To be honest, our bathroom probably needs a full remodel—or at least new tile and a sink—but during our long (and costly) kitchen renovation we only felt up to a gentle refresh. I convinced John to repaint the bright blue walls a soothing tan and swap our dorm-room plastic shower curtain for an adult white waffle fabric curtain.
We also decided it was time to remove the hulking medicine cabinet (the one with two lights sticking out the sides like arms) and replace it with a sleeker solution: a mirror beneath a wall-mounted light fixture and a plan to add a wall storage cabinet nearby. The project wasn’t painless—three trips to Lowe’s and several searches for the perfect cabinet later—but the end result was worth the effort.
Before sharing the “after” photos, here’s a look back at the original styling. Our very first attempt included black molding around the window to echo the small checkered floor tiles. In hindsight that was a mistake: the black trim and bright blue accessories made the room feel juvenile, and the tiny shutters and frilly window treatment had to go.
Next we painted the trim white, added a soft blue to the walls—similar to the shade we used in our bedroom—and frosted the window for privacy. That was definitely an improvement.
Still, that old medicine cabinet haunted me. After repainting much of the house in neutral tones, we realized the bathroom would feel calmer with a tan coat of paint and a less plastic-y shower curtain. Here’s the updated bathroom with the new light fixture, paint color, and fabric shower curtain:
We love the light fixture we found at Lowe’s. It looks like a designer piece, but cost a fraction of the price—around $90 instead of hundreds—so it felt like a win. The lighting is dramatically better now: we moved from two 60-watt bulbs to the equivalent of much brighter, more even illumination. The room feels warmer and more polished. All that remains is finding an attractive storage cabinet to hang on the wall, and then brushing our teeth will feel a lot more stylish.