Kid’s bathroom makeover
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The toilet in the kid’s main floor bathroom had been giving us issues for awhile. We were tired of constantly fixing it, for it only to be a short term solution. We couldn’t figure out the root problem, and it was cheaper to buy a new one rather than hire a plumber. But if you give a mouse a cookie… or tell me we’re doing a small project… I’ll want to take it to the next level, and spend more time and money than originally planned. However, after removing the toilet, we found the flooring underneath was pretty gross, so ya know, may as well redo the flooring (cookie). I bought the floor tile from a seller on Facebook marketplace for almost nothing, and the wall tile from a warehouse sale for $20, so this project was very low cost. The baseboards behind the toilet were damaged, so the tile will be pretty, but also more durable.
The project took a couple of weeks to complete. It’s a smaller space, but I have 6 kids, so I don’t get a lot of time at once to work. There were also some days that I didn’t work on it at all, but the timeline still wasn’t too bad.
BUDGET:
Like I said, I got all of the tile for around $50 (I have a lot of the floor tile leftover). The floor tile wouldn’t be my first choice, but I still like it: contemporary and a fun pattern for the kids.
What I spent:
All tile $50
Floor grout $18 (Wall grout-I got it for free from that same warehouse sale)
Multi-surface bonding primer $50 (I have a lot left over)
Mortar $15 (I have leftover)
1 baseboard $9
PVC quarter round around tub $12
Base molding around vanity $12
Vanity light $50 (similar, cuter, and cheaper!)
Toilet + wax ring $103
Caulk $8
Tile to carpet wood transition $14
Grout sponges $5
Grout sealer $10
I already had things on hand like paint + brush, nails for trim, and stain to match the vanity. But the cost of those little things can be easy to forget, and they add up. So it may be wise to add around 10-20% for those kids of things.
Total $370 (ish). That’s really not bad at all for a bathroom makeover!
My biggest money saver was in the tile. This tile sells for $8-10 sq. foot, but I paid $30 for enough for 2 bathrooms! I’ve purchased a lot of tile from Facebook Marketplace in the past! If you’re doing a small space - look for people selling extra tile from their project that either they are too lazy to return, or they’re past the return window. You can get really nice tile for a fraction of the cost. Sometimes you have to be patient and keep your eye out for new listings. I’ve also gotten premixed grout, tools, wallpaper, paint, light fixtures, and more for a fraction of the cost. I ALWAYS SHOP FACEBOOK BEFORE I GO TO THE STORE!
My vanity is only 4 years old, so I kept that. I just fancied it up with some new hardware. Hardware is like jewelry! It really dresses up your cabinetry, and finishes the look! It’s also functional if you’re looking for a logical excuse to add hardware ;)
I didn’t see how dirty my cabinet door was until after I uploaded the picture ;-) It’s mostly the lighting
New lighting is one of the most inexpensive ways to change the look of your room. I’ve told clients, friends, and family when they’re getting ready to list their home- if you can’t do anything else- update lighting, paint where needed, and hardware. It’s incredible what a difference those details make! It’s beautiful, and makes your home look more custom vs builder bulk discount package. AMAZON has the best selection of designer inspired lighting at a fraction of the cost. Update your lighting room by room, or little by little if needed. But trust me, it’s everything. They also have gorgeous faucets, but I would still get a well known brand, like Moen (my plumber told me they’re the best). I’ve had to return several no-name brands when doing flip homes, because they have almost no water pressure. But for the most part, Amazon still sells the good brands cheaper than home improvement stores.
PROCESS:
I had linoleum flooring in my bathroom. Overall it was in good shape: no bubbles or tares. Linoleum is a good water barrier. It’s good on its own, right? So rather that ripping it out and laying down cement board, I opted to use a multi-surface bonding primer. The primer isn’t cheap, but it saved me a lot of time and labor. It’s basically just a very grippy paint. It gives your existing surface some grit, so your tile doesn’t slip and slide (I’ve made that mistake before).
Install floor tile. Mix mortar to a thick frosting consistency and lay one at at time. I like to start in the middle, and do all of my full pieces first. Less trips to the tile saw, and less time I have to have it set up. Just don’t step on your tile until the mortar has had 24 hours to set. Then install around the edges/cut pieces. This pattern/shape was pretty time consuming.
Wall tile: same process
Apply grout & allow to dry for 24 hours
Install trim, and transitions
Like I said, this took about 2 weeks. If I had solid days and long hours to work on it I could have gotten it done quicker, but reality is more most people doing DIY- we just don’t have hours and hours at a time. Here a little and there a little
The style is contemporary and modern. The floor tile is very contemporary, but the hex shape is classic. The wall tile has a lot of variation and character. I alternated glossy and matte tile, which adds a lot of visual interest and dimension. It’s also a very classic look and won’t ever go out of style. The hardware and light fixture are more modern, but with a classic twist. This bathroom is more functional, and beautiful. I still have more that I’d like to do in there, but that can wait.
I love the texture and visual interest
