Frugal Bathroom Transformation
Drab, damaged flooring.
Outdated, aging fixtures.
We recently moved to a home that was built in the ’80s. The main bath on the lower level was rather unsightly. Unfortunately I don’t have a really great, close-up photo of everything, but the walls looked like they’d been textured by an amateur, the color was an off-white-slightly-sick-beige and the flooring was the worst. Old, ugly, stained, marred linoleum with speckles and grey stripes that appeared to have been cut with a razor and simply set into place where it could readily depress anyone who walked in the room. No matter how much bleach I used, it never looked clean. The light fixture was original ’80s along with the matching antiqued brass faucets. Ugh. Well something had to be done. On a strict budget, nonetheless.
1. We painted all the walls. Cheap fix.
2. Hubby went to Home Depot and bought inexpensive light fixtures and faucets. We bartered with a friend to help us install them.
3. We found a white sheer curtain panel to cover the window and shirred it onto expandable rods (no screws needed to hang) and set it into the deep window well. It not only gave us privacy, but softened the room considerably.
4. THE BEST KEPT SECRET is the flooring solution we found. Installation of tile, laminate or linoleum was going to be over our budget, so I went online to JC Penney and searched their huge selection of bathroom cut-to-fit floor rugs. These are completely machine washable, come in a wide variety of colors, and will fit (after cutting) most any normal-sized bathroom floor. You always buy the size that is larger than the measurement of your floor. Then you get a very sharp razor, marking pen and some great music to listen to while you measure and cut for the next few hours. I chose pure white-it sticks to the floor because its backing is thin rubber. See how fresh and bright it looks:
5. Lastly I purchased ‘accessories’ like towels and contrasting rugs and toilet lid cover, candles, and a print for the wall to pull the color theme together. (Target, Ross, and other discount stores have loads of this stuff)
Now this room brings a smile to my face. No longer is it a drab-looking spot. It’s more than merely functional.
I think there are always solutions to trouble-spots in our homes - even if we’re renting and on a tight budget. I hope some of these ideas will help you, too!
April 29th, 2008 at 6:01 am
soooooooo much better! I love chocolate and blue together- but I probably wouldn’t put carpet in the bathroom with my little wee ones
April 29th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Thanks Amanda - just a reminder to everyone- the carpet is machine washable, just like the throw rugs, and in between times, I use Spot Shot (magic for carpet spots!) to keep it looking sharp - have a great day and enjoy those little ones!
Denise
May 1st, 2008 at 5:00 am
What a great looking bathroom!
It’s fun to see how you transformed it.
May 1st, 2008 at 6:13 am
How timely, Denise. I just threw the rug from our hall bathroom (at least 5 years old) in the wash last night and it came out looking very tired and quite stained (we have red clay dirt in our yard that “decorates” everything we put on the floor). Also, I painted that room an ugly seafoam green a few years ago when a friend came to visit (we did it together) and my husband has never, ever cared for the color. Now that spring is here, I am going to do something about that bathroom. I love the color you chose - can you tell me what it is?? Thanks again for the push to action.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:39 am
Thanks for the 2 for 1 deal on your book. I had given mine away, so I’m excited to have a couple more copies to pass along!
One question for you…I know your boys are grown up now, but i would love to hear your thoughts on how to discipline little ones. I have an 8 month old and we are well on our way learning the word “no” and “stop”. I know it is important to start when they are young so i would just love to know how you and your husband navigated those waters. Thanks…I treasure the wisdom of godly mothers who have traveled this road before me!
PS: the bathroom looks great!
joy-
emily
May 1st, 2008 at 7:44 am
The bathroom looks great! We have been in our house for 3 years now and I still need to re-do our bathroom. This may just encourage me to get it done! :o)
Yvonne :o)
P.S. I have added your blog to my favorites so I can check in and read your entries. I really enjoyed your book and meet you last year at VHE.
May 4th, 2008 at 6:19 am
I love the bathroom! We’re in a 1970’s home re-modeling one room at a time. Next to go are the orange kitchen countertops. They just don’t match now that the orange carpet is gone! Ha-Ha!
-Lindsay
May 5th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Your bathroom looks so great! I’ve never heard of carpet like that! I am going to head over to JCP and check it out. I am in the middle of doing our family room in these same colors! Turquoise (though mine is a bit more green than yours) and chocolate! So fun. I always gravitate to red and I needed something different. I found turquoise curtains in January and thought…why not blue and brown?
Thanks for the ideas!
Love Steph
May 6th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I have torquoise and chocolate in two rooms and baby blue and chocolate in another. Love it!….and I love the great ideas. Your email enticements are working, so I’ve finally left a comment, although I read your blog regularly. Miss your smiling face and wonderful words of wisdom around here.
Love you!
Wendee
May 10th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Wow! Such simple ideas to make such a big change. Thank you! Off to see what I can dream up…
May 10th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Hello precious Wendee - This is funny because you have been on my mind for several days! Seriiously. Thank you so much for your loving and encouraging words. So glad you visit regularly…see ya soon,
Denise