Surprise — we painted the guest bathroom this weekend: walls, trim, and even the ceiling. We went with a clean, bright white (Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore) to freshen the whole room. It feels much lighter and more open already.
Why white? The previous paint looked dingy, and repainting was the simplest way to brighten the space without a major renovation. We also decided to embrace the original yellow tile instead of tearing it out or trying to paint or reglaze it. The tile is genuine 1960s material in good condition, and its warm, happy hue feels charming. The new white walls create a neutral backdrop that lets the tile be a feature while keeping the small room from feeling overwhelmed. A crisp white canvas also makes it easy to add personality through accessories, artwork, and textiles later.
We used the same strategy in our hall bathroom, which also has original tile. There, a few accessories and thoughtful accents helped the space flow with the rest of the house, so we wanted to test the same approach in this smaller guest bath before considering a full demo and remodel.
About six months ago we raised the shower rod to ceiling height and installed an extra-long 95″ waffle-weave curtain. That curtain tucks entirely inside the shower when it’s closed, so from the main part of the bathroom the raised rod is invisible. Raising the rod cleaned up the sightlines and made the doorway feel less cluttered.
The room is tiny, so it’s hard to photograph everything at once. I couldn’t get a clear shot of the shower doorway without practically climbing out the window, but the raised rod looks much more intentional in person.
We also frosted the bathroom window using leftover frosting film and a simple DIY method. The frosting lets light pour in while maintaining privacy, which is ideal when the window faces our deck. We filmed the frosting process previously, so if you want a step-by-step visual guide we have that on video.
Between the freshly painted walls and the frosted window, the guest bathroom already feels cleaner, brighter, and less murky.
After frosting the glass, I made a no-sew fabric shade from a small remnant I’d saved. The fabric originally came from a local shop and I used it to create a simple, handmade shade that layers nicely with the adjoining guest room curtains. I considered a faux Roman shade but didn’t have enough material, so I chose an uncomplicated flat shade with a little twist at the bottom for weight and shape.
Here’s how I made it: I measured the window width (23″), cut a scrap of wood about 1/4″ narrower than the opening, and hemmed the fabric so the final size would be 23″ x 29″. I centered the scrap wood at the top, stapled the fabric to it, and screwed the wood into the window opening from below with three screws. For the bottom, I used a small strip of molding cut slightly wider than the window to create a rolled edge. The fabric wraps around that molding and wedges into the window sides, so it stays put like a tension-mounted shade without extra hardware.
From the guest room side the fabric shade complements the polka-dot curtains without matching too closely. The darker teal tone that appears in the bedroom now ties into the bathroom through the shade, helping the two spaces feel connected instead of disjointed next to the cheerful yellow tile.
It feels satisfying to cross a few projects off the list, and there are still a few simple upgrades left that should make a big difference. Our current plan includes painting the frame of the mirror so it stands out against the white wall, hanging art above the toilet to add interest, and going a little accessory-crazy to bring the space to life.
paint the wallsfrost the window for privacymake a window treatment with a bold fabric remnant- paint the frame of the mirror so it stands out against the white wall
- hang some art over the toilet
- go accessory happy to finish the space
Are you embracing original details in your home? Painting, window treatments, or other small updates can transform a space without a full gut job. We’re enjoying making this little bathroom feel more intentional, and a few thoughtfully chosen changes should finish the job.
Psst — we upgraded the light fixture a while back, which was another easy change that helped modernize the bathroom.