Ensuite Bathroom Makeover

If you’ve been following me for a while then you know that I’ve already attempted to update our ensuite bathroom last year with some of my DIY skills… I painted the vanity, the walls, and the floor (yes… I even painted my bathroom floor!). Well, surprisingly things held up for the most part over the past year… but I just wasn’t in love with it. I always knew that my DIY fixes were only for the short-term until we would decide to invest in some further upgrades. Well, this past month it was our main project to update (for a second time!) our ensuite bathroom… and I promise you this time it’s staying like this!

Let’s all take a look at the before-before. This is what the bathroom looked like right when we moved in…. see why I was in such a rush to try and update it?

If you’d like to see what I did to it so far, check out my older posts here and here.

Whenever I plan for a project, I like to create a mood board to help visualize what I’m trying to create. Basically the main features that I wanted to update and replace were the flooring, vanity, mirror, and lighting. We left the bathtub as is because there truly is nothing wrong with it and nothing a pretty shower curtain can’t fix. I wanted to keep the space neutral with some modern touches, while adding warmth to the space through decor and accessories.

The first thing we did was take out the old vanity and remove the large builder’s grade mirror. Once that was out of the way, we were left with some holes to repatch and a bit of pink paint to cover over! Seriously, can you believe this bathroom was once pink?! There was also an electrical box hidden behind the mirror which got moved a couple of inches so it would be centered with the vanity. If you’re wondering the colour of the paint I used, it’s Intense White by Benjamin Moore. It’s an off-white colour with very subtle grey, warm undertones. It’s a stunning colour for a bathroom! It really makes the space look clean and fresh.

Now let’s talk flooring…. because that was the next thing on the list. With so many options nowadays it can be so hard to choose what would be best for your space! We decided to go with a luxury vinyl tile and to be exact, we went with the brand Home Decorators Collection in the colour Carnelian Onyx from Home Depot. These tiles are 12″ x 24″ and have a tongue and groove installation. We actually installed them right over the existing flooring as it was in good shape.

So why vinyl flooring? I really love the look of actual tile, but it’s way more work. Here are some reasons why vinyl flooring is a great option for bathrooms:

It’s water-resistant (and can be waterproof like the tile I chose).
Comes in a great variety of colours and patterns and you can have the look of real ceramic tile, stone, and wood grains.
Inexpensive compared to other options such as tile.
Extremely durable and low maintenance.
Easy on the feet, quiet.
Relatively easy to install (easier than tiling).
Can be installed over existing flooring surfaces like tile, wood, concrete, vinyl (which is what we did).

The double-sink vanity I picked out is also from Home Depot. Since we were on a budget, I tried my best to source out the most affordable option. Double sink vanities can be very pricey! This 72″ vanity was the best option I could find and I really love it! The nice thing about it is that it comes with two sets of handles… one in brushed nickel and one in black. Having a double-sink vanity was one of the main reasons why I wanted to update our bathroom. It just made sense to have one given the size and space we have in the bathroom. I always wondered why one wasn’t installed in the first place!

The lighting I sourced also from Home Depot (I swear this post isn’t sponsored, but hey, I wouldn’t mind if it was!). I love the gold finish and clean lines and how it elevates the space. Don’t worry… I still plan to use the light fixture I bought last year… we have another bathroom downstairs that’s in dire need of a makeover, so I plan on using it down there. The old light fixture wasn’t actually centered with the new vanity, so we had to move it a few inches over.

The mirror I got from Structube and was the most affordable option I could find in the style I liked. It’s the first time that I purchased something from this store and I would highly recommend it! They have really nice furniture and home decor at very reasonable prices.

The faucets I found on Wayfair. These were the most affordable wide-set faucets I could find. The ones I really wanted to get were over $300 each! Ahh… a girl can only dream about having luxury faucets (seriously, does anyone else just swoon over kitchen and bathroom faucets?). Well, I knew I couldn’t spend that money right now, so I opted for this set and I’m very happy with this pick!

You may have noticed that I didn’t choose just one type of metal to incorporate in my bathroom. Yes… you can mix metals! Since my budget was limited, it dictated what I ended up going with as some of the items only came in the one metal finish. However, I absolutely love the gold and brushed nickel combo. Don’t be afraid to mix it up!

We also had to replace the baseboards and parts of the trim around the doors. It’s amazing how much baseboards help tie the room altogether.

While the majority of the work is done, there are still a few things I need to add. I was just too excited to share the transformation before adding all the final touches! Some of those things include adding shelving above the toilet, purchasing new blinds for the window, and adding all the bathroom accessories (soap dispensers, towel rods, etc). Make sure to check back as I’ll be sharing how I decorate our new bathroom! Also, shout out to my stepdad who helped tremendously with this bathroom makeover! If it wasn’t for him, this bathroom would not look as good as it does now!

… and now for a little before and after!