Small Bathroom Makeover Ideas: 15 Ways to Upgrade Your Space Without a Full Gut Renovation
When we moved into our current home, all three of the bathrooms were outdated. Like, one was straight outta 1975, and the other two were likely last redone in the mid-90s.
In my head when we moved in, we would have all three remodeled within a five year timespan. But, now we’re on year 7, and we’ve only fully renovated one of them.
Because full bathroom remodels are beyond expensive these days, the other two have been “updated” with cosmetic fixes like paint, paneling and lighting. One day, when we have the budget to renovate each space right, we will. But for now, our cosmetically updated bathrooms don’t look half bad.
If you’re in the same boat, and looking to update your small bathroom without completely gutting it, here are some of my favorite small bathroom makeover ideas that I’ve tried in my own spaces, and have seen online, to inspire you to give that ugly space a little glow up.
1. Add Wall Paneling
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Adding wall paneling to our teeny tiny kids bathroom, above, was a last-minute decision (like, the plumbers were coming to install the new vanity and toilet in 2 days), but I’m so glad we went for it. It totally makes the entire room. Painted beadboard is having a moment right now, so this look is a great (and super inexpensive) way to make a space feel more current. We added paneling directly over drywall, but I’ve also heard of this as a way to cover up ugly tile.
See the before and after here.
2. Paint the walls
If you do one thing, make it paint. A soft white or pale neutral instantly brightens a small bath, or try a deep shade for drama. Check out my post on paint color ideas for small bathrooms with no windows for more color ideas.
3. Paint the vanity
If your vanity is in good shape, but is simply an outdated color or finish, paint it! In our primary bathroom, at the top, I painted the vanity black to freshen up the space and to match the newly-painted black door.
4. Replace the vanity
If your vanity is broken, awkwardly sized, or just beyond saying, aesthetically, consider replacing it. Vanities aren’t all that expensive for the impact they make, and they’re fairly easy to install. Plus if you decide to remodel your bathroom down the line, you can still use your new vanity.
5. Swap out faucets and hardware
To continue my vanity refresh, I also swapped out the faucet and cabinet hardware, which went a long way in making the whole vanity look more modern. You won’t even need to call a plumber as this is a fairly easy DIY project.
6. Remove an ugly shower door and add a curtain
This is another step we did in our kids bathroom. The shower has a wavy, frosted-glass door on a metal track that reminded me of taking baths in my grandma’s house as a kid in 1989, when this style was probably at the peak of its chic. I wanted to update the look of the shower without buying a new glass door, so we took the door off the track, unscrewed the door frame, and hung a simple shower curtain instead. It looks so much better.
7. Add fluting to a vanity door
Such a good DIY if your cabinet fronts are flat and boring. I’ve seen people use half-round molding or pole-wrap (see above!) to create texture, then paint the whole thing one color so it looks custom.
8. Change the mirrors
Mirrors are like jewelry—swap them and the whole outfit changes. An arched or pill-shaped mirror softens all the hard lines in a bath; a bigger mirror bounces more light and makes the room feel larger.
9. Or add a mirror frame
If you’ve got a basic, frameless builder mirror, frame it out with trim or a ready-made kit. It hides the raw edges and instantly looks finished for about the cost of a dinner out.
10. Change out lighting
Another easy and super effective way to update a small bathroom is by buying new lighting. Swapping out vanity lights can make a big difference, especially if you update your vanity and mirror as well. You can also consider replacing ceiling lights for something more decorative, or even swagging a chandelier over the tub like I did, above.
11. Paint the tile
Yes, you can paint tile! I painted over a green and blue trim border on the tile in our primary bathroom using a bonding primer and regular latex paint in semi gloss and its held up for 3 years (It doesn’t actually get wet, though).
If you’re painting tile in a wet space like the shower, or a floor, I would use a kit designed for tile refinishing, like Rustoleum’s!)/ + porch/floor paint and a sealer; a simple checkerboard stencil can look like new tile without the demo bill.
12. Change the toilet
Not glamorous, but a newer, more compact, comfort-height toilet cleans up the look of your bathroom and can even save water. If you’re keeping it budget-friendly, just match the existing rough-in so install is straightforward.
13. Wallpaper or stencil
A small bath is the perfect spot for a bold pattern—less square footage = less commitment. I like peel-and-stick for kids’ baths or powder rooms; a large-scale print actually makes tight walls feel less busy.
14. Use Rub ’n Buff
My secret weapon for dated metal: a tiny tube of Rub-N-Buff can transform towel hooks, hardware, switch plates, even a tired faucet. Lightly scuff, clean well, and go thin with coats for a believable finish.
15. Install shelving
Storage is everything in a tiny bathroom. Add a shallow shelf over the toilet or a small ledge above beadboard for extra TP, a plant or pretty jars.
