Four months isn’t forever, but it felt like too long to live with the last remnants of the old carpet upstairs—especially since it was in our bathroom. Carpeted bathrooms are a special kind of wrong.
We didn’t pull that section out earlier when we removed the rest of the upstairs carpet because we knew we didn’t want hardwood in the bathroom. Without a plan for new flooring, we left the wrinkly, creamy carpet that matched the walls and trim a little too well.
Yesterday morning—about 24 hours ago—we finally decided enough was enough and removed it for good. We cleared our closet floor so we could access the entire space before we started.
First we loosened the carpet from the tack strips along the walls, rolled it up, and removed it. The blue foam padding came up next; it tore easily away from the staples. Those were the quick, satisfying parts.
Then came the sweaty work: prying up all the tack strips with a crowbar and using a floor scraper to pull out the staples. Between that and sweeping and using a shop vac, it took about an hour to get the space clean and ready for whatever comes next.
We don’t have a final flooring plan yet. Long term, we’d like to combine the sink area with the shower and toilet to create one larger bathroom instead of two small separated spaces, and then tile the whole thing. That kind of demo will come much later—after we’ve lived in the house longer and feel confident about a major rework.
For now, our short-term plan is to paint the exposed particle board with floor paint so it looks finished and less dusty, then layer in sheepskins, area rugs, or runners for warmth and texture. We considered peel-and-stick tiles or a wall-to-wall seagrass rug, but painting plus rugs seems like the simplest, cheapest temporary fix. Since we’ll need to remove this surface and install backer board before tiling later, painting it now won’t waste time or money.
While we were tackling the floors, we also picked up a large quatrefoil-style mirror at HomeGoods last week. It immediately reminded us of a mirror we loved in our last house, and we knew a bigger mirror would reflect light into the closed-off sink nook and create the illusion of a larger windowed space. The mirror was over 40 inches wide and a great deal for the price, but the finish was a rustic, distressed paint color that didn’t match our vision.
Sherry took the mirror out to the garage, primed it, and painted it with eggshell white. She used one coat of primer and two coats of paint to get an even finish that would complement the subtle beaded detail around the frame. We considered a bold color, but decided to keep the mirror white and introduce color on the walls or vanity later so the mirror could function like a window—large and light-reflecting.
Removing the old frameless half mirror from the wall was straightforward; there was no adhesive behind it, just a few clips to loosen. The new mirror, however, initially looked too cramped in the space. Our measurements had warned us it would be tight, but seeing it in place made the scale feel even more snug.
We found a simple workaround: temporarily cap and cover the wires on the light fixture that sat above the mirror, then move the fixture later when we choose a new light. By covering the fixture box, we were able to hang the mirror about six inches above the countertop instead of letting it nearly rest on the sink. That shift immediately made the nook feel less crowded and more balanced, even though we also temporarily capped an outlet that will be relocated in a future electrical update.
This one small change—removing the carpet and installing the new mirror—made a noticeable difference. It sparked ideas for additional low-effort updates while we save and plan for a full renovation. We’re already imagining fresh paint on the walls and trim, repainting or staining the vanity (possibly a muted gray-blue), swapping out vanity knobs for contrast, and building open shelves in the unused right-side space for towels. At the right time we’ll move the capped fixture box higher and add a new vanity light that suits the final layout.
For now, we’re thrilled to be rid of the old carpet and excited to be working on another corner of the house. Small changes have already made the bathroom feel larger and more intentional. What did you tackle this weekend?