome and inspiring job decorating. Perfect timing, too, as I am about to do some decorating (finally!) in some of our guest rooms before the wedding in September. I’d love to make-over our bathroom, too, but that might have to wait. Love the ideas and theme. Thanks for sharing. Might have to show you some before/afters and how you inspired and provided lots of guidance in my rooms, too.
I speechless and deeply in love with your bathroom! Cannot believe that is not wallpaper and can’t wait for the tutorial! You bedroom is very fun as well! Great job!!
Oh WOW, Diane! The ball is still sailing out of the park on this one! I can’t imagine that you spent all that time putting on that wonderful stencil on the walls! It all is so cheerful and pulled together. Wonderful that we have you and don’t have to share you with HGTV or Chip and Joanna!. Super job !!!!!!
I have already ordered the bedspread for a guest room. I live in Colorado and have been searching for a new one for quite some time now. I like it because of the colors and the fun look look with a bit of a western vibe. Looking forward to how and you did the stencil. Thanks so much!
Oh, that bathroom!!!! Gorgeous!!!! And everuthing else too, but that bathroom is just stunning. You are one talented woman.
I love both rooms. You have a talent with color. I love that you know the latest trends but are not a slave to them. Your home is unique and beautiful. You have so many great ideas for making your guests comfortable. I have become a better hostess from following your blog. So thank you for all the great ideas.
Diane, love, love, love it! Makes me want to start over and paint everything white.
Lake life is wonderful, but what you have done with your home inside and out makes it truly a relaxing paradise.
That bathroom just makes me smile! Beautiful! Love the guest room and how you incorporated your colors into this space. Such nice touches all the way around! Can’t wait for the next guest room reveal!
Oooh I love the bathroom redo….wellll, except for the wall stenciling. ;-)
Gotta say it’s very reminiscent of the free-hand painting we did in our old tack room wall in the barn…back in the late ’60’s. But hey, I certainly do appreciate all the beautiful touches and LOVE the horizontal boards.
The guest room? Well, hey it’s on a lake! That says it all. :-)
I think every one of your subscribers would be happy to join you at the hacienda! Do we get a special rate? Ha! Love all of your special touches!
Fondly, Linda
Perfection! You have worked your usual magic transforming a dull, drab space into a place of happiness. How is it that HGTV has not scooped you up and given you your own show?
SMH.
Cannot wait to see in person. Ray and Gen would surely LOVE spending time at the Henkler Hacienda. xoxoxo
The little details (like the gold frame for the wifi password, and the tray holding your toothbrush holder) make my heart skip a beat!
Love, LOVE, love that stenciled “wallpaper” I must watch the tutorial coming up. I need something like that in my new at home office. Can’t beat blue and white for a classic color combo. Great job all the way around!
Diane! You are such a thoughtful host! I love all of the special touches (does that mean you’re hosting the next retreat? I’ll pack my bags!) The guest room is so bright and cheerful and fun but so relaxing too! And that bathroom! I love every single finishing touch and your design choices. Swooning over the wallpaper. Beautiful work as always!
Wow! I love those colors together. Those panels behind the bed – genius! The comforter is so cute! It’s the cutest space!
xoxo
Oh Diane! I love the stenciled wallpaper. I also love bright bold colors : ) You have hit it out of the park with your designs!! Thanks for this fun post : )
Have a great day
Love the stenciled “wallpaper”…..wow. Both rooms are so bright and welcoming. One question, is the bed a full or queen? Thinking it is a full, but was just wondering.
I love your stencil wall even more than the wallpaper! and I love love love the colors in your guest room – the pink spread, the wall art, the stamps. Swoon. Pretty sure we are all secretly hoping for an invite :)
I love your makeovers! I live in a pastel home and want to be surrounded by neutrals and soft colors when at home. I did not think that I was going to embrace any of these “colorful” projects that you guys are doing. Boy was I surprised. I adore the colors you used in your guest bedroom. I could live in that room, easily. And the stencil on the bathroom wall is a stunner. I thought it was expensive wallpaper until I read your storyboard. Amazing job. Such good taste.
