But before we get into the rest: an armadillo in the bathroom. Let’s talk about it. A quirky decorative touch like this somehow makes the space feel finished.
We can argue that many decorating “rules” are just personal preference, but surely we can agree a bathroom benefits from a playful, unexpected accent—like a golden armadillo.
That print came from a craft fair, created by a talented local artist named Rachel, and I finally framed and hung it. I especially like it in the burlap-y, grasscloth-like frame (an old Pottery Barn Outlet find) placed above the framed Instagram photo of Clara holding a naked doll—somehow both pieces feel right at home in a bathroom setting.
The linen-like fabric behind the Instagram photo pairs nicely with the textured frame above. I have a little design strategy in mind when I bring those cream and straw tones into the room: they echo the warm gold tones found in our soap dispensers and even that loofah on the toilet tank, helping the unusual cream-colored sink feel more intentional.
Don’t get me wrong—the sink still has a shell-like shape and won’t be a permanent fixture—but when I group it with other items in a similar palette (soap pumps, artwork, loofah, frames), it reads as a deliberate choice rather than an oddball. There’s a short design lesson here: sometimes adding more of a color that feels unexpected can make a space feel layered and purposeful, especially during that initial “Phase 1” of decorating.
While it’s hard to look away from that charming armadillo, we also updated the light fixture. We rescued it for $9.99 from a Habitat for Humanity ReStore and gave it a quick refresh.
A few light coats of Rust-Oleum Universal oil-rubbed bronze spray paint did the trick, with the bulb sockets carefully masked off. Because the paint is self-priming, it was a simple one-step update that made a noticeable difference.
Then we added two inexpensive frosted bulb covers from the hardware store and called it done.
The new fixture helps the whole room feel cleaner and more current. We’re planning a deeper renovation later—maybe a tiled accent wall or grasscloth wallpaper—but in the meantime, finding inexpensive secondhand pieces gives the space personality without a big investment. (Psst: the red flowers you might remember from an earlier photo were added for a pop of color after these shots were taken, and I love them—so imagine they’re in the frame here too.)
UPDATE: We’ve transitioned our whole house to LED bulbs. They save a lot of energy and money, and they’re perfect for people who prefer low-maintenance solutions because they last much longer than traditional bulbs. The LEDs we like offer a warm, natural glow rather than a blue cast and use significantly less energy.
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