A Comprehensive Guide to a Girly, Classic Bathroom Renovation: Paint Colors, Decor Sources, and DIY Details
Welcome back to the vibrant world of our kids’ bathroom! If you caught our initial reveal, you know this space underwent a massive transformation, becoming an adorable, functional, and undeniably charming sanctuary for our girls. But a project this rich in detail simply couldn’t be contained in a single post.
Today, we’re diving deep into the heart of what truly makes this bathroom sing: the exquisite little details that infuse it with personality, style, and a touch of whimsical spunk. Every decision, from the choice of tile to the art on the walls, was carefully curated to create a harmonious blend of classic elegance and playful femininity. It’s the final 5% of a room that makes all the difference, transforming a mere space into a truly lived-in, loved environment. Get ready to explore every facet of this delightful renovation, uncovering all the sources, paint colors, and DIY secrets that brought our vision to life!
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The Unique Console Vanity Table
One of the most talked-about decisions, and admittedly one that initially raised a few eyebrows, was our choice to transform a console table into a bathroom vanity. Many questioned its practicality compared to traditional cabinetry, but I can confidently say this was a decision we are 100% thrilled with. Traditional vanities can often feel bulky and close off a smaller space, but our custom approach brought an airy openness that significantly enhances the bathroom’s narrow footprint.
The DIY process involved adapting a sturdy console table. We carefully cut out the backs of the drawers to accommodate plumbing and created precise openings in the top for the sleek vessel sinks. To introduce warmth and a touch of rustic charm into an otherwise crisp black and white palette, we integrated a beautifully stained and thoroughly sealed butcher block countertop. This not only added visual interest but also ensured durability against daily use.
While the open design of the console vanity might seem to limit storage, the ample linen closet in this bathroom more than compensates, providing abundant space for all our essentials. Crucially, the console’s drawers remain fully functional, offering convenient storage for smaller items, and there’s even dedicated room underneath for the personalized step stools I lovingly painted for the girls, making accessibility a breeze for little ones.
Thoughtful Tile Selections for a Retro-Feminine Touch
Choosing the right tile for this space was a decision I mulled over for quite some time, guided by three very specific criteria:
- **Classic Appeal:** The tile needed to possess a timeless quality that would endure for years to come, avoiding fleeting trends.
- **Subtly Retro Vibe:** Our home was built in 1960, and I wanted the bathroom to gently nod to its mid-century origins without feeling dated.
- **Hint of Femininity:** Given it’s a girls’ bathroom, a delicate, charming touch was essential.
After narrowing down countless options, I presented three contenders to Olivia, and without hesitation, she picked this charming hexagon flower floor tile. It was the perfect choice, blending geometric classicism with a sweet, floral motif that perfectly encapsulated the retro-feminine aesthetic we were aiming for. The pattern is intricate yet understated, creating a visual anchor for the entire room.
For the walls, I discovered this handmade-look wavy subway tile, and it has become an absolute obsession. Unlike perfectly smooth subway tiles, its subtle undulations and artisanal finish create an incredible texture that plays with the light, making the entire room sparkle and come alive. This tile adds significant depth and character, lending a beautiful vintage feel that complements the house’s age and the floor tile’s retro charm. It’s a sophisticated twist on a classic, elevating the design beyond the ordinary.
Personalized Art Choices that Inspire and Delight
Art holds a special place in our home, and selecting pieces for the girls’ bathroom was no exception. We have a particular fondness for the movie The Greatest Showman, a film that resonates deeply with its themes of courage and uniqueness. This connection made the discovery of this enchanting pink tutu tightrope walker art incredibly exciting. It strikes a perfect balance between whimsical charm and sophisticated artistry, featuring a color palette that beautifully ties into the room’s blush accents.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, there’s an underlying message of bravery and daring conveyed by the tightrope walker—a message I hope inspires my girls daily. Art in a bathroom, especially a children’s bathroom, should be more than just decorative; it should evoke emotion and tell a story, and this piece does just that.
For the smaller wall spaces beside their sinks, my husband Robert had a brilliant idea: find prints honoring the girls’ beloved stuffed animals. Olivia cherishes her stuffed tiger, Hobbsie, and Regan adores her stuffed elephant, Babar. The moment I found prints of a tiger and an elephant blowing bubbles, I knew they were absolutely perfect. They’re whimsical, endearing, and deeply personal. This accidental pairing of the tightrope walker and the animal prints subtly introduced a charming, albeit unintentional, circus theme to the bathroom, which works beautifully!
