Remember that old post about the wish list of projects we planned to tackle if we had some extra cash from BHG’s 48-Hour Challenge? After more than 20,000 votes we didn’t win the $5,000 (congrats Nicole!), but many of those ideas are still on our to-do list. In fact, two of them are already finished. A few weeks ago we refreshed our patio with a DIY firepit and some budget lounge chairs—one down, several to go.
Now we’re back to share the second project we completed quietly. We hinted that we wanted to add layered, textural interest to the half bathroom but kept the details a surprise. Today we’re revealing what we did.
Take a look at that soft cream-on-cream texture you can spot from the front door. Let’s zoom in.
We painted subtle horizontal cream stripes in the half bathroom. Previously the room matched the hallway and the adjacent den in the same color (Wishes by Glidden), but we decided the tiny bathroom deserved a little lift. Lighter and slightly different-toned stripes help the space feel wider and much more interesting—horizontal lines visually expand a room. Our inspiration came from a design makeover we admired last year; it just took us a bit to put it into action. Here’s the bathroom before the paint update.
The entire update took about four hours one evening and followed a straightforward process:
Step 1: Divide and Plan – Measure the full height of the wall and calculate the stripe size. Divide the total height by twice the number of stripes you want, then subtract one from the multiplier. For example, our ceiling is 98″ tall and we wanted six stripes, so we divided 98 by 11 (6 x 2 = 12, minus 1 = 11) to determine each stripe’s thickness. That gave us approximately 8.9 inches for each stripe.
Step 2: Mark the Wall – Use a ruler to mark every 8.9 inches from the floor up to the ceiling. We made two small pencil marks on each wall—one on each side—so the lines would stay straight and even.
Step 3: Tape Carefully – Apply blue painter’s tape to connect your pencil marks and form the stripes. Press the tape down firmly so it sits flush with the wall for cleaner paint edges. Tape the areas you don’t want to paint either inside or outside the pencil marks depending on whether you’re taping the stripe itself or the negative space. The important thing is that the final painted and unpainted areas end up the same width once the tape is removed.
Step 4: Roll on the Color – Choose a paint a shade lighter or darker than the base wall color; subtle contrast creates a soft, layered look. Use a quality roller to apply two thin, even coats of latex paint between the wider tape lines to create the stripes. An angled brush helps cut in neatly near the ceiling and base molding.
Step 5: Remove the Tape Immediately – This is crucial: pull the tape off while the paint is still wet after the second coat. Removing tape after the paint fully dries risks peeling and uneven edges, which defeats all the careful taping work. As soon as you finish rolling, start removing tape for crisp, clean stripes.
There you go: horizontal stripes that make a small bathroom feel more expansive and visually interesting. We used a quart of Valspar’s Honeymilk for the stripes—we had a $10-off coupon at Lowe’s, so this tiny makeover cost only $2.48. Small budget, big impact.
We love how our crystal teardrop chandelier (a bargain find from Urban Outfitters) looks against the soft striped walls; the gentle pattern enhances its sparkle. A simple piece of inexpensive art we hung in the room now feels more tranquil and spa-like thanks to the tone-on-tone stripes.
We were also lucky that the stripes ended up framing the wall sconces nicely. If you want the same effect, start your stripe layout around any wall fixtures and work up or down so nothing cuts through a fixture awkwardly.
This under-$3 refresh proved that a little paint and planning can transform a small space. We’ve always had a thing for stripes—our blog’s background and our recently striped porch are good examples—and bringing them into this half bath felt like a natural extension of our style.
What do you think? Have you tackled any budget-friendly projects lately? Any striping tips or stories to share? We’d love to hear about your experiences and any creative ways you’ve refreshed a small room on a shoestring budget.