I would like to update my bathroom but not looking to do major renovations. I'm thinking about painting the vanity white, but would like suggestions on new mirror, wall decor, paint color, hardware, etc. Also, would like opinion on possibly adding a light over mirror.
So many things you can do here! If you were to describe your ideal bathroom to a friend, what words would come to mind? How do you want it to feel? This is how I typically begin my projects. I'm also curious about what you don't like about the wood vanity. If other elements in your bathroom were different, could you imagine it working? Do you want to paint it white to brighten up the space? Looking forward to sharing some ideas once I know which direction you're heading!
Hi! Thank you for your response. My sense of style is more traditional with a bit of farmhouse/cottage, but not too much. My ideal bathroom would be bright, modern, and fresh/clean. I don't mind the wood vanity but it feels dark to me. Maybe I could sand it and re-stain it a lighter color? I think painting the walls a lighter color would also help brighten it up.
I like the idea of paining the vanity white! I also think paining the walls to something lighter will give this space a fresher look.
I'd suggest you turn this space into 3d and play around with it there before doing any major renovation.
Hope this helps a bit.
Well, you have a great foundation here to work with, and it's already in a traditional, somewhat formal style. I agree it would be nice to make it lighter and brighter. My first thought is to add color! I'd paint the walls white or some other light, pretty color, but I'd probably leave the vanity as is (because I like wood). Is it possible to change the black countertop to something lighter? Paint it or apply peel-and-stick something or other? I think that black counter is really what's making the room dark. Add a pretty rug in colors you like, coordinating towels, and paint the walls in a compatible color. I like the ornamental grille panel hanging on the wall now (you could paint that a color too!), but really any art that makes you happy and comes in pretty colors would help change the mood. Good luck, and keep us posted!
Thank you so much for your feedback. I really appreciate it.
Thank you! I appreciate your input.
Your style sounds fun! I can see why the bathroom isn't lining up with your preferences now. I'd start with paint, and I agree that something less beige will help make the space feel airier. One thing to keep in mind is that if there is no natural light in the room, paint can only do so much. I have a bathroom similar in size to yours with no windows, and I thought painting it white would make a big difference, but it wasn't that groundbreaking. I ended up leaning into something a little more romantic and swapped the light fixtures, mirror, and hardware to make everything fit more in line with my style. If you chose a color over white, I would agree with you that painting the vanity white or cream would help balance everything out. Could you do contact paper on the countertop to cover up the heaviness of the black?
Don’t paint that beautiful wood. You will eventually have a chipped, dirty mess. You could refinish it. Perhaps strip the finish off and just put a clear finish on. That will make it lighter.
Priming the wall and medicine cabinet white would be the first step to seeing how much brighter it looks compared to the beige going on everywhere. After seeing how much the white primer brightens up the space, continue with white wall paint.
Once the overall beige has been eliminated aside from the floors, you'll be able to choose a color that meshes with white walls, black countertop and beige flooring. The black countertop looks much more up to date than that dated vanity, I'd choose a mint green or light blue (something that picks up the speckles in the stone) to add color and switch cabinet hardware to black.
Swap in a much more colorful rug and take away that beige wall hanging or paint it the same color as the vanity. Ideally you could swap in a new medicine cabinet that is not as bulky / outdated as what is there now, but at the very least paint the same color as the walls to minimize it. The mirror is lovely, just leave it as in until the rest of the room is done, possibly paint to match the vanity.
I would paint the vanity a pale shade of olive green or shaker yellow. White would lighten it up but still would be too stark. You could even sand it just to a paler stained wood. I would add a more colorful rug coordinated with whatever you choose to paint the vanity. That might be all you need to do
I would make the bathroom black and white. Paint the walls white. Also the cabinet and the mirror. You already have the black marble. You can tile the floor over this one - black and white tiles like they used to have in old NYC buildings, or just alternate black and white squares. Then you can change the picture above the toilet, an abstract with bright primary colors maybe. Put down a rug in one of those colors. If you want more lighting you can put a long one on top of the muffin or two sconces one on each side.its a lovely, large bathroom!
I would also change the hardware on the cabinet to something sleek and modern.
We bought a 1975 build in the High Desert (Southern California) in 2014.. We knew the original owner who build it himself or his wife, and she had left him so he was here alone. Since he was a golfer and found a new girlfriend, he bought a condo at the golf course so he wanted to sell this house ASAP. We walked through it and it was dark as night ugly veveteen burgundy curtains, dark kitchen cabinets, tiny living room next to the kitchen and huge "family room-his bedroom combination separated with a curtain from the kitchen. Very large pool and no landscaping, just a chain link fence and block wall as required by law around the pool. With my neighbor's help, the cabinets were removed and white ones from Home Depot on sale with a 25% discount if I used their credit card, I bought them for about 30% UNDER my budget. So I could afford granite counterops for kitchen and bathrooms and chose black. We decided to leave the original tiles, which although not to my liking, they're while faux marble and were in excellent condition. He left the house immaculate and move in ready. But for the bathrooms; due to budget (I'm very frugal, my husband had retired and although I hadn't, so if I set a budget I stick to it. I never got around to painting the bathroom cabinets as planned, but they look fine. Once the furniture was placed the tiles are hardly noticed, and the dark cabinets in the bathroom are countered by the white tiles, white walls and white shower curtains. I'm certain you can make it work. Here is what I'm thinking: change that dark mat and make it white, plus don't have it on the floor, hang it on the side of the tub or fold it and put it away, it's really not needed. Find a more colorful wall decoration or paint that one white or another color, not brown, I have a favorite black and white sketch bought 50 years ago in Northern CA, and a lovely painting of peonies gifted by a friend and colleague. The second bathroom has a lot of light from a window, but I treated it the same except for white and blue curtain as both my grandson and husband like blue, but towels and mats are white. I also had the overhead lighting changed to very bringht white covers and the highest intensity bulbs sold, those that don't get hot. Good luck and show us the after photo please?
I think you have a great starting point. The floor is neutral, looks like your shower tile is as well. Lots of rectangles and hard corners in the room. I would paint the cabinet in a warmer white, not a bright white, so it doesn’t fight the floor tile. I would find a soft color for the walls, perhaps a blue or green from the painting, or some other color family that appeals to you (coral, peach, warm yellow?). Find a rug for the floor that has some of that wall color in it and is otherwise a lighter cream color. I like the black countertop. What the room needs, in addition to a new wall color, is for the black of the counter to look intentional - spread that around a bit. Change the cabinet hardware, once it is painted, to a brushed or satin nickel to match the faucet. Change out the mirror for something more oval, not quite so wide, hung sideways, to pick up the oval curves in the cabinetry doors, sink and toilet, in black. You would benefit from a fixture over the mirror, to remove the cold, shadow-casting glare of the overhead light. That would be pretty in the same brushed nickel tone. Replace the plug in nightlight with a small lamp sitting in that corner. If you can, get rid of the odd medicine cabinet. If you can’t, and still want it usable, paint the wood the same color as the vanity, add a handle to match the vanity hardware, cover the mirror with a frosted window wallpaper or a piece of art glued over the mirror. If you don’t want to bother removing it, but want to hide it, get rid of the door, paint the trim the vanity color, take out the shelves, and use the inside as a planter for faux succulents in the bottom. I would find a set of two or three pieces of art or photos to stack over the toilet to replace the grille, or a couple of small shelves in black to use for decorative items. Replace the towels with something in a deeper shade of the wall color you choose, either a solid or a stripe or pattern in the deeper shade on a light background. Good luck!
Is this a rental, or do you own it? If you own it, is it possible to add a solatube for some natural light?
Really glad I could help a bit :)
