I wanted to go ahead and share some before and after photos of the recent update we did in our guest bathroom! I’m going to post the photos first and then go through my thought process when making updates.

Before

After

You can shop for everything (including paint color) here.

When I was first thinking of what to do with this space, I knew I wanted it to be a moodier vibe. I also knew that I was going to do wallpaper (above the beadboard) because I feel like a smaller bathroom is the perfect opportunity to do a cool wallpaper. So both of those thoughts were “guiding” this bathroom update so to speak. If you are updating a space, I think it’s best to start with “what do I want to feel when I’m in this space?” “What kind of feelings/vibe do I want the space to evoke?” I think that can be a helpful starting point. Then you can narrow down certain paint colors, wallpaper, light fixtures, etc.

I started looking for a wallpaper I loved because I knew it would be easier to pair it with a paint color than the other way around. I immediately fell in love with this peel-and-stick. It checked the “moody vibe” box and it felt a little vintage yet still had this elevated modern feel which I gravitated towards. I feel like in this house, I have been combining modern furniture and decor with the character of this 1930s home and I love the juxtaposition of the two vibes. So I try to keep that in mind when brainstorming what to do with a space. Ps. This peel-and-stick was incredibly easy to apply compared to other brands I’ve used (I applied it by myself; no second person needed)!

Once I picked out the wallpaper, I sampled a variety of paint colors (which you can also see here) and felt like Down Pipe from Farrow & Ball went the best with the wallpaper while sticking with the moody theme. For light fixtures, I opted for a more traditional and simple sconce because I didn’t want them to compete with the pattern/busier wallpaper. The white shade provided nice contrast but since they have a black base, they don’t feel too stark compared to the rest of the bathroom either. Also, if you’re located in Denver, Lovejoy & Company sells Farrow & Ball and they have very quick turnaround times if you need a sample or full gallons (I just call and usually can pick up the same day).

This whole project (including hiring an electrician from Task Rabbit) cost me right around $300. I hope this shows what a big transformation you can have with a smaller budget and/or if you don’t have a lot of time to invest in updating a space. A few smaller swaps can go a long way!