Diane, this is just gorgeous!! I love that you are so brave with color and you do it so well! Love the bathroom and that stencil has me swooning. I was just looking at wallpaper this really fooled me, it’s beautiful in blue and white. Great job on the whole room and bathroom. You are making that lake house shine!
I am so in awe of your talent. Love everything about your two makeover rooms. That bathroom, like everyone I thought it was wallpaper. What a beautiful and dramatic difference it made to use a stencil. And the bedroom with the colored canvas panels behind the bed, can’t wait to see the how-to’s on that. Love everything. Wish I were a guest in your home.
Oh Diane!! You blew this makeover out of the PARK!! I’m obsessed. The bright bold saturated colors make me so happy! Now … let’s talk about when I can come and stay. ;)
xo Michael
Oh my goodness. I LOVE the stenciled walls in the bathroom and the brightly painted canvases in the guest bedroom! Great job!
I’m packing my bags and heading to the lake! Wow Diane – what a fun, colorful space! I especially LOVE the stenciled bathroom wall. I love all your little touches like the notecards and stamps too.
Fantastic makeovers! And yes, I’m a colol loving gal! Your bathroom is amazing! I would have never guessed that your wall was stenciled. I truly thought it was wallpaper! The room looks so spa-like fresh, light and airy! The bedroom is beautiful and what a view out of the doorwall! Great job!
Awesome makeovers. The guest bathroom stencil looks a lot like wallpaper we had in our hall bath in the ’70s. I guess it’s true that styles repeat on about a 30-year cycle! FYI, typo in your wifi network name: should be Hacienda. Apparently the I before E except after C rule doesn’t apply to Spanish ;)
Hi Jan – Funny that we are old enough now to see how styles go around. Remember Flower Power when we were still just kids? Thanks about mentioning the spelling of Hacienda. I made it up for the post as I didn’t want to put our real WIFI password out on the internet. :-)
I will agree that I love your blog. So many others blogs are decorating with the sponsors items as the decor but, you go the full distance and use your creative side to add much more. I have visited the sponsored items in each blog, but I cann’t afford any. I can stencil a wall or remake something to work. The vanity is gorgeous and the knobs make it your style which is beautiful. I visit your blog every morning. I cann’t wait to see what you have accomplished next.
Hi Lou – Thanks for the nice note. I do enjoy being able to use new decor, but I find more enjoyment in the creative side of decorating even more. I think it stems from my background in retail display where we had to make everything from scratch as we had no budget at all to decorate the store and change out the displays on a weekly basis.
These two rooms are by far my favorite! I don’t generally gravitate to decorating with blues, but that bathroom stencil may just make me change my mind!
(Just a heads up – shouldn’t it be “hacienda” rather than “haceinda”? Oops!)
Hi Susan – Thanks for mentioning the spelling of Hacienda. To keep my real WiFi password secure, I made this one up just to show how I display it for anyone who stays with us. :-)
That bathroom is stunning!!!!! ? And I mean, gloriously stunning. Bravo!!
The bedroom is darling, and the custom stamps & stationary are amazing touches, so special.
You really wowed!! You must feel so proud, you should!! ?
My gosh, woman. You really get stuff done! I love following your blog. You are original and keep your ideas original. All the others I was following look so much like each other, I quit looking forward to them. I enjoy your stuff with anticipation. And I have lake envy! Looking our your windows to that view!!?? are you kidding me? What a dream home! Congratulations on your hard work. Your home is lovely. I am a lake girl from the start. I have a houseboat but don’t live on it. I would, but not able to now. So looking at your blog is a refreshing take on house decor. Its so bright and inviting.
Hi Pamela – Thanks for the nice note, it means a lot as a blogger and someone who loves to see personal style in everyone. XO As a child my family took two houseboat trips on the Chesapeake Bay. What fun they were getting to explore and move day to day to different spots and staying in a different marina each night. I hope you get to live your dream and get to live on it soon.
that stencil…that room….that color! well done. it will be a wonderful place for your guests when they are visiting.
Yes I think your idea is a good one, your blue and white porch and my bath need to meet up. :-)