How’s that for a title? We’re roughly a fifth of the way through updating this bathroom, and these photos are a snapshot of that work-in-progress reality in our new house. A fresh coat of paint will do a lot—we’re deciding between a soft gray and a warm mocha—to help the room feel cohesive and to tie together elements like the shower curtain, bathmat, and the charming vintage yellow tile. Better artwork, a bright Roman shade or other window treatment, an updated light fixture, and a few thoughtful tweaks will hopefully elevate the space from “meh” to genuinely welcoming.
Functionally it’s solid: you can brush your teeth, shower, and use the toilet without issue. The previous owners left the house immaculately clean, so there’s no mildew or deep grime to tackle, which makes the refresh easier. Below are a few more details about what we’ve added and what’s still on the to-do list.
Yes, I folded the toilet paper into a neat triangle just like hotels do. Small rituals like that make the space feel cared for.
This is a compact bathroom. It’s so small you can stand at the sink and reach every wall, which makes wide-angle shots tricky. To maximize function, I added a small acrylic trash can to the left of the toilet, which you can glimpse near the top photo. In the shower we installed a suction-cup caddy to hold sample-sized shampoos, conditioner, and body wash, keeping surfaces clear and organized. A small cup above the sink holds a travel-size toothpaste tube so guests have the basics without cluttering the sink edge.
To accommodate different preferences, we offer both bar soap and liquid soap. Above the toilet we hung placeholder artwork—three framed food-themed prints (cupcakes, grapes, and lemons) that we already had on hand—to break up the blank wall and add some personality. We chose reprints we could easily replace if humidity affects them over time, but eventually we’d love to create or source a piece that coordinates with the printed shower curtain and the deep teal bedroom walls next door for a punch of color.
There isn’t much countertop space in this tiny bathroom. Because the sink lacks a lip and the vanity offers little staging area, we keep the toilet tank lid free to serve as a temporary spot for toiletry bags. That simple solution gives guests a place to set items without crowding the sink. Fresh, plush white bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths complete the setup and give the room a crisp, welcoming feel—grandparent-ready, if you will.
One pleasant improvement is that the door in front of the toilet is non-reflective, so there’s no awkward mirror angle that shows your whole body while you’re seated. Small design choices like that have an outsized impact on comfort and privacy. And yes, when I say “John” I mean the commode—and, in a household joke, my husband—so there’s a little toilet-related humor in the mix.
There’s still work to do: we’ll decide on the wall color, swap the light fixture, add window treatments, and hunt for artwork that ties everything together. For now the bathroom is tidy, functional, and livable, which is exactly what you want while you incrementally turn it into the polished space it can become.