Before and After: A £250 Redo Turns a White Bathroom into a Colorful Plant Haven

It’s exciting to finally own a place that you feel like you can put your personal spin on. That’s one thing that Catherine Vickers (@53houseplantsandme) was looking forward to in moving into her apartment, the ground floor of a converted Victorian house. While the condition of the property was good, she says, “I’m very passionate about interiors so I couldn’t wait to put my stamp on it.”

Fortunately, she lived just a few doors down before purchasing the place, so she was able to spend some time renovating before she moved in. High on her list: the bathroom, which boasted an all-white look—the perfect blank canvas for her to work with. “For a long time I’ve had an interest in interiors, when living in rented homes I couldn’t paint walls, so I used to do what I could with furniture and furnishings,” Catherine says. This redo gave her the chance to finally go all out.

Catherine spent just £250 in this bathroom refresh. She kept all the tile intact, but painted the wall and ceiling above a bright yellow color—much sunnier and more cheerful than the old tan that was there before. Then, Catherine covered the front of the tub in a bubblegum pink vinyl for an instant pick-me-up that’s totally removable if she ever gets tired of it.

The new color-blocked curtain features a yellow-and-pink color scheme that ties all the different hues together.

Another small switch: swapping out the tired old square mirror with a round one that features a petite wood shelf for toiletries. While the change is minor, the effect is a lot more whimsical and playful.

But what takes this bathroom to the next level is Catherine’s enviable collection of lush plants-on-plants-on-plants. She has them hanging from hooks in the ceiling, perched on the windowsill, and even spread out over the tub. Even if you’re not looking to remodel your bathroom, filling it with plants is one trick you can steal from Catherine’s redo.

“The bathroom I love because it was just meant to be a temporary uplift—but now I love it so much I’m going to keep it,” Catherine says. “The yellow ceiling was a very bold decision but one I am so thrilled with.”

Inspired? Submit your own project here.