If you’ve followed The Inspired Room for a while, you might remember the vintage mint green and pink bathroom in our Seattle home. Over the six years we lived there I only mentioned it a few times, but readers often asked whether we renovated or changed the space. Here’s an update on what we decided to do.
During our time in that house we tackled many large projects—replacing a sewer line, installing new driveways, adding patios and decks, and completing a full kitchen renovation. Alongside those, we made numerous small, budget-friendly updates. Many of those simple fixes, including the refresh to this bathroom, weren’t dramatic by social media standards, but they made daily life better for our family.
Not every home improvement needs to be an HGTV-style transformation to be meaningful. Let’s broaden what we call Home Goals.
We had plenty of ideas for this bathroom: everything from a complete remodel to more modest changes that preserved its vintage character. We even considered rearranging the bedroom and bathroom footprint someday, so we left the space on the back burner until we felt ready to make confident choices.
In the end, a major renovation never became a priority. Instead, we focused on keeping the bathroom clean and well cared for.
Does anyone else ever choose “clean and cared for” these days? There’s no shame in that choice. Sometimes it’s the wisest option for your home, family and future.
Renovations can add value or enjoyment, but they aren’t always necessary. Instagram makeovers can make it seem like drastic change is the only path, but that’s not true for every home or family.
I’m glad we avoided a costly, unnecessary remodel. We ultimately sold the house at a strong price, so waiting was the right decision for us.
This bathroom had vintage charm that buyers might either love or prefer to change. By not renovating, we left space for the new owners to decide what suited them best.
This is how the bathroom looked when we bought the house. As the opening image shows, it looked much the same when we sold it: clean, functional, and generally well maintained. Those qualities matter a lot when selling a home—and in everyday living.
Over time, some of the previous owner’s updates began to show wear, and we addressed issues she hadn’t corrected. That’s the reality of homeownership: whether you renovate or not, ongoing maintenance is inevitable. Choosing to keep things clean and cared for is a practical investment.
Here are seven simple updates we made to our mint green and pink bathroom:
- Repainted walls and ceiling in a crisp white (Simply White by Benjamin Moore) to brighten the room and create a neutral backdrop.
- Replaced hardware—added black knobs to the vanity and a coordinating black doorknob to harmonize with the rest of the house.
- Swapped the vanity light for a fixture that matched the home’s style and worked with existing wiring, keeping installation simple and cohesive.
- Repaired broken items such as the light, mirror fasteners and refreshed caulking around the sink.
- Installed a black-and-white shower curtain to add contrast and visual interest.
- Added a small throw rug to soften and warm the tile floor.
- Introduced texture and warmth with bamboo blinds, a wood stool, a towel basket, greenery and a window shutter for privacy and exterior cohesion.
What more might we have done if we’d stayed longer? Even without a full remodel, we likely would have replaced faucets, swapped the large mirror, resurfaced the pink tub, updated the vanity, or tried a playful wallpaper. The floor tile wasn’t perfect, so we might have repaired or eventually replaced it.
Slow and steady—clean and cared for—are valid and inspiring home goals.
That is how the story of our pink and green bathroom concluded. I don’t regret choosing modest updates over an extensive renovation.
We made the best choices for our family while we owned the home, and selling when we did led us to the next right season of life. The decisions felt right for our priorities and timeline.
I hope this bathroom’s story encourages you to consider your own home goals. Sometimes less is more—choosing clean and fresh instead of all new can be practical, affordable, and beautiful. Gradual updates make progress manageable and meaningful.
If you prefer a slow-and-steady approach to creating a home you love, consider joining the HomeBody Gathering Place for the next session and learn more about thoughtful, intentional homemaking.
Another Budget Friendly Bathroom Makeover in this home
Bathroom Design Inspiration: 5 Pretty Bathrooms
Bathroom Mood Boards and 100+ Decor Finds
