A sweet reader Deanna wrote recently, and said:
I love you guys’ master bath redo. It’s so great and speaks to me in terms of style and what we really need to do to ours. But we have a smaller bathroom, and a smaller budget. Much smaller. I feel like all I’m seeing on pinterest are complete overhauls, and while those are beautiful, I need help. What are some things you’d recommend to make big impacts in a small space with a (super) small budget? I would love to hear your take on it all. Thank you!
First of all, Deanna you’re totally right. Not all great touches to a space have to be complete overhauls. A leak + damage = the reason we completely gutted out our old bathroom, and I totally get you.
So today, we thought we’d share our hallway bathroom.
And a few of our favorite small changes to make, for a big impact.
We’ve never actually shared our extra bathroom here before… {I think once when we did a “sneak peek” with a faucet installation} But I never shared it because I was all, yaaaayyyyyy. I didn’t feel like it was a ‘big’ enough change, and well, shame on me because that’s silly. Sometimes the best changes are the simple ones and they’re what can be done to change a space when funds are limited.
So today we have a few before and afters of some of our very favorite tips for big impacts in a small space: Easy Bathroom Fixes.
When we moved in, our bathroom was small and well, brown. {Surprise} Here’s the best before photos I could dig up, so I do apologize for their tininess-I pulled them off our old hard drive and then got lost in a total time suck of toddler world and sweet memories. This space is easily the most difficult to photograph in the house as there is no natural light. We even have a little Emerson, playing on the toilet. Good times.
And here’s the after.
1. The power of paint.
Yes, this will always be our number one. Down with the brown: We ousted that brown, and because it was so long ago, I honestly don’t remember what we refinished it with. But I did haul our paint swatches into the bathroom and matched it up: we decided to highlight the interesting arch and the rest of the space by dividing it into two colors: Benjamin Moore’s Cloud Cover + Polar Sky. We freshened up those baseboards with Chantilly Lace. Then we took those builder’s grade cabinets and gave them more of a custom look with Bear Creek, and a touch of Willow Creek on the edges for a one of a kind look.
2. Think Beyond the expected.
Sometimes an artists greatest limitations are his greatest strengths. Or some other abstract metaphor I can apply to this situation. For example, we were frustrated with options when it came to shower curtains. I know it seems so simple, but it was one of the first changes we made to our entire home. So visually, I think it helped to take a shower curtain above the archway, and again, highlight our strengths in this small space. I wanted something that could work for both the boys and our girl, so we used two fabrics, cut them up, and sewed them into a custom look. We then took it to the top with a tension rod. It helps to think beyond the expected, have fun, and just go for it.
We’ve had this shower curtain for so long now, that the fabrics have been discontinued. I scored mine on Etsy, and you can probably still scrounge some up. Fabrics: Heather Ross Underwater Sisters and Giant Octopus for Mendocino.
3. Play it up
Get a little crazy with pattern. From the shower curtain to the towels, it was fun to bring in some great playfulness. Big personality in smaller spaces make up for a lot. We brought in some towels from Target {Threshold} and love the extra punches of color to tie it all together in a simple way.
4. Change out what you can, when you can.
We had some generic faucet with plastic, moldy handles after a year. Yay! So we changed out the faucet with something simple we found at the hardware store. Also, a fresh splash of color with easy peasy knobs take it to a different level. So change out what you can, when you can… and it ups the anté with a customized look in a simple way.
5. Don’t forget the walls.
Even the smallest of spaces can have big personality. We made this little towel hanger which maximized our space with the shower, and a frame that echoed the pattern in our shower curtain.
The kids loved it, and felt like it was just for them. It made a big difference, and even though these are large pieces, we think it actually made the space feel larger.
{You can find simple how tos for both of these in our book, Handmade Walls}
These are a few of the simple fixes we did for our little space, and we love the big personality it brought into it on a minimum budget for maximum impact. It just goes to show some of the small changes you can make with perfectly good spaces!
We hope this helps a little to get those creative juices flowing. It’s nice to be reminded that sometimes the simple things can be the most important in your home.
Have an inspired day!
Jennifer says
You guys are always so real and down to earth with your recommendations and advice- I can’t thank you enough for being honest and relatable. Thank you – and now I’m off to paint my bathroom cabinets!
Flower Patch Farmgirl says
This is so bomb.
That shower curtain! (heart eyes)
ashley @ the handmade home says
Awe thanks friend! You’re too sweet… always! ;} Hope you’re surviving that snow! BOOOOO!
Jenny M says
Hi Mills family,
I have been following you for a while, and I just love everything you do!
i love what you have done in both bathrooms! What is the color of the master bath? I love it!
I saw your post on relocating the same week that my hubby and I decided to put our house up for sale and move to another area in town! Do you have any advice for stay at home and/or Homeschooling moms like my self for staging and making a house show worthy with kids?!? I would love some advice:) thanks!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thanks so much, Jenny! The color in the master bath is Lake Victoria {BM} – congratulations on your soon to be change! Goodness… that’s an interesting topic! I feel a bit frazzled here mahself managing it all! AHHHH! I’ll think about what would be some interesting points to share, though! ;} Wishing you the very best!
andi says
I love this and the paint colors! I’d love to do this. My vanity/toilet/tub are all off white/ivory…do you think this color scheme could still work? The bathroom is currently all tans and brown accents!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hey Andi! Absolutely! Our vanity is an off white and we even accented with some creaminess in the frame and towel rack – subtle but still there. I don’t know why it wouldn’t! Everything will feel so fresh when you change it over! ;}
Poppy says
Cute! Our kids’ bathroom hasn’t been touched and is super boring. I’m excited to see this inspiration! Summer project!
Jenna Krabacher says
I can’t believe you’re moving and giving up these beautiful bathrooms! The remodel you did in your master bath is one I Pinned for my master bath remodel. I love it and I can’t believe you’re leaving it behind! That along with almost everything you’ve done to the exterior…. Too bad I can’t just buy your house; you have done an amazing job with it! But I also can’t wait to see what genius projects you come up with for your new house!
ashley @ the handmade home says
HA! ME EITHER, Jenna! It’s PAINFUL. Especially since I feel like we JUST finished it. VERY VERY PAINFUL. ;} Thank you!
Shannon says
Cute updates and moving that curtain rod up visually makes all the difference! What kind of liner do you have behind the fabric curtain? I’ve never seen the liners in a long length and so have always been unsure on how to achieve this look.
Leslie says
This is a reply to Shannon. I solved that problem with two curtain rods- the inner rod holds a standard white washable liner. The outer rod (that is much higher) has the decorative homemade curtain. I actually like two rods better than one, it’s not a problem to step in and shower and you can wash the liner without taking the decorative one down. đ
Shannon says
Thanks for the tip, Leslie!