Average But Inspired

Inspiring creativity with crafts, DIY, and home decor projects.

  • About Bre
  • Contact Me
  • Disclosures
  • Policies
  • Home
  • Shop
  • DIY
  • Crafts
    • Dollar Store Crafts
  • Seasonal
    • Patriotic & Summer
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Easter & Spring
    • Fall & Halloween
    • Christmas & Winter
  • Home Decor
  • Furniture
  • Organization

April 5, 2017 by Bre

Bright & Budget-Friendly Master Bathroom Makeover – One Room Challenge Week One

You know those “skinny jeans” you’re hanging onto – those jeans you wore 12 years ago before you had two kids, a dog, a job, and reality TV to prevent you from actually wearing them buttoned?  Those jeans are like my master bathroom.

See, for almost eight years (as long as my husband and I have owned our house), we’ve been thinking that we’re going to gut and remodel our master bathroom.  Because of that, we kept it in a state unaltered from the time we bought it: beige, dark, mildewy, and just gross.  We kept it like this because we were wishfully thinking that one day soon we would rip it all out and build a beautiful new bathroom of our dreams.  Like those skinny jeans, we were hanging onto a dream that just wasn’t going to happen.  But after eight years of this nonsense, I’m coming to my senses.  A gut job is not going to happen anytime soon (and I’m not going to wear those “skinny jeans” anytime soon either!), so I’m going to embrace what I’ve got and get it to a place where I can at least not cringe every time I walk into it!  An outdated master bathroom that's practically falling apart will get a big update during the One Room Challenge! This "before" photo will look so different at the end of the challenge!

When I heard that the One Room Challenge was starting again, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to give my master bathroom a bright and budget-friendly makeover!  To give you a little background, the One Room Challenge is a semi-annual design challenge hosted by Linda at Calling It Home, where twenty “real” designers completely re-do a space in just six weeks.  They share their progress and advice all along the way.  Then the rest of us wannabes with blogs join in on the fun and link up our own makeovers and progress, too!  SO . . . for the next six weeks you’ll get to follow along with me as I give this space a new look!

Before I jump into my plan for this space, I’m going to get really real here and show you this master bathroom of mine.  Ladies and gentlemen, it is not a pretty sight.  It has been totally neglected, and while the previous owners who DIY’ed it used nice materials, they did a terrible job putting it all together!  (Sorry if you happen to read this previous owners, but you should’ve hired out this job!)  The tile work is probably the WORST you will ever see in your life, the plumbing barely functions, and the overall construction is just shoddy as can be.  There’s not much I can do about these issues in this makeover, but at least I can make it “pretty” until a real renovation is in the budget!

Anyway, here is my “favorite” spot in the room – the area that’s had a hole in the wall for seven years (I distinctly remember the plumber cutting this hole in the wall two days before my daughter was born).  Somehow we just haven’t gotten around to patching this hole.  I guess we’ve been over-scheduled for seven years.  An outdated master bathroom that's practically falling apart will get a big update during the One Room Challenge! This "before" photo will look so different at the end of the challenge!

Are you so bored already?  There is NOTHING interesting happening in here.  Well, except for that nice pendant light that illuminates the toilet like it’s a sacred spot.An outdated master bathroom that's practically falling apart will get a big update during the One Room Challenge! This "before" photo will look so different at the end of the challenge!

Wow. I am really embarrassed posting these photos.  Isn’t it crazy how you can have some really awesome spots in your house and others that are just plain bad?

Another problem with this bathroom is that because of the poor ventilation, the ceiling has started to peel.  And in the actual shower, it gets covered in mildew all the time.  Puke.

An outdated master bathroom that's practically falling apart will get a big update during the One Room Challenge! This "before" photo will look so different at the end of the challenge!

On the other side of the room, we have a prissy vanity with a copper vessel sink that I HATE.  Unfortunately I am going to keep this vanity because if we really do get around to renovating the bathroom we will be replacing the vanity, so I don’t want to spend money on that now.  (Hi!  That’s me in the mirror.)An outdated master bathroom that's practically falling apart will get a big update during the One Room Challenge! This "before" photo will look so different at the end of the challenge!

