Kid-Friendly Bathroom Refresh
When we moved into our house, we had a series of simple projects that needed our attention in order to make our home feel more like our own. Most of those projects only involved a can of paint (let’s just say that the previous owners loved themselves the colour blue). Mabel’s bathroom was probably the only room in the house that didn’t really need anything done. The walls were a neutral grey, the fixtures were decent, and it felt clean and bright and functional.
But as time passed, we realized that a few small changes could potentially go a long way. Her bathroom houses the only tub we have in the house, and since I love a good quiet soak every now and then, I figured it was worth the effort to make it even just a touch more beautiful for all of us to enjoy.
The bathroom really is primarily hers, so I wanted to make sure that I made it kid-friendly, but without running too far with a kid theme. My inspiration came from the dark and fun jaguar shower curtain and I quickly put together a little mood board to gather some other sources of simple upgrades, ensuring that all the elements worked well with the colour story of the rest of our home.
The biggest effort made was painting the vanity. The wood tone felt dated, so we covered it with a fresh coat of Benjamin Moore Chelsea Grey and don’t regret it for one second. We also added some simple and inexpensive round brass knobs, painted the walls, sprayed the mirror frame and hand towel bar, and changed out the light fixture.
Other than painting, the only DIY project in the space was creating a set of shelves to sit above the toilet. I purchased two inexpensive sets of shelf brackets and simply cut a piece of pine to sit across them. I sprayed the pine a matte black for a seamless look. It probably took me longer to hang them than it did to pull them together and I think the effort was well worth it for a little extra out-of-reach storage.
I had my heart set on a beautiful amber glass bathroom set that ultimately went out of stock before I could purchase it. I kept my eye out for a long time before I found the soap dispenser and toothbrush cup I landed on, but I’m glad I waited it out. I love the warmth those details bring, not to mention the matching candle that smells like a warm forest.
I really wanted to incorporate a stool beside the tub so I had a spot to set all my tub essentials while I soak. Wine. Book. Candle. Salts. I loved the stool we landed on because it had an extra storage space below for spare towels or magazines. It also has a slim design, which works well in front of the toilet where there is already limited space.
These updates weren’t particularly necessary, but for the minimal investment in time and money, it has made a big impact for a space that gets used so frequently. I always think it’s worth it if it helps you love your home even more. We are hoping to replace the vinyl sheet flooring with a simple white hexagon tile at some point this year, but until then, we will enjoy this little space for what it is.
Sources – Wall Colour Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee // Vanity Colour Benjamin Moore Chelsea Grey // Vanity Hardware // Vanity Light Fixture // Shelf Brakets // Shower Curtain (no longer available but from H&M Home) // Shower Curtain Rod (no longer available in black finish) // Bath Towels // Hand Towels (no longer available but from H&M Home) // Stool // Bath Mat from Homesense // Soap Dispenser // Toothbrush Holder // Amber Glass Candle (no longer available but from Walmart) // White and Gold Storage Set (no longer available but from Ikea) // Toilet Paper Basket from Homesense
DIY – painted the vanity // spray painted the mirror frame // spray painted the existing hand towel bar // assembled wall shelves
