Bravo! What a beautiful transformation.
I don’t have the courage to try wallpaper anywhere , but you did it and it comcompletely changed the bathroom from generic to fabulous!
Awe, thank you so much! That means a lot to me. I was nervous about trying wallpaper too, especially for a whole room. It felt like a huge step! But once I found the right one, it really brought the space to life. I’m so glad you like it!
If you ever decide to give wallpaper a try, I’d suggest starting with peel-and-stick. It’s easier to work with in my opinion, and you can remove small sections at a time if needed. That made the process way less intimidating for me.
Looks really lovely, congrats! How were you choosing an actual wallpaper, what was the process for you?
I am curious about both 'ideation' and a finding an actual item to purchase
Thank you so much. I really appreciate that! When it came to choosing wallpaper, I kept things simple and budget-friendly. I went with a store selection that had discounted options and landed on a near-neutral design that felt calming but still added personality. For me, peel-and-stick was the way to go. It’s the easiest to apply and forgiving if you need to reposition. I’ve used it twice now, and it sticks really well! I browsed places like Etsy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Target, each had some great options depending on your style and price point. The process was more about finding something that felt right for the space and wouldn’t break the bank. Hope that helps if you’re thinking of trying it out!
Thanks for sharing! It's quite hard to get to the "feeling right though", you must. I personally have to start on a high level (mood, feeling), then more practical (can it work here) then pricing… or sometimes pricing comes first
You're welcome, and I totally get that! Finding what feels right can be tricky! I did this guest bathroom as part of the One Room Challenge (a biannual event that challenges participants to transform a space in six short weeks).
Having a tight timeline helped me quickly figure out what would actually work. Afterwards, I fought hard to stay within budget.
Do you have more shots? I am considering building a similar bathroom!
Absolutely! If you click on the "Head back to this before and after" link at the top of this page, it should take you to the original post. Good luck with your intended bathroom redo!
The wallpaper is great, made a huge difference. I did the same, hooks for towels in lieu of towel bars.
Thanks so much! The wallpaper really changed the whole feel of the room. Towel hooks instead of bars is such a small switch but it works so well. Glad we had the same idea!
I love this. A fantastic improvement. I love love wallpaper. It makes everything look so much better.
How did the process you described only cost you $1,000?
Aw, thank you! I’m so glad you love it. I’m with you, wallpaper really does make everything look better. It adds instant personality without a ton of effort. I had fun picking one that felt calm but still had a little flair. Appreciate the love!
Thank you for asking. I totally understand the curiosity!
The project actually went a little over the $1,000 mark, and I wish I had tracked every receipt more closely. It wasn’t super recent, so I don’t recall the exact total, but I do remember stretching the budget as far as I could and going just a tad over.
I kept costs down by choosing store-bought wallpaper that was on sale (I used four rolls at $28 each), painting the ceiling with just one quart of color, and finding a floor-model vanity at a discount. The lighting and mirror were each $29.99. They look high-end but were surprisingly affordable. My spouse rewired and repositioned the light himself (wall-mounted, came with a switch for vertical placement), and we got help from someone he knew to help with the tiling at a very low cost.
The toilet was $99 from a popular warehouse, and I used gifted art with frames I already owned one silver, one black I found for $1. Accessories came from a local discount store. It was definitely a mix of creativity, resourcefulness, and a little help from loved ones!
Just to keep it real, the bathtub section is still builder-grade. We focused our budget and energy on the ceiling, flooring, lighting, and wallpaper, so that area didn’t get a full upgrade (yet!). It’s definitely on my future wish list, but for now, I’ve tried to make it feel cohesive with accessories and a clean, fresh look.
I hope that gives a clearer picture. I’m happy to share more if you're curious!
Thanks for replying - it was definitely the labour costs that I was most curious about. What you've described makes sense. For my tiny bathroom reno (no walls moved, no plumbing relocated, no overly pricey materials), the cost was over $20,000—mostly because of labour costs. So kudos to you and your spouse for keeping costs down!
Thank you so much. That means a lot! I totally hear you on the labor costs. It’s wild how quickly things add up, even when the materials themselves aren’t extravagant.
Your reno sounds like it was a big investment, but I bet it turned out beautifully. Sometimes those small spaces take just as much heart (and budget!) as the big ones. Appreciate your kind words and sending kudos right back to you!
