Small Bathroom Remodel Plans: A Simple, Clean Update
In this post: Looking to update a small bath? These plans for a small bathroom remodel will give you ideas for a simple, clean makeover. ⇒
I’ve been wanting to update this tiny bath for a long time.
The update is purely cosmetic and the room is really small. The purpose is to simply upgrade this builder grade bath. It won’t be a complicated renovation. So what is taking me so long to get it done?
It’s not that I haven’t been thinking about it. In fact, I decided on the aesthetics months ago and much of it is on order. But I’ve been dragging my feet for two reasons.
First, the extended deliveries on what I did already order pushed the project out for several months. And second, I do not have a reliable tiler and have no idea how much tile to order. When I’ve asked for referrals in the past, the tile stores seem to be at a loss.
With the deliveries beginning to trickle in, I decided it’s time to get the plan done and the construction scheduled. Surely someone can recommend a tiler. I just need to make it happen.
Small Bathroom Remodel Plan
With that attitude adjustment, it became time to complete the plan. So let’s look at the concept for the room and then how I hope to fulfill the plan.
As with most of my renovations, I know I want the room to be predominantly white. It’s a small dark room with no natural light and if any room should be white, this is it.
However, as the ensuite bath to the beige bedroom we keep for my adult son for when he visits, I want the room to be both a bit less feminine that my usual style, as well as comprising some natural elements that will tie in with the beiges in the bedroom.
Hence, my central design concept revolves around the mixture of three elements: crisp white, natural wood, and antiqued brass.
The look I’m going for is clean and simple, classic and upscale, and modern but with a touch of patina for character.
The Key Design Elements
The first piece I needed to select to achieve this look was the vanity.
Since the room is essentially tile and vanity, plus a few accessories, the relationship between the vanity and tile is most important. I very much want the mix of warm toned wood, albeit in a light color, with a cool toned marble and that pairing is the essence of the design.
I saw the lovely cane front vanity pictured above, and it became my ideal, although I tried to find something a bit less expensive. While there were a few options that were somewhat similar, and I even had one on order that I later cancelled, sometimes you need to go for the thing that’s exactly what you want.
In this case, nothing had the same light and airy feeling as my ideal vanity and I’m very glad I stuck with it.
The second key design element is the tile, which will be used for the floor and the walls around the tub.
As I mentioned above, this is not yet ordered, but I’ve known for a while what I have in mind. Working out the design board helped solidify my choices.
I’ll be looking for a marble mosaic for the bathroom floor and the Carrera herringbone is my first choice. It will work nicely with the Carrera countertop that comes with the vanity, and since it’s a small space and one of the few opportunities in that space to add interest, I will definitely be selective in choosing the marble.
This is particularly important since I will not have a wall of marble behind the vanity, like I’m seeing in the inspiration images.
Bathroom Fixtures
With the first two key elements accounted for in the plan, the third aspect of the design is to incorporate the gorgeous patina of vintage-looking brass accessories.
I chose a very simple design for the vanity mirror with a narrow brass border and pivoting hardware. I added the triple sconce, above, to place over the mirror and I love it’s aged finish, yet clean modern lines.
Rounding out the picture I selected the gooseneck faucet, below, which I think will look wonderful with the vanity.
Wall Tile
In addition to the marble tiled floor, I also need to select a tile for the shower walls. I’m hoping to find a beveled edge white subway tile. I want something light, bright and understated, and I think this would fit the bill perfectly.
I intend to take the tile all the way up to the ceiling and the existing shower door will be removed for certain. While it would be nice to use a free standing tub, this spot is used more as a shower. Another option would be to remove the tub altogether and build a shower only, but that’s way more involved of a remodel than we plan for right now.
The existing plain white tub will have to do. For now I expect to use a tension rod with white fabric shower curtain, but other options can be explored down the road.
The other textiles in the room will also be a crisp white, from plush bath and hand towels to a simple fluffy bath mat.
Decorative Accessories
For accessories I plan to reflect the same three visual elements: white marble, vintage brass, and natural organics.
For bath sink accessories such as tumbler and soap dispenser I’m leaning toward the frosted marble pieces above.
Towel bars, toilet paper holder and robe hook will be in vintage brass.
And the waste basket and small tray can come from the rattan collection in the last image, below.
The next step is to wrap up my tile order and get workers into my home.
I’m always so excited to complete a renovation project, but getting stuck in an unfinished state is never a good feeling. Sometimes all it takes to get the project back on track is finalizing the design plan and having a visual to keep you on track.
And hopefully before you know it, I’ll be posting the completed reveal!