Here’s a better view of the vanity with its missing hardware and stupid faucet that makes me think I’m pumping water from a well in the 1800’s.

An outdated master bathroom that's practically falling apart will get a big update during the One Room Challenge! This "before" photo will look so different at the end of the challenge!

Okay, so you can see how this space could use some TLC.  And now that I feel like I’ve shown you one of the deepest, darkest secrets of my home, I’m ready to show you my rough plan for giving my master bathroom a makeover that my husband and I can feel proud of.

An outdated master bathroom that's practically falling apart will get a big update during the One Room Challenge! This "before" photo will look so different at the end of the challenge!

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Sources: Vanity Paint | Wall Paint | Trim Paint | Cornice Board Fabric | Vanity Drawer Knobs | Ceiling Fixtures | Shower Curtain | Towels | Rug

So what I’m thinking is to really brighten up the space with new paint on the ceiling and walls, and on the window trim.  The window trim in my master bedroom was already painted white when we moved in, so I don’t feel guilty about painting the trim in the master bathroom to match.  Oh . . . and in order to accomplish this, I will finally patch that hole in the wall.

I’m also going to add some color to the room with cornice boards over the windows.  This will also help hide the uneven tile near the vanity.  New light fixtures and decorative accessories will also help the space feel more cohesive and like less of an afterthought!

Now that I’ve got a plan, I just have to make it happen!  And of course, I’m sure some of this plan will change along the way.  I never really operate this way when it comes to decorating.  I usually go with the flow as I find things I like.  So don’t be surprised to see some of this changing up along the way!

I’m excited to hear what you think about my plan (and about how awful we let our master bathroom become)!  Please make sure to check back here each week to see my progress.  Next week I plan to show you my to-do list and what I was able to accomplish in week one of the One Room Challenge!  Also, please make sure to stop over to the ORC Linking Participant Page to see what the other challenge guests have up their sleeves!

Wish me luck!

Bre

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2

Let’s Connect!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Bre of Average But Inspired

Hi, I'm Bre! Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you'll find ideas to inspire your creativity and beautify your home here.

Love DIY & Decor? Join the Fun!

    How Can I Help You?

    blank

    7 Tips for Hosting a Party on a Budget

    blank

    How to Organize Digital Photos Using Amazon Photos

    blank

    10 Craft Supplies You Should Buy at Dollar Tree

    blank

    How to Create a Faux Antique Brass Finish with Paint

    Looking for Something?

    blank

    The Easiest DIY Under Cabinet Lighting

    As I’ve been talking about non-stop, I painted my oak kitchen cabinets and freshened up the space! Part of the kitchen makeover was enhancing the lighting, and I’m pumped to show you the EASIEST DIY under cabinet lighting that absolutely anybody can add to his or her kitchen for a little mood lighting and general […]

    blank

    How to Make Fake Snowballs for Decor

    With Christmas decorations packed away the house can feel stark!  Because of that, it’s fun to add some winter-themed decor to the mix.  One great way to do that is to make fake snowballs for decor.  They’re easy to make, inexpensive, and look great in vases, jars, bowls – anywhere really!  They’re a beautiful winter […]

    blank

    A Rifle Paper Co. Inspired Furniture Makeover

    Two things I love love love are Rifle Paper Co. and furniture makeovers.  If you’re not familiar with Rifle Paper Co, check out their website.  Their floral and whimsical patterns are right up my alley.  I’ve used their patterned papers on several projects, including this Console Table Makeover, my grandma’s Side Table Makeover, and most […]

    blank

    Modern Vintage Dining Room Makeover

    It took me almost three months, but I’ve finally finished putting together the dining room in our new house!  It is no longer being used as our virtual learning classroom (thank goodness!), but instead is a beautiful modern vintage dining room that we love! This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, […]

    Copyright © 2013-2021, Bre Eggert (Average But Inspired). All rights reserved.

    Pretty Chic Theme By: Pretty Darn Cute Design