Budget Bathroom Refresh: A Temporary Transformation

When we first moved into our home, our guest bathroom was definitely in need of some attention. However, as it often happens, it got pushed to the back burner. With so many other pressing matters demanding our focus, the bathroom, while not in terrible shape, simply didn’t make the priority list. The ‘before’ picture might paint a grim picture, but after clearing out the remnants from the estate sale, the main issue became the flooring.

We knew that eventually, this small bathroom would undergo a complete overhaul, a full gut renovation where we could start from scratch. Consequently, we wanted to avoid spending a fortune on making it usable in the meantime. The goal was simple: transform it into a functional and presentable space without breaking the bank. Let’s dive into the details of how we achieved this mini-makeover!

Last week, we tackled this little bathroom with a refresh, turning it into a space we’d be happy to welcome our guests into. Get ready to see the transformation!

Here’s the bathroom after an initial cleanup. We removed the old, rusted radiators and installed a new HVAC system, which unfortunately left some holes in the floor. Additionally, the entire house was rewired, meaning the electricians had to create openings in the ceiling and, much to our dismay, the wallpaper! (Rewiring was definitely a necessity though)

Aside from a thorough cleaning and the removal of the butterfly decals and an unappealing curtain, the bathtub was actually in surprisingly good condition!

This bathroom was last renovated in the 1970s. It was the original bathroom of my 1917 home, so I suspect a complete gutting occurred at that time. The current design lacks any characteristic features from the early 1900s.

Eventually, I plan to restore it to an updated version of the early 1900s aesthetic. However, for the time being, it needed a good cleaning, a new floor, and a new toilet seat and cover. The goal was to keep the budget under $150, if possible.

Here’s the “after the initial cleanup” look:

We had to scrape the floor a bit to remove the remaining old mortar. And yes, that’s a rather unpleasant Band-Aid I unearthed beneath the tile! #shudders

Now, let’s talk about the floor. I’m a fan of pattern-on-pattern designs, so I wanted something that would complement the existing floral wallpaper without appearing too overwhelming. During a visit to my local home improvement store, I discovered black and white peel-and-stick tiles priced at just 53¢ each. Even better, the entire store was offering an 11% discount! This meant I was getting tiles for a mere 47¢ per square foot. The flooring itself cost less than $50. However, we needed to purchase supplies to prep the floor, including a small amount of self-leveling compound for a few uneven spots and a primer to ensure the “peel-and-stick” tiles adhered properly. Since my favorite pattern is stripes, I decided to create a striped floor. The total cost? Under $100.

The only tool I needed for this tile installation was a pair of scissors.

Easy, easy, easy…The tiling process took about 2.5 hours. I used a straight edge to cut the tiles around the edges, and voila… a temporary floor that has lasted for three years.

I actually love the floor in combination with the wallpaper. We decided to keep the old light fixtures, because there’s no need to buy anything new until it’s time for the full remodel! When we renovate, we are actually planning on keeping the same layout, with one slight change…

This small nook will be transformed into a double sink area. We’ll remove the pedestal sink (not pictured) to create more built-in storage. Alternatively, we might leave it open and incorporate a cool piece of furniture for storage. The toilet and tub/shower will be gutted and rebuilt in the same configuration. And, excitingly, we will reuse the original tub, which is in excellent condition!

I’m not entirely sure what this little nook was originally used for, but it features two of the coolest sconces (original to the house). The only issue is that the sconces were placed in the middle of the wall. When this area becomes a double sink, I’m unsure whether to position them above the mirrors or between the mirrors, similar to this bathroom. I knew that keeping them in their current position would pose a problem for any storage solutions or how we would use this space in the interim. My electrician provided some excellent advice. He suggested wiring them and placing them where they would eventually go above the mirrors, then capping them off (or installing a temporary fixture). His reasoning was brilliant. It allows me to add storage on the wall for now (which I didn’t do but didn’t know that then), and it provides the maximum wire length, allowing me to move them if I want during the renovation. Since we were already rewiring the entire house, they had to address the lights anyway. Moving them up while they were here didn’t incur any additional cost. If I chose not to do this and later decided I wanted them higher, I would have to call them back and have them run longer wires, which would be more expensive. Now that I have the wire length, I can keep it there or move it down when the walls are opened up.

The downside was that they had to patch the old holes in my pretty wallpaper!

I decided to conceal them with a gallery wall. I also chose to cover up the light boxes instead of installing a temporary fixture. The original sconces are “up light” sconces, which don’t quite fit the space. If I decide to put them lower, I might use them.

I considered using this space for storage, but we simply don’t need it. We have the built-in cabinets, which provide ample storage. The basket is useful for towels, and the chair is perfect for throwing clothes. I have a little boy, so extensive storage isn’t really required here. He only needs a place for his toothbrush, comb, and soap. The chair is also handy for guests to place their belongings.

We also lowered all the light switches to a standard height when we rewired the house. Apparently, “standard” 100 years ago was much higher. As you can see, we haven’t aesthetically addressed this patch yet. We had to cover it with a drywall patch to pass our home inspection. Kids being able to stick their fingers into a hole with exposed wiring? That was definitely not going to pass!

I do love gallery walls in bathrooms, and this one has effectively served its purpose of covering up imperfections.

Have you seen these adorable faux hooks from Ikea? I love them, and my son wanted blue, so I went with it and actually think it looks better than the black option. My sweet boy has a floral bathroom, so I decided to let him have a say!

On another note, I love wallpaper in here so much that it will be getting new wallpaper when we renovate.

I used the same discontinued Ikea shelving unit for over-the-toilet storage. I repurposed a thrift store planter basket with a clear trash can for trash disposal.

This little Target stand has been a game changer for my little boy who can’t quite reach the medicine cabinet. He is starting to reach it now, but when he was smaller, it was much easier for him to get his things in the tray.

I love how the striped floor looks three years later. It has held up so well!

I’ve been telling myself to paint the trim of the medicine cabinet, door, and window for the last three years. It’s off-white, while the tile and fixtures are white. There are just too many pressing things to do, and since it’s going away eventually, it’s hard to find the motivation.

I do love my Ikea dishtowel hand towels. They’re so inexpensive, and I always have plenty ready to replace them!

This shelf is the same one I used to style this rental bathroom. This is where it’s been used and how it’s been used for some time now. My guests can hang their bag on the side or place it right on the top shelf.

I love this mountain print. It really incorporates all the colors of the bathroom!

I love this indoor/outdoor rug runner, but my son still needs to use a Turkish towel because he insists on leaving the shower soaking wet. We are working on it!

This little snake plant has made appearances in all my Curbly posts, but this is its actual home. Snake plants require minimal sun and water, and the humidity of the bathroom is perfect for them!

Just for fun… here’s the bathroom when we moved into the house and started renovating (we used the other bathroom while we updated this one).

And here’s the refresh for a little over $100!

This bathroom has held up for almost three years, but it’s time for a full renovation, which will hopefully happen by this time next year. I’m thankful for the inexpensive flooring that helped this bathroom last a few more years. I’ll actually be a little sad to see it go, but it’s necessary. The old plumbing is still in place and needs to be updated.

On another note, we also passed our home inspection, and our son has been using it since we moved in!