Bathrooms Home Projects

In this bathroom redo, tile is the star.

It took about six weeks and £7,000 to turn the bathroom from unusable to an "OMG, when can we come over?" oasis.

This bathroom went from blah to bold and beautiful.

You'll still love these upgrades for years to come.

Lisa Backus and Andrea Richardson of Design Bar Detroit transformed this dark and dated Detroit loft bathroom into a bright, modern space.

This refresh holds on tight to the bathroom's original vintage charm.

The after feels like a breath of fresh air.

In just two weeks' time!

Most of our Renovation Diary projects involve transforming an existing space. This one was different because Faith and Mike chose to create a bathroom in their 1920s Columbus home where before there was only a sleeping porch. Originally the space was only 7 feet tall, with a sloping floor that would have to be replaced. It was a unique project, and a unique challenge. (You can see many more photos of the original space in the post that introduced Faith and Mike’s bathroom remodel.

I had no idea that my little kitchen overhaul would yield such a response, ranging from “awful” to “amazeballs.” Thanks for all the great comments, both good and bad. By the way, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Dr. Kevorkian, and stem cell research combined have nothing on the “brass knobs with stainless appliances” debate. I’m not sure which issue will take longer to resolve. And that brings us to the bathroom.

File this under "Why are these so expensive!?"

Last week we discussed about getting started on wrangling our cords and cables in our home office, a project that required us to get moving on painting the interior before installing the cable channel guides we purchased. And painting we did!

I was sitting around the other day, thinking about pairing gold kitchen cabinet hardware with stainless steel appliances, and I suddenly remembered: I never showed you all any photos of the finished World’s Ugliest Condo bathroom!These photos were taken with an iPhone, but you can still see the what’s what. Enjoy.

Costco’s vast selection of items has been well-documented, and anyone who’s a fan of the discount megastore knows it sells more than half-gallon tubs of mayo and toilet paper in bulk. While some of its more… unusual… offerings (think: caskets) get lots of attention from media outlets, the store stocks a whole host of housewares and home improvement items that rival what you’d find in a Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Toilet: Kathryn compact elongated one-piece from Kohler Sink: Kathryn Pedestal bathroom sink in White by Kohler Sink Faucet: Kingston Brass Metropolitan Widespread Lavatory Faucet with Metal Cross Handle in Oil Rubbed Bronze from Amazon Tub Faucet: Kingston Brass Vintage Leg Tub Filler in Oil Rubbed Bronze from Amazon Floor: Big Dane pattern Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile from Clé Tile Wall: Rittenhouse Square White 3 in. x 6 in.

We like the use of natural elements (the jute basket and plants) to keep the room from feeling too stark with all the graphic black and white elements.

Close your eyes for a second and picture a bathroom vanity. If you immediately conjure up the image of a basic boxy cabinet, you are probably not alone. And you are also in for a treat. Statement vanities are one of the newest ways that people are eking every inch of personality out of their bathrooms, and leaving no moment wasted. Here are a couple of ways this new breed of vanity sets itself apart from others, and how you can do it yourself at home, even in small ways.

“Before and After” makeovers are such guilty pleasures—what’s more gratifying than fast-forwarding through all the hard work, and just seeing (and getting to comment on) the final result? Throw in a very small budget, and they become especially delicious food for thought. These bathroom projects don’t disappoint. As transformations go, they are pretty incredible for the money. Scroll through, and by all means, enjoy.

About a month ago, I decided I was really sick of my bathroom. This came in the context of larger BIG LIFE UPHEAVAL, which I won’t get into now, but it boiled down to craving a tangible change in my living space. I quickly focused on my downstairs bathroom, which was admittedly not horrible, but was feeling extremely drab and depressing lately. In short, it wasn’t making me happy.

Erika’s young and doesn’t spend an arm and a leg on rent. Sure, her bathroom is functional, but all those shades of off-white are a style travesty that could make even the most stalwart of tenants cry beige tears. It’s a rental, so nobody wants to go nuts and spend a lot of money to renovate it, but Erika wanted something a little more fun and befitting her age. So, the goal is to give her an entirely new, bright, amazing bathroom for $500. Think we can do it?

Dividing walls were holding this bathroom back. Tearing them out helped it reach its open, airy potential.

All this week we’re talking about bathroom renovations, starting with Ashley’s recent remodel, and following up with tons of helpful posts about the process! So you’re thinking of remodeling one of the most necessary rooms in your home – not an easy task to take on! Luckily, there are ways you can prepare to take the pain out of a bathroom remodel. Here are just a few to get you started: When it comes to a remodel, always make sure you have a contingency fund.

