The ceiling hole is patched (see more on how I got that done in a previous post, complete with a short video of the process) — although admittedly the paint is probably still drying. For now, we’re ready to call this project done.
This makeover wasn’t a full gut renovation but a series of smaller updates that together produced a surprisingly big change. Going in, we assumed this would be a temporary “for now” fix and that we’d eventually do a full redo (that beige tile felt like a long-term obstacle). After the upgrades, however, we were surprised by how much we loved the room. We still plan to replace the floor with hex tile someday, but the other changes made the space feel updated enough that we’re happy to wait on the flooring.
We considered having the beige wall tile professionally reglazed white to freshen it up at modest cost, a solution we’ve used before on a tub. Initially we thought demolition would be required to achieve the look we wanted, so it was a pleasant surprise to discover how effective smaller interventions could be. Even experienced DIYers can be charmed by a “for now” solution that ends up sticking around.
Enough chatter — here are the before-and-after highlights and the budget breakdown. Before we started, the room felt narrow and beige. One simple trick we used early on was hanging an extra-long shower curtain at ceiling height; it’s a small move that makes a small bathroom feel taller and airier.
After some careful planning, a fresh coat of paint, swapping a dated light for a pendant, hanging bathroom-friendly art, painting the trim bright white, replacing the old squat toilet with a taller white model, frosting the window for privacy, decluttering the shower area, trimming the door to allow for a bath mat, removing a busy border tile and replacing it with clear glass tile, and centering the pendant over the window — the room finally feels less like a beige box and more like a thoughtfully designed small space.
From another angle, painting the walls a rich dark gray and the trim bright white helped break up the monotony of beige. The repetitive tree border tile was replaced with clear glass tiles that read as “snow white” in the room and reflect the accent colors in different ways. Replacing the old almond toilet with a tall white one also made a noticeable difference in appearance and proportion.
One of the biggest upgrades, and the hardest to capture in photos, was the border tile swap. The new clear glass tiles catch light and water droplets beautifully, creating tiny glittering highlights in the shower, and they help the room feel cleaner and more modern.
Because the room is so small, close-up shots of the floor best illustrate how compact it is: roughly four tiles deep and three and a half tiles wide. It’s tiny but cute, and the changes made it feel more refined and fresh.
Here’s the current to-do list after these updates:
Paint the walls to create contrastReplace the dated ceiling lightPaint the cream trim whiteHang bathroom-friendly artSell the old beige toilet and buy a taller white oneAdd privacy frosting to the windowRemove the cluttered shower caddyTrim the door so it opens fully and allows a bath matReplace the border tile around the roomCenter the pendant light over the window- Choose and buy a dedicated bath mat (still needed)
- Replace the floor tile and possibly reglaze the wall tile in a second phase
Budget breakdown:
- Quart of wall paint (moody gray color): $16
- Blue glass pendant light from a local outlet (a much cheaper alternative to higher-end options): $80
- Hanging an existing painting and using leftover trim paint: $0
- Selling the old beige Kohler toilet for $60 and buying a taller white Glacier Bay one for $88: net cost $28
- Frosting the window using leftover film (typically about $20 new): $0 for this project
- Shower caddies for bath essentials: $22
- Trimming the door to allow for a bath mat: $0
- New border tile and materials for replacing the border: $84
- Repositioning the light fixture to center it over the window: $0
- Total spent: $230
Spending $230 to make a small bathroom feel refreshed and more functional felt like a great value. Many single items — a toilet or a light — can cost as much on their own. Taking the renovation slowly, tackling one manageable task at a time, kept stress low and let us enjoy progress without closing off our only full bathroom. The “no rush” approach helped the process feel fun instead of overwhelming.
We’re excited to finally pick a permanent bath mat and to consider a future phase that includes new floor tile and possibly reglazing the wall tile. Small, thoughtful updates really can transform a tiny space, and this project is a great reminder that modest changes add up to a big difference.