Vintage Bathroom Makeover Reveal
I was originally going to post this makeover as one long post but this whole makeover ended needing more detail than I thought! To recap, here’s the mood board for the space. A classic black-and-white, vintage-inspired tiny bathroom.
As I write this post and look back it’s definitely filled with “I should’ve done this that way” in my head and while it definitely looks like an improvement I think I got a little rusty on some of DIY skills - something to practice more in the new year!
Paint progress! I always seem to forget how much I actually hate painting - lol! I always go in thinking that it’s going to be therapeutic and ‘quick’ and it never ever is. So as I mentioned in the intro post in order to keep this makeover budget friendly I opted to paint the tile. This is a totally doable route but I will say painting the tile should not be thought of as a permanent solution. This is definitely a buying time until more permanent changes can be made. I should also note that proper preparation of the tile is key! Any glossy tile should be sanded a decent amount so that the paint will adhere better. There are a few spots that I should’ve sanded better and required more touch-ups later on.
I started with the black trim and looking back I think I would start with painting the white. Looking back though, here was my thinking: I was epoxying the shower floor and that needed 48 hours of no contact so starting with the black trim would allow the black paint to dry first and make it a little easier for touch-ups later.
The laying of the vinyl flooring. This was definitely the step I was most nervous about, especially with uneven cuts around the edges and and toilet. It actually wasn’t even all that bad and I was able to get most of it done in an evening (maybe 4-5 hours) with about an hour or two left of work in the morning. The rule of thumb with laying tile is to always start in the middle of the room and work out but in this case I did start in the corner nearest the shower and worked out. For the size (tiny) and shape (awkward) of this space I was able to get the most amount of whole pieces using this method.
I noticed later on that the laying of the vinyl floor helped make that bathroom warmer. It’s on the cold side of the house so in the winter it’s definitely note fun to be in, especially in bare feet. The vinyl tile was definitely a good insulator.
All in all the project cost around $150 including some supplies like brushes, etc. and for full transparency I’ll list out my supplies and decor here. Still a pretty budget-friendly fix for the space!
So here’s what I used for the makeover:
white epoxy paint used for mosaic shower floor (I used this one) It definitely has more of a glossy finish than the paint I used for the walls.
I used this paint to paint the black trim. I had it tinted to Valspar 4011-1 New Black and I love that color
I used this paint to paint the wall tile (not trim). I used the ultra white as in and did not tint it. I used two small 31 fl oz cans to cover the space (with coats)
Vinyl peel-and-stick tile (I used these ones!) I will say it took a little while for the patterns to line up, from far away you can’t really tell because the pattern is so busy.
The decor was purchased a few years but it looks like everything is still available (talk about timeless!):
Misc. hardware: towel hook, toilet paper holder, hand towel ring
Industrial wall sconce above mirror
Happy to answer questions and take any kind advice on any future makeovers!
Update: The space is still so cute and enjoyable to be in. The finishes have held up pretty well as well! I had to replace a tile closest to the shower because some cracks let some water get in. I’ll end up going back through and caulking around that area to prevent any future water from leaking in. Otherwise this heavily used bathroom has really held up! Some part of the shower paint have come up but that is due in part to my prep-work but was an easy enough fix to make it right! The epoxy floor has held up SO WELL! Highly recommend for a more water resistant finish!