Last week, you got to see the updates and tiling work we did in our kitchen. However, we also had a very fun time doing some updates to our bathroom. This before photo (taken quite a bit before we started the project) doesn’t show the vertical angle, but allows you to see the most important elements: the old, dingy, salmon-colored tile, and original toilet and vanity. Fast forward three days (we were on a tight schedule) to our brand new bathroom!

Some IKEA hacks go so far above and beyond the standard “coat of paint and new handles” that they somehow become whole new pieces of furniture. This one, for example, started out as the ubiquitous Rast dresser and a salad bowl, and was transformed into an elegant, modern bathroom vanity with plumbing and everything. I for one am impressed.

We’ve been following along as Dana and her husband sold their old house, moved into an apartment, and rebuilt a small house — all while also welcoming their third child. I’m sure this master bathroom update is a great indication of how the rest of the house has come together. Dana and her handy hubby, Steve, worked with what they’ve got in this small bathroom.

We got a sneak peek into Greg and Ashley’s bathroom remodel back in April, when the couple was still in the thick of the project. After checking in on their progress, we discovered that the bathroom is now ready for a full unveiling!Greg and Ashley have been tracking the progress of their house renovation on their blog 7th House on the Left. When we peeked in at their bathroom last April they had just finished ripping out all the old stuff and installing the new tile and vanity.

This small bathroom was the only one in the house—so these DIYers knew they had to make it count.

Yes, you can make a big change on a small budget!

Wait until you see the tub.

Best part? No demo required.

This transformation involved paint, lighting, flooring, and more.

It's inspired by "Psycho"—yes, that "Psycho".

The after is almost unrecognizable.

A few small tweaks totally transform this dull bathroom.

Small investment, big impact.

It's ahh-inspiring.

Skip these and you'll save on future plumbing costs.

The project took just two days.

What's old? What's new? It's hard to tell in this space—in the best way.

$200 goes a long way in transforming this dim bathroom.

Yes, that cost includes a toilet, vanity, shower, and more.

The before featured a shower ceiling covered in mold and a toilet that made the whole house stink. The after is a SERIOUS upgrade.

Carpeted bathrooms? Very un-groovy.

This unique-but-still-classic shape will win you over.

A dark bath gets a technicolor redo—for free!

No hammers required for this redo!

Maybe you're glad to see it go.

As this homeowner says, "a little goes a long way when transforming a small space."

These remodels are ahhh-inspiring.

You don't have to have a green thumb to get your gardener on, especially indoors. Our favorite cheat? Park a plant in your bathroom.

Spending more time at home was just the inspiration I needed to give my so-so bathroom a refresher.

This is one project you can totally DIY. Here's how.

The after is serious gallery wall goals.

No reservation required.

The before is fine, but the after will give you heart-eyes.

Designer Gina De Pasquale renovated this Las Vegas residence that needed a little updating throughout. Her work is most impressive in the bathroom where she did a great a job of mixing high and low pieces, all while staying true to the mid-century aesthetic.

We’ve had a great year of bathroom before and afters. From the controversial orange bathroom redux to the double renovation of a studio apartment bathroom, we’ve seen a lot and found inspiration even if we didn’t agree with every single choice someone made. I don’t think I would have had so much courage to tackle my own projects this year without Re-Nest and Apartment Therapy, so hopefully these will embolden someone else to do the same.

The wallpaper will make you gasp.

Unlike most his-and-her vanities, Bell and Shepard’s countertops would be different heights to account for, well, their different heights.

The before stunk—literally. But the after is a dream!

And neither should you.

Want.

You won't see the after coming!

Of course it’s easy to create a gorgeous bathroom when you have a ton of room, but working with a smaller space can be a bit of a challenge. If you’re remodeling a smaller bathroom and feel a bit hemmed in, then take a look at these phenomenal tiny bathrooms that still manage to pack in plenty of style. Blogger Emily from The Pink House didn’t let the small size of her upstairs bathroom keep her from pulling off a gorgeous remodel.

The wallpaper will give you serious heart-eyes.

You've never seen subway tile look so moody (in the best way).

One of them is a removable wallpaper that will knock your socks off.

If your 2020 includes remodeling plans, start here.

This one is going nowhere.

It's literally unrecognizable.

See ya, crayon-patterned wallpaper border.

A different kind of shower enclosure is picking up steam.