Before and After: This Blah Beige Bathroom Redo Makes a Real Splash

As much joy as a home makeover can bring, sometimes it also makes any rooms left undone stand out even more. That’s what Tanya experienced with her untouched powder room—guests would avoid the space and sneak into her fully renovated main bathroom instead. “I hoped that by turning the powder room into a pretty space, guests would find the room more inviting,” Tanya says.

Originally designed with what she calls “standard-issue late 1900s oak cabinetry,” along with a laminate counter and lots of beige, Tanya’s powder room felt a little… blah. But the biggest problem she had with the space was that the swinging door opened awkwardly into her adjacent laundry room.

What took the longest was the planning. The execution itself? Only a week. Though some of the tasks, like placing the asymmetrical sink (where to put the hole??), proved to be a bit tricky, the majority was pretty easy—including installing the new sliding barn door (find a similar one here) that optimized her small space.

“Stepping out of my comfort zone and using patterns on the walls was a lot of fun,” Tanya says. She covered the walls in teal-and-white Spoonflower wallpaper, and picked a blue paint for the vanity to match (Lap Pool Blue by Behr). But Tanya’s favorite part is the unique hammered, asymmetrical copper vessel sink—”it steals the show,” she says. Another highlight: the art-like vanity light from Lamps Expo.

Since Tanya’s home has walnut-wood tones, she chose a walnut-veneer countertop from IKEA and a walnut-framed mirror, also from IKEA. The warm wood tones help make the room feel extra inviting. Now, Tanya says, “it feels like a part of the design, and not the room I forgot.”

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