Resource Guide
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Is there an “After” photo?
There will be when we complete the room… 😉 As the post says, this is the plan. Some of it is sitting in my home, some is on order, and 2 things haven’t been finalized yet, but we’re close. It’s all detailed in the post.
The picture of your bathroom now is just like my main bathroom. Very small yet looks beautiful now and will look even better when you start to remodel. We remodeled ours 2 years ago. I’m very happy with mine. Can’t wait to see yours when finished!
Thank you! (I’ve certainly had bathrooms in the past that looked way worse than this, but it would be nice to upgrade nonetheless… :-))
Lory,
I have been working on a major bathroom remodel since May. All of my fixtures and materials were ordered and are sitting in my house. The problem is finding a contractor with time to do the remodel. Three different contractors have initially responded to my request to give me a bid. But, none of them have given me a final bid or contract to do the work. All of them are very busy, but I have to wonder how they stay in business with their lack of follow-through with a customer. I hope you can find a tile installer to get your remodel completed.
Judith
Ahhh, I know exactly how you feel! I had called my contractor (who did my master bath) prior to the summer and he still hasn’t gotten back to me. He said I should remind him if he forgets. That’s just to come and measure! Couldn’t he write it down somewhere???
Fortunately, I just had a tiler come to give an estimate and he said he’d have time in October. You may have more luck now that the summer is almost over.
I am going to take the liberty of using your blog to confess that I have been in PLANNING a master bathroom refresh (to coordinate with a master bedroom refresh later)for MONTHS! I have been stalling on choosing an accent wallpaper for the area around the tub (to also use as an accent headboard wall in the bedroom. Then a coordinate wall color to paint. Luckily (tongue in cheek!) my “contractor” is my husband and I’d just waiting for my decisions! I am at a standstill! I would LOVE to know how you put together the “mood board” with all your ideas on one page? Can u share? I think it will help me solidify my plan and allow me to see my “vision” outside of my head. Any tutorial s or links as to how to do this would be d as I helpful! I tried researching myself how to create a mood board but THAT became a project bigger than the bathroom refresh bc of my 65 y o brain and lack of computer experience. I have snippets of fabrics and pics all over my desk now (like in the olden days!) but I’d love to update my organizational skills AND my computer skills, if that is EASILY obtainable? I am not sure if a new “mood board” will really help me finalize my plan or am I still just stalling over the wallpaper/paint dilemma! True confessions! Any help would be so appreciated!
Sounds like a fun project! Don’t let it intimidate you… 🙂
Regarding the mood board, I believe there are tutorials for simple programs to do them, but I don’t know them because I use Photoshop. Basically it involves saving the image, erasing the background and then layering them on the board (which is why you remove the background.
However, if you’re not going to be posting it online for all the world to see and it’s just for your own use, in a pinch you can just use screenshots placed next to each other. If you use a Mac, screenshot the items you plan to use (shift/command/4) and then place them next to each other inside a folder in the finder. Then screenshot the grouping of the items all together and it will be close enough for you to see how everything looks together. If what I just said went over your head… ask your kids! 😉
Thank you so much, Lowry, for your personalized reply! You are SO right! Since I’m not going to share it online I don’t need to go to that depth. I DID ask my daughter (who is a graphic designer-you know the story of the show maker’s children who have no shoes?- dear daughter is “too busy” to help her mother! (I’ll have to try using that line myself!)She did suggest I put it in Pinterest and then that would save the link so I can find it later. I will attempt that and that sounds like a perfect way to motivate myself/ which I think is exactly what I need- to see my ideas all together. Thanks so much for the push I needed!
You’re so welcome and I laughed at your daughter’s reply. My son is a web designer and when I ask him tech questions and he loses patience, I remind him that I taught him how to use a spoon! 😉 Enjoy your renovation!
Love it!
How fun to see you here! Thanks!! 🙂
Oh my goodness, your plan is so, so beautiful!!
Thank you so much!
It’s a beautiful design. That vanity is everything!
WOW! I love the bathroom refresh.
If I had things to do over right now…I’d never put in a shower door or glass in the shower! The cleaning is just hard to keep up with…
Love the cane vanity! Good choice!
That’s going to be so lovely! Can’t wait to see!
I love your plan and color scheme. One of my bathrooms is the exact same size and I’m planning to update it. I would love to see the finished bathroom on completion. That would give me some ideas with a different color scheme.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks for the kind words! You can actually see the finished bathroom at this link, as I have since finished it: https://designthusiasm.com/small-bathroom-remodel-ideas-on-a-budget/