Who’s ready for the big bathroom reveal?
As mentioned in Monday’s post, most room makeovers fall into three clear stages—planning, larger upgrades, and finishing touches. Some projects drag on, while others happen in a whirlwind. This Bathroom Blitz was definitely the latter.
- Prep and planning: brainstorming, choosing a color palette, shopping, priming, sanding, and spackling.
- Bigger upgrades: painting walls, refinishing or painting cabinets, installing new flooring, and similar tasks.
- Finishing touches: curtains, hardware, art, and accessories that personalize the space.
Day Three was all about those finishing touches. Below is how we wrapped things up—sometimes brainstorming happens on the back of a paper plate, and that’s perfectly fine.
Ta-daaa! In about an hour we made simple custom curtains for Granny’s window using discounted designer fabric and no-sew hem tape. The fabric felt cheerful and perfectly suited the room.
I measured the window and decided the panels should hang a few inches below the trim. I cut two rectangles that were 29″ long (window length plus 2″ for hems) and 31″ wide so the panels would drape nicely. After hemming on all sides the finished size was 27″ x 29″. A simple curtain rod and ring clips were all that was needed to hang them.
Once the panels were up the room immediately felt more finished and welcoming. The fabric’s pattern and colors—emerald, navy, and violet—inspired the rest of the accessories.
We revisited one small seam where the vent met the new flooring and gave it a neat caulk line for a polished finish. A clean caulk bead makes a surprisingly big difference in perceived quality and longevity.
Accessorizing was the best part. We used many items Granny already owned and selected new pieces that pulled colors from the curtains. Fresh flowers, a treasured wooden tulip made by Papa, and colorful books added personality and warmth.
Small, meaningful touches made the room feel special. A once-white toilet paper holder refreshed in navy, a small blue knob on the medicine cabinet, and layered accessories on the counter helped tie the look together.
The cabinets got new hardware in navy for contrast and interest. We considered adding a faux drawer for balance but left that for another visit.
We also incorporated meaningful art: a printed 5 x 7 photo of Granny and Papa in a purple frame and a framed scrap of fabric. Using printed fabric behind glass is an easy, inexpensive way to create custom art that can be swapped anytime.
Granny already owned many of the accent pieces we used—a silver tray, a green vase, and a wooden tulip—so we mixed those cherished items with new pieces like baskets and hand towels for a fresh, layered look.
In a tiny bathroom, color and personality count. Stacking green and blue books on the back of the toilet added an unexpected pop that Granny loved, along with the sentimental wooden flower made by Papa.
Even small hardware changes made an impact. Granny noticed the new blue knob on her medicine cabinet, which was a nice little detail to finish the space.
Before and after shots of the sink area show how much cleaner the room looked after removing old caulk, re-caulking, and painting the wall behind it. Caulk really is a DIY MVP.
By the end of the project our checklist was delightfully crossed off:
- Brainstorm colors and source accessories.
- Spackle, sand, and caulk to prep surfaces for paint.
- Repair and rebalance cabinets.
- Prime and paint cabinets for a refreshed look.
- Paint the entire room, including the ceiling.
- Address issues like rust and dingy corners.
- Replace dated sheet flooring with vinyl tiles.
- Refresh hardware and accessories with new finishes.
- Create and hang custom curtains.
- Add meaningful art and personal items.
- Place functional accessories and styling details.
- Reveal the finished bathroom to Granny.
We finished Granny’s bathroom in three days on a modest budget and were honestly smitten with the result. It felt joyful to transform a small, tired space into something lively and personal.
Below is a brief budget breakdown of the main expenses:
- 2 quarts of paint (Benjamin Moore “Hint of Violet” Aura, Satin): $40
- Cabinet primer and paint: $0 (already owned)
- 30 vinyl stick tiles: $30
- 1 yard of fabric for curtains: $15
- Curtain rod and ring hooks: $18
- Wood for cabinet repairs and outlet covers: $10
- Spray paint for hardware: $4
- Accessories from HomeGoods (trash can, towel bar, soap pump, frames, basket, hand towels): $45
- Blue knob for medicine cabinet: $1.50
- Flowers: $6
- Books, wooden flower, vase, toilet paper holder, tray, cotton-swab jar: $0 (items from Granny)
- Spackle, caulk, paint supplies, hem tape: $0 (already owned)
- TOTAL: $169.50
Not bad for new floors, refreshed cabinets, painted walls, handmade curtains, and thoughtful styling. The reveal was priceless—Granny’s delight made the effort worth every minute.
We were thrilled to do something special for one of the kindest people we know. After the reveal we packed up, climbed back in the car, and drove home with big smiles.
Have you ever had the chance to help someone update their space? Did they stay out of the way until the reveal, or were they part of the process? Granny chose to give us free rein, and we’re so glad she loved the outcome.