About three years ago we began a few simple decorating projects around the house. Progress has been slow—time and money are the usual obstacles. Still, our small powder room was the first space to get painted and considered “finished.”
In the past few years this tiny room has had two low-cost makeovers. Not major renovations with tear-out and expensive materials, but quick, effective updates—mostly paint, a new knob, a small rug, and a few inexpensive wall accessories.
Oh, the swine walls. The bane of my existence.
The first makeover was extremely frugal—we even used a rejected paint sample we already had. The color was called Martha Stewart Snail, a bit more olive than I would have chosen, but it was an improvement over the previous look. We painted the cabinet as part of that refresh.
And then it was all fun and games—until the toilet paper dispenser fell off.
When the toilet paper holder came off the wall and you don’t want to reinstall it, it’s an easy excuse to plan another update. But I’ve learned how these projects escalate.
First the toilet paper holder falls off.
Then you think you should add wainscoting to cover the holes. That sounds simple until you realize the walls are at odd angles and the job becomes more complicated.
Wallpaper would hide the repairs, but our walls aren’t perfectly smooth, so that’s not a practical option.
Then the mind wanders: if we’re doing all that work, why not replace the vanity with a pedestal sink and install the hexagon tile you’ve been eyeing? It’s a slippery slope.
I swore I wouldn’t get sucked into a full renovation this time. We had just finished a year of major remodeling and chaos, and I needed a break. Still, the powder room needed a quick, pretty finish.
I resisted the temptation to overhaul everything. No new sink, no new floor—just a focused update to make the room pleasant again.
For a while the room sat in an embarrassing halfway state. I won’t pretend it looked good. It was a daily reminder to finish the job properly.
Finally the powder room got a second paint makeover in a lovely blue-green: Glidden Slate Green. I skipped testing a sample and dove straight in—risky, but it turned out beautifully. The new hue feels fresh and calming.
I didn’t have a formal plan for wall decor, but a trip to a local flea market yielded several vintage frames that paired nicely with pieces I already owned. Together they formed a charming gallery wall that completes the space.
The frames and the wall color work well together. Two frames were flea-market finds; the rest were from my collection. A few brass accents and blue bottles gathered from around the house added warmth and cohesion to the shelf display.
Brass has come back into style, which is convenient since I’ve held onto brass accessories for years. They now feel current again and add a subtle shine to the room.
I also treated the room to an indoor/outdoor ikat rug I ordered with a gift certificate. It’s practical, easy to clean, and the pattern adds personality without overwhelming the small space.
Because there are no windows, I photographed the space with the lights on, so the color tone may vary slightly in the images, but in person the Slate Green is invigorating and serene.
To elevate the cabinet, I added a decorative gold-and-brass filigree knob. It was an inexpensive detail but makes a big difference—small hardware can act like jewelry for a room.
The knob’s delicate pattern feels special and unique—something I prefer instead of matching the most common trends.
I replaced the builder’s plate glass mirror with a round gold-silver framed mirror I found at HomeGoods. The shape softens the space and echoes the metallic accents elsewhere.
With a few tulips, a couple of small accessories, and a glimpse into the hallway with white plank walls, the powder room finally feels finished and inviting again.
The white trim throughout is the same Benjamin Moore Dove White formula, even if it appears slightly different in some photos. Simple, budget-friendly updates—new paint, a gallery wall, small accessories, and one pretty knob—transformed this tiny room without a major renovation.
Aren’t simple makeovers fun?
Walls are painted in Glidden Slate Green.