In this DIY half-bathroom makeover on a budget post, I will be sharing before & after pictures, videos, and details. As well as a life lesson I gained from this project and tips for a successful DIY bathroom remodel.

DIY Half Bathroom Makeover On A Budget

I think everyone will agree that bathrooms are one of the most essential spaces in a home. It is also a great place to start when you want to refresh and update your home. That said, you might be asking yourself what life lesson I could have gained from doing a bathroom makeover. But the truth is that if we pay attention, life is always holding class, you just have to be open to them, or you’ll miss the lesson.

The Lesson

When we purchased our Foxboro home six years ago, the place was in need of major updates. Almost every room had to be gutted and renovated with urgency, except for the half bathroom. It wasn’t cute, but it had potential, and it was always clear that it was a project I could do myself.

However, I can be so indecisive when it comes to my home repairs that I can’t stand myself. This time, thanks to indecision, the revamp of our powder room sat on a pile of unlived projects for over five years. Until I was getting my house ready for Airbnb, and then was doing this along with other makeovers full speed and with no hesitation.

After I was finished with the project of revamping the powder room, I was left feeling sad and overall disappointed with myself. After six years of living in my house, unhappy with the conditions of that half-bathroom. It was now #bathroomgoals for others to enjoy.

Then, after feeling sorry for myself, I had to recognize that I’d been allowing resistance to control so much of my life and decision-making. However, this time, I could see how inaction and indecision are the seed of living an unfulfilled life. Or, in this case, unfulfilled selfies in my cute-ass half-bathroom.

I also remembered a quote about how being indecisive is like sitting on a rocking chair; it gives you something to do but doesn’t get you anywhere. Therefore worrying about making a decision is a waste of time. Moreover, a choice is something we all can change, but we can’t take back time.

So, if you are being hesitant, it can be on anything, especially with minor details. I hope this post inspires you to get out of your own way and just do it.

Ok, now that’s out of my chest, let’s move on to the details of my DIY half-bathroom makeover on a budget.

DIY Half Bathroom Makeover On A Budget Details

Wall & Window

First, I began prepping the walls by filling in holes, removing the existing light fixtures, etc. I wanted the bathroom to feel bright and clean, so I chose Behr Marquee Ultra Pure White in a satin finish for the wall. This is one of my favorite neutral white paint colors that’s perfect for any room in the house.

For an accent wall, I went with this gorgeous Graham & Brown Crocodile print wallpaper, and I could not be more in love. The texture is impressive, instantly making the room feel more elegant and lavish. That said, this was my first time using a non-peel & stick wallpaper like in my other projects HERE & HERE. So there was a bit of a learning curve, but overall, thanks to the high-quality wallpaper, it was easy to apply.

I had this custom-sized Cordless Roman shade two years ago for the window. It was made fast and was simple to install. Apart from the look, my favorite feature is that it can be raised and lowered with no cords. Plus, shipping was fast, and the seller offered excellent customer service.

The Vanity

My original plan was to change the vanity, but after weeks of trying to find the perfect black and gold vanity, I decided just to paint the existing one. The condition of the wood was excellent, and by painting it, I took about a thousand dollars off the project. Also, by choosing to paint versus buying, I was able to choose the exact shade of black I wanted.

I used Behr Urethane Alkyd Enamel in the shade of Graphic Charcoal with a semi-gloss finish. This paint has great coverage, coats well, and spreads smoothly like butter. I loved that it’s self-leveling, dried quickly, and made the vanity look like new. In addition, it’s priced great. To complete the vanity makeover, I replaced the old handles with this brushed brass drawer pulls.

After that, I had a new sink and quartz countertop installed by a professional; this was the priciest part of the entire project but worth it as it elevated the look of the vanity. In addition, this single-handle brushed gold faucet was a great inexpensive find and so far has been holding on great.

Door, Trims & Baseboard Heater

At this point, I had some hesitancy and even created a poll on my Instagram to get your votes on whether I should paint the trims white or charcoal grey. I received mixed votes, so I decided to mix it up and go with the same color of the vanity for the floor trims and baseboard heater. I’m so happy with how it looks especially, because it makes the basboard heater look more modern.

On the door, built-in shelf, and window trims, I used Behr Premium ‘Cabinet, Door & Trim Paint’ in white with a semi-gloss finish. I also updated the door with a chic Matte Black Door Knob.

Style note: I love mixing different finishes when choosing paint colors and hardware. This makes a very subtle but pretty contrast in your home decor.

After that, to seal the space between the countertop and wallpaper instead of using caulking which can be very messy and hard to achieve straight, clean lines. I tried Instatrim, a peel-and-press trim that’s honestly revolutionary in my book. It was so easy to use and made the project look more professionally done. I loved the clean look it gives so much that I ended up using it to beautify the toilet as well.

Side Note: Stay tuned for a dedicated review on the Instatrim because it’s a DIY lover must-try product and deserves its own post.

Lighting & Light Switch

I put on my electrician’s wanna-be hat and replaced our outdated ceiling light fixture with this modern and sleek matte black flush mount led light. It was very easy to install and has a good array of LEDs for bright light and a button on the side that allows you to change the lighting temperature from ‘yellow-white’ to ‘blue-white’. I love how lighting can change the vibe of any room.

The black and gold sconce vanity light was an old purchase I made when we closed on the house about six years ago, and it’s no longer available. However, I found a similar sconce here and one with double lights here.

Apart from that, I changed the light switches and plates with a super sleek and clean set in black.

Safety note: I feel very comfortable with electrical outlets and lights only after years of working with contractors and learning from them.

Mirror, Plants & Decor

For a mirror, I took a gamble on this one out of the convenience of not driving around different stores but was so impressed with its heavy and excellent quality. The brand offers different shapes and size options, but I chose an oval-shaped brushed gold sized 24×36 to make the whole space look bigger, and it also allows you to check out your outfit.

I switched our old toilet paper holder with this super cute and functional TP holder with a shelf and replaced the toilet seat with a newer soft-closing one. Also added this beautiful and easy-maintenance Yucca indoor plant and placed it in this gold adjustable plant stand which makes any plant pot look more glam.

After that, I decorated the bathroom with cute faux plants, wall decor, and functional and fun finds perfect for any home, but the signs are a great touch for one that’s hosting on Airbnb.

The Final Look Of My DIY Half Bathroom Makeover On A Budget

I could not be more happy and proud of how my powder room looks now, and I hope it inspires you to makeover that room you’ve been putting off for “next month/year.” Furthermore, and to help your project go smoother, below, Im sharing my tips on how to successfully DIY a bathroom makeover on a budget.

Tips for a successful DIY Bathroom Makeover On A Budget

One of the most critical steps before starting a low-budget project is to create a plan of action. This plan should include all the details of your project, such as the things you’re comfortable with doing and where you’ll need a professional contractor.

Apart from that, a budget bathroom makeover plan should include everything like color themes, new fixtures, and decor.

Get creative and repurpose some existing components like the toilet, cabinets, and sink. By doing this, you’ll incur fewer additional costs.

Watch DIY tutorials on youtube.

The great part of DIY projects is that you don’t have to do it all at once, and most of the steps can be done even if you’ve never done a home improvement project before.

Last but not least, don’t wait till you’re selling your home or listing on Airbnb to make these improvements. Trust me. You’ll be a bit salty if you do! 😉

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