To ensure these prints seamlessly integrated with the wall color and maintained a clean, cohesive look, I opted for white float frames. These frames add a modern touch while allowing the art to truly stand out without competing with the surrounding decor.
Elegant Sconces for Ample and Balanced Lighting
Lighting is crucial in any bathroom, especially one used by children, as it needs to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. I found these beautiful sconces on Amazon at a very reasonable price point. Their classic design, featuring elegant shades, adds a sophisticated and traditional touch that complements the overall decor scheme of the bathroom.
Beyond their good looks, these sconces are highly effective in distributing light evenly throughout the vanity area. By strategically placing three sconces around the mirrors, we’ve achieved well-balanced illumination, eliminating harsh shadows and ensuring the space is always bright and inviting. This thoughtful lighting choice enhances both the practicality and the ambiance of the bathroom.
Stylish and Functional Mirrors
Finding the perfect mirrors for this specific space presented a unique challenge. I envisioned mirrors that resembled delicate beaded necklaces – elegant, refined, and with a touch of decorative flair. However, they also needed to be narrow enough to fit comfortably within the constrained wall space above the console vanity, between the sconces.
After an extensive search, these mirrors proved to be the ideal solution. Their brushed nickel beaded frames offered precisely the aesthetic I was seeking, while their dimensions were perfect for the tight fit. They seamlessly integrate with the other metallic accents in the room, reflecting light and adding a subtle sparkle that ties into the wavy subway tile, enhancing the room’s overall brightness and charm.
Smart Storage Solutions for a Tidy Bathroom
Effective storage is paramount in any family bathroom, and in our girls’ space, we leveraged every available inch. Our existing linen closet was already a testament to efficient organization, so for this renovation, the mantra was simple: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. We merely put everything back exactly where it was, knowing the system worked.
Inside the closet, functionality meets neatness. A rolling hamper offers easy access for laundry, a practical feature for busy mornings. On the top shelf, a pair of lidded baskets neatly contain our two different sizes of sheet sets, keeping them dust-free and out of sight. Beside the hamper, a larger basket is perfect for storing extra quilts, ready for cozy nights. Wire baskets are utilized for extra toilet paper rolls and neatly rolled washcloths, sitting alongside a bin dedicated to bath toys, ensuring everything has its designated spot.
To keep cleaning essentials organized, a cleaning caddy ensures all supplies are together and easily transportable. Small lidded canisters are ideal for hair clips and ponytail holders, preventing clutter. For a touch of spa-like luxury, hocking jars display extra soaps and bath bombs, adding a decorative element to the functional storage.
A consistent choice throughout our home is plain white bath towels. This simplifies laundry, eliminates the need to coordinate colors and patterns between bathrooms, and allows for thorough bleaching to maintain ultimate cleanliness and hygiene. The philosophy here is simple: if storage spaces are beautiful and organized, we’re far more likely to keep them that way.
Beyond the closet, the ample countertop space provided by our console vanity allowed for stylish and accessible essentials. I found this adorable blush toothbrush holder, a sleek marble soap dispenser, and a charming lotus soap dish. And yes, I fully embraced the ‘girly’ theme with pink toothbrushes and pink soap – sometimes, a little fun is just what a bathroom needs! I can already envision many future Barbie sink pool parties taking place right here on this countertop, making memories with my girls.
To further enhance accessible storage without cluttering the open vanity, this stylish basket sits neatly underneath, keeping a few fresh towels within easy reach. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference in daily convenience and maintains the clean lines of the design.
Custom Window Shade for Style and Safety
When it came to the window treatment, I opted for quality and functionality, investing in this custom woven wood shade in the elegant Capri Maple finish. The decision was multifaceted, driven by both aesthetic and practical considerations, particularly with little Regan in mind.
Firstly, its cordless design was a non-negotiable safety feature, eliminating potential hazards for small children. Secondly, the integrated privacy liner was essential for a bathroom, ensuring comfort and discretion. Aesthetically, the shade perfectly complemented the room: it featured a subtle black edging that beautifully tied into the intricate floor tile, and white stripe stitching echoed the white elements throughout the room. Crucially, its natural wood tone provided the ideal balance to the butcher block countertop on the vanity, adding organic warmth. Every detail was meticulously chosen, and I can confidently say, this was an investment with absolutely no regrets.
Hand Towels and Practical Hooks
While I prefer uniform white bath towels for ease of bleaching and timeless appeal, hand towels offer a fantastic opportunity to introduce pops of color and playful patterns. Since hand towels are often on display, they become a subtle accent, a small canvas to express the room’s personality without committing to a dominant color scheme.
