When we last wrote about our hall bathroom renovation, we had removed the old wallpaper and were left with tired, yellowed walls and a mirror that simply didn’t work. The existing mirror cut off almost everything above the nose, which was fine for quick teeth checks but useless for any real grooming.
Another problem was the light fixture. It drooped about eight inches from where it connected to the wall, making it difficult to install a larger mirror without hitting the fixture’s arms. Rather than replace the light right away, we rotated it 180 degrees. It’s not a permanent solution, but it reclaimed the space above the sink and allowed us to hang a larger mirror we found at HomeGoods. The new shape fills the area nicely, and now you can actually see your whole face when standing in front of it.
We made a few other small updates while we were at it. One simple swap was removing an old wooden toilet paper dispenser, which we plan to replace with a more modern oil-rubbed bronze option. Little changes like that help the room feel fresher right away.
The room also had a band of blue trim running around the base of the walls and along the door frame, which we decided to remove visually by painting over it. We taped off the slate floor to protect it and got started. The prep and painting process took several coats: two coats of primer followed by two coats of paint. After the primer stage, the trim was ready for the topcoats and the transformation started to take shape.
While addressing the trim, we realized the vanity needed attention too. The wood wasn’t great quality, it showed scuffs, and there was a persistent odor we couldn’t eliminate by cleaning alone. We used an odor-blocking primer and applied two coats to the inside and outside of the vanity to seal in any smell and provide a stable base. Then we painted the vanity a bright, lively color to introduce personality into the bathroom while keeping the walls clean and white. This approach lets us add color through a focal piece rather than committing to bold wall colors.
For the walls and ceiling we chose Benjamin Moore Simply White (OC-117). We used semi-gloss on the trim and eggshell on the walls and ceiling so the trim has a subtly glossier look. One of us cut in while the other rolled, and after two coats the room felt much cleaner, brighter, and more cohesive. White is a classic, low-risk choice that helps small bathrooms feel more open, and it gives us flexibility to introduce color later through art, accessories, or the painted vanity.
Phase 1 of this hall bathroom update is essentially a collection of smart, inexpensive tweaks to improve everyday usability: a larger mirror, rotated light fixture, new paint on walls and trim, and a refreshed vanity. We’re still considering bigger changes in the future—swapping the light fixture, replacing the sink, or adding an accent wall with tile or wallpaper—but for now these changes make the space far more comfortable to use while we save and plan for a deeper renovation.
We’ve also started tackling nearby areas. In the foyer we began stripping wallpaper and painting over blue trim, but that project is slower than expected because we uncovered a second layer of wallpaper and the trim requires multiple coats. It’s a work in progress and will take more time to complete.
Overall, this first pass on the hall bathroom feels like a real improvement: brighter walls, a full-view mirror, and a vanity that adds personality. These updates made a noticeable difference without a major overhaul, and they set the stage for potential future upgrades when we’re ready for a more extensive renovation.
*****************************
P.S. I snapped a quick photo on an evening walk that captured the green undertone of our teal door more accurately than our camera did. Sometimes the phone gets the color right better than the fancy camera. #nofilter