The guest bathroom turned out so much cuter with just a few simple changes. That small space proves that even rooms that feel stuck can look fresh with inexpensive updates: new paint, a window treatment, some art, and a few mixed-and-matched accessories. Instead of removing the vintage yellow tile and the scrabble-board floor, we embraced them, which kept the character intact and saved time and money. For roughly $50, the room now looks a lot more inviting.
The space now has a relaxed, Anthropologie-inspired vibe. I’ll credit the original elements—the white sink and the 1960s tile—for most of the charm. Adding a few art pieces and accessories filled empty spots and helped the room feel cohesive. Here’s a before shot taken from the same doorway about a week after we moved in:
Thankfully, the giant mirror that once showed your whole reflection while you were on the toilet is gone.
The room is tiny, so photos are limited. The print over the toilet came from a page I tore out of a magazine last year and saved in a box of “someday art.” The colors and the water/fishing motif felt right for a bathroom. The frame is from Target and included a mat for $22.
I like how the softer white frame and the artwork play off the deeper-toned mirror and light fixture. Rather than competing for attention, the art recedes while the charcoal mirror above the sink (painted in Benjamin Moore’s Silhouette) becomes the focal point. The monogrammed P hand towels are from West Elm, gifts from readers at book signings, and the lemon tea towel is another sweet gift—nice to have a place to display them.
Small rooms often invite small jokes. My partner insists you need two monogrammed P towels for obvious reasons—humor appreciated, forgiveness granted.
For those asking to see the shower opening: the room is compact, so this was the best angle I could manage. The fabric art across from the mirror is easier to see here—an old remnant I framed. It ties into the brighter yellow tiles on the floor and the yellow accents in the guest room.
The shower has a small tile lip that keeps the curtain from falling toward the sink. The fabric curtain is polyester, similar to many shower-liner materials, so we simply wash it to keep it fresh; it’s been holding up well after six months of use.
This view from the guest room shows how the blue window shade and a Turkish towel on the door visually connect the two spaces. They look charming next to the polka-dot curtains and help the bathroom feel like part of the home.
It’s funny that a vintage yellow bathroom that once felt out of place now fits right in.
Here’s what we did to bring the room together:
- Repainted the walls, trim, and ceiling in a fresh white.
- Applied frosting film to the window for privacy.
- Made a window treatment from a bold fabric remnant.
- Painted the mirror frame to make it stand out.
- Hung art above the toilet and across from the mirror.
- Added accessories to personalize and finish the space.
Budget breakdown:
- Fresh white paint for walls, ceiling, and trim (Decorators White by Benjamin Moore): $25 (quart)
- Paint for the mirror (Silhouette by Benjamin Moore): $0 (already owned)
- Art above the toilet: $22 (Target frame; art was a magazine page)
- Fabric art reflected in the mirror: $0 (remnant and frame already on hand)
- Fabric remnant for the window treatment: $4
- Window frosting film: $0 (leftover from other projects)
- Hand towels, plant, bath towel, and soap: $0 (already owned)
- TOTAL SPENT: $51 (approximately $70 if you need to buy mirror paint, towels, and frosting film)
That’s the power of a few thoughtful accessories—small changes that make a big visual impact.
