Yesterday you saw Day Numero Uno of what I’ve dubbed “Operation Granny Chic.” The mission: update my granny’s bathroom in three busy days. After finishing the prep work, Day 2 was all about paint and new flooring—except for one small obstacle.
There was a large rust spot on the air duct near the floor. Paint alone wouldn’t cover it, so we first treated the area with Rust-Oleum. One quick coat stopped the rust from bleeding through, and then we were ready to paint.
We chose “Hint of Violet” by Benjamin Moore for the walls, a soft violet with subtle gray undertones. Granny loves color and often wears purple, so we wanted something cheerful but not overwhelming. Because the bathroom is small, a light, muted shade keeps the space feeling open, while bolder accents and textiles would provide the brighter pops of color.
The paint went on in two coats, including the slanted ceiling. In compact rooms like bathrooms, painting the ceiling the same color as the walls helps the space feel less chopped up and more cohesive. By lunchtime the walls were done and it was time to tackle the floor.
The original floor was an old sheet of laminate. It was in decent shape but dated, and Granny specifically requested textured vinyl stick tiles for an updated look. With limited time and budget, peel-and-stick vinyl tiles were the most practical choice. We also opted not to remove the sink or toilet because of the house’s older plumbing—avoiding any plumbing work kept the project on schedule.
Sherry and I had installed vinyl tiles before, so after a short refresher we found our rhythm. Peel-and-stick tile is easy to install, doesn’t require a wet saw, thinset, or grout, and is budget-friendly—we picked ours up for 99 cents per tile. The trick is to press each tile snugly against the previous one to minimize visible seams.
These vinyl tiles are also simple to cut. A score with a utility knife, then a bend-and-snap, and the tile separates cleanly. Granny’s bathroom had a lot of tight edges to work around, which was time-consuming but manageable. Since we left the sink and toilet in place, I created paper templates to transfer precise cuts to the tiles. I used a spiral notebook page taped in place to cut around the toilet, then transferred that shape to the tile before scoring and snapping.
After trimming and dry-fitting each piece, we pulled the backing and pressed the tiles into place. The installation took about four hours and roughly 23 tiles. The new floor is a big improvement over the old sheet vinyl; its texture adds depth and complements the soft violet walls nicely. We left Granny seven spare tiles so she can fill any gaps if a future plumber replaces the toilet or sink with fixtures that have a different footprint.
With paint and flooring finished, we moved on to a few finishing touches. Some of Granny’s cabinet hardware was peeling, so we sanded it smooth and spray-painted the pieces with Valspar’s Indigo Streamer in satin. The color reads as a deep navy in person and gives the hardware a fresh, unexpected look that works well against the white cabinets. We’d intended to swap the hardware for chrome but the existing holes weren’t standard, so repainting what she had turned out to be the right call.
By the end of Day 2 the painted hardware was drying outside and the room was already transformed, even if my late-night photos don’t show the colors accurately. We also replaced a couple of outlets, including one that had burn damage, after having an electrician inspect them to ensure safety. Small updates like a blue glass knob for the medicine cabinet and a new towel ring (hung in existing holes that had been used for years) helped tie the look together.
One of the most satisfying views of the day was the area around the sink—the new floor and fresh paint made it look worlds better. Our progress checklist at this point looked like this:
Brainstorm colors & shop for accessories (Day 1)Spackle, sand, and caulk to prep the room (Day 1)Rebuild cabinets for a balanced look (Day 1)Prime and paint the cabinets (Day 1 & 2)Paint the entire room, including the ceiling (Day 2)Address problem spots like a rusted duct and a dingy corner under the sink (Day 2)Replace old sheet flooring with peel-and-stick vinyl tiles (Day 2)Refresh hardware and accessories with new paint (Day 2)- Make and hang curtains for added charm (Day 3)
- Bring in meaningful art (Day 3)
- Add final functional and personal accessories (Day 3)
- Reveal the finished bathroom to Granny (Day 3)
Tomorrow we’ll share the official before-and-after photos from Day 3 plus video of Granny’s reaction and a full budget breakdown once we tally the receipts. In the meantime: has anyone else used peel-and-stick tiles for a fast, affordable bathroom upgrade? Did you use paper templates or another method to make accurate cuts?