Before and After: Strategic Swaps Give Even This Bathroom’s Existing Features a Fresh Look

It’s hard to overstate just how much paint color can change the look of a room — especially in a small space, where walls are front and center. A bold color can bring the drama; a soft color can make for a serene escape. And a color you don’t love? Well, it can make the space feel all wrong.

That’s how Sarah Abraham felt about her home’s guest bathroom, which is located right off the living area and “can be seen from other parts of the house when the door is left open,” Sarah says. “It’s used quite often and immediately when we toured the house I knew it had to be redone.”

That’s because, primarily, Sarah was not a fan of the peachy-pink wall color or the beige floors — but the previous owners had taken the mirror with them, so there was a bit of a “blank space” opportunity.

With such a small space — less than 30 square feet — Sarah decided to go bold. She chose a rich dark green for the walls (Benjamin Moore’s Brazilian Rainforest). “The dark green color is just gorgeous,” Sarah says. “I find it so calming.”

For the floors, Sarah picked out a tile from Wayfair with an intricate gray and white design. The pro painter who’d taken care of the walls also installed the tile — something that Sarah says was worth the price. “In a small space any issues are really noticeable,” she says. The pro was able to knock out the project in just a couple days, too.

One great thing about new walls and floors? Everything in the bathroom gets a bit of a facelift, even though it all stayed the same. The existing brass faucet, brass towel ring, and brass light fixture all pop against the green walls — and look great with the new brass-framed mirror, too. Sarah finished off the bathroom artwork in a black-and-white palate to coordinate with the floors, plus some natural touches like faux succulents and faux branches.

Now, the teeny space has a much more sophisticated vibe, thanks to just a few strategic changes. “Likely if we’d had budget I would have replaced the sink, toilet, and fixtures, too,” Sarah says. But even so, she’s happy with how it turned out. “I love the contrast of the bold tile with the walls,” she says. “For a windowless room, the green and nature-inspired decor is very grounding yet luxe.”

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