For the hanging solution, I made a conscious choice to install towel hooks instead of traditional towel rings. This was a purely practical decision, banking on the higher probability that hooks are far easier for little hands to use when hanging up towels. It’s a small detail, but one that significantly contributes to maintaining tidiness in a busy kids’ bathroom (one can hope!).
The Perfect Shower Curtain: A Pop of Blush and Texture
I deliberately aimed to keep the overall color palette in the bathroom relatively subdued, allowing the architectural details and unique textures to truly shine. However, every room benefits from a strategic pop of color, and this blush shower curtain delivered that vibrant punch perfectly. Its soft, rosy hue introduced a gentle warmth and feminine touch without overwhelming the space.
What truly elevated this shower curtain was its subtle texture: raised polka dots. These delicate dots added a playful yet refined dimension, subtly echoing the beaded mirrors and the intricate pattern of the floor tile, creating a cohesive design narrative throughout the room. More importantly, this choice was made with future flexibility in mind. If, years down the line, the girls decide they’ve outgrown blush pink, swapping out a shower curtain and a few hand towels is a far simpler and more cost-effective solution than undertaking a complete tile or wall paint overhaul. It’s all about designing for longevity with easily changeable accents!
The Neutral Canvas: Carefully Chosen Paint Colors
The foundation of any room’s aesthetic lies in its paint colors. For the walls of the girls’ bathroom, we selected Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray. This particular shade is a beautifully balanced, neutral medium gray, offering the perfect calming counterpoint to the dynamic black and white elements—like the bold floor tile and sleek vanity. It’s a color we’ve loved and used before, notably on Regan’s nursery doors last year, proving its versatility and enduring appeal. The goal was to create a serene backdrop that wouldn’t compete with the patterned floor, and also one that would gracefully grow with the girls as they transition from childhood to their teenage years.
The doors throughout the bathroom, consistent with the rest of our house, are painted in Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron. This deep, rich shade instantly adds a sophisticated and classic touch to every room. Beyond its elegance, it serves a highly practical purpose in a home with young children: its dark hue effectively conceals everyday smudges and fingerprints, keeping the space looking fresh and clean with minimal effort.
And there you have it – the complete deep dive into all the intricate details that shaped our girly, classic bathroom renovation! From the custom console vanity to the thoughtful art selections and strategic paint choices, every element was chosen to create a space that is both beautiful and highly functional for our growing girls. We hope this detailed breakdown inspires your next home improvement project and shows how the little things truly make the biggest impact.
Here’s the full list of every source and detail from this stunning bathroom makeover:
- Wall color: Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray
- Door color: Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron
- Trim/ceiling color: Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Floor tile
- Wall tile
- Shower walls
- Tub
- Vessel sinks
- Toilet
- Sink faucets
- Shower/tub faucet trim kit
- Shower shelves
- Vanity table (tutorial for converting from a console table here)
- Mirrors
- Sconces
- Hand towel hooks
- Under sink basket
- Step stools (tutorial for personalization here)
- Hand towels
- Bath towels
- Toothbrush holder
- Marble soap dispenser
- Flower soap dish
- Tiger art print
- Elephant art print
- White float frames
- Tightrope walker art print
- Large white frame
- Window shade (in Capri Maple)
- Shower curtain
- Aloe plant
- Toilet paper holder
- Marble look shower hooks
- Curved shower curtain rod
- Lidded baskets
- Large bedding basket
- Rolling wire hamper
- Lidded hocking jars
- Wire baskets
- Storage caddy
Whew! That covers absolutely everything. And, of course, no reveal is complete without the obligatory silly mirror selfie to mark the moment. We’re officially done!
While this wasn’t our first foray into a bathroom makeover, tackling it while juggling the demands of a baby certainly made it the most challenging. Despite the hurdles, the outcome has been incredibly rewarding, and we now proudly have a bathroom that is truly 100% complete!
Seriously, mark my words: we are not touching this bathroom again until the girls are off to college, whether they like it or not. They might get a new shower curtain in about a decade, and that’s the extent of future renovations for this space. Haha! With this significant project behind us, we now have only one bathroom left to tackle (our master bath, which will require a full renovation one day), and then our entire home will be fully updated on the bathroom front. Woot woot!
I’ll be needing a lot of relaxing bubble baths to recover from this undertaking before we even think about the next one. Until then, enjoy the details of this delightful renovation!
