Master bathroom upgrade ideas?

Alisa Howard
by Alisa Howard

We put new tile in and painted walls light gray. Vanity top is white. I’m thinking gray vanity with bronze faucets. Maybe paint mirror frame with same gray on vanity and new bronze lighting. Maybe paint all gold/silver towel bars bronze as well. However shower curtain rod can’t be painted. I put a picture of our flooring in as well. Maybe a gray to pick up the darker gray in the tile. Not sure how to address shelves above toilet and trim color.Need some ideas. Thanks.

  18 answers
  • Cindy Cindy on Jan 15, 2021

    Hi Alisa. I love the flooring you put down. It's beautiful. I would work with the different shades of gray in the flooring. Keep your trim white. Gray and white go together so well. And it looks crisp and clean. Your vanity area seems all cluttered. Could some of those toiletries be stored inside the vanity? I think it's time to replace the lighting. Go with a more modern look. Take the curtain above the toilet down and roll your towels instead and place them right back on the same shelves. Alisa, you're on the right track. Just complete the look. I know you can do it. Good luck.

    • Alisa Howard Alisa Howard on Jan 16, 2021

      I tried moving things off my vanity top, but my husband gets upset when I move his things where he can’t readily find them. I can probably declutter my side. I’ll try a stackable on his side. I totally agree that the “Hollywood” lighting needs to go. Here’s a quick declutter of my vanity top. Also removed curtain and rolled towels. This linen is for two bathrooms (we a remodeling our quest bathroom) and some are my moms linen. I might “lose” the “humble commode” sign...😳 and the popcorn ceiling.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Jan 15, 2021

    Hello. You might be able to pull some ideas from this bloggers bathroom refurb using colors and metallics of your preference.


    https://www.blesserhouse.com/master-bathroom-refresh-2-0/

  • Maura White Maura White on Jan 16, 2021

    I'm a fan of silver and I think that chrome faucets and towel rack would match better. I also think a shade or two darker of a vanity would bring about more contrast. LOVE the floor!

    • Alisa Howard Alisa Howard on Jan 16, 2021

      THANKS! We just loved the shape and colors in the tiles. I have a darker gray washcloth to take with me to the store for paint matching. I think the color of gray in it would be perfect for the vanity cabinet.

  • I really love it all you did a great job. You can spray the curtain rail the same as the facets, you would just have to protect the surrounding areas.

    • Alisa Howard Alisa Howard on Jan 16, 2021

      I did not know you could do that. I am worried it will just wear off quickly with the shower curtain opening and closing so much...at least three times daily. 😬

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jan 16, 2021

    Hello,

    Sounds good to me!

  • I would paint the vanity a shade darker for some contrast. You may even want to consider an different color for it all together - maybe a dark blue? Since you don't think the shower rod can be painted, stick with the same color for the rest of your hardware, towel rods, and faucets.

  • Mogie Mogie on Jan 16, 2021

    Love the flooring.

    Why not throw in some color to break up the gray and white. Maybe some orange or yellow here and there. Amazon has some cute wall decor. It could be something simple or something large (like a shower curtain) depends on what you like.

    https://www.amazon.com/orange-bathroom-decor/s?k=orange+bathroom+decor

    I found that using small clear plastic boxes (storage you can find even at walmart) it helps you keep like items together and easier to get out. I even use them in my fridge putting things like condiments all in one place.

    • See 4 previous
    • Mogie Mogie on Jan 20, 2021

      I am so wanting a bathroom floor like that!

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jan 16, 2021

    Hi! I went gray with my bathroom walls, a darker gray on the vanity, and opted for white and black floor tiles for the floor. Since, you have that gorgeous gray tile, I would consider adding some white to the room so it really pops. I would buy some pretty towels for pops of color. The nice thing about a sophisticated gray room, is how accents/contrasts in small amounts can make it look different with little effort. For example, turquoise looks lovely with gray. Good luck and stay!

    • Alisa Howard Alisa Howard on Jan 18, 2021

      My trim, doors shelves, vanity top, bathtub, shower curtain, ceiling, mirror frame and my towel bar are white. But I might add some yellow decor to make it pop as well.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Jan 18, 2021

    Frame out the mirror if you don't want to replace it. There are several projects on Hometalk to help you decide on a style.

    You can paint the Hollywood light with high heat paint if you don't want to replace it.

    I would change the curtains in front of the shelves to either a different type of curtain or add doors.

    Update the fixture. Scrape the ceiling (such a messy job). Get an organizer for the counter top. Add a decorative shower curtain that has a design with pop of color.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Jan 18, 2021

    IMO it is the light fixture, style of cabinet doors, and faucets that really date the bathroom. It is easy to change these three areas to quickly result in a more modern and upgraded look.


    Simply swap out the builder-grade light fixture with one that has the bulbs enclosed with globes rather than being exposed. Swap out the old gold color faucets with new ones that match more closely to the the shower rod.


    Purchase new cabinet doors with hidden hardware in a flatter, less ornate style.

    When new cabinet doors are purchased to replace old cabinet doors, but the rest of the cabinet remains the same, this is called re-facing.


    Re-facing is generally less expensive than purchasing a whole new complete vanity, and is certainly less work than trying to paint an old vanity. An old vanity with dated style doors even when painted, will be just that- a painted vanity with old style doors.

    • See 2 previous
    • Alisa Howard Alisa Howard on Jan 22, 2021

      Closet and bedroom. The vanity is in a kind of alcove.

  • Sophie’s mom Sophie’s mom on Jan 18, 2021

    Definitely new lighting and faucets, painting vanity a dark gray with new handles too.

  • Dee Dee on Jan 23, 2021

    I would paint the vanity a dark gray. Granite Peak from Sherwin Williams is a beautiful color for the vanity. I like the grays, blues, and silver. I would buy either brushed chrome, or chrome faucet, and this way you can keep your shower curtain rod. I would go to Home Depot or Lowes and check out their light fixtures, that gold one really needs to go. I would get a smaller one and paint the mirror frame the same color as the vanity. You really need to declutter a bit. I would go to Habit for Humanity and get doors to build a frame above the toilet. Make a small closet out of the area. This way you can hide stuff behind the doors. Or I know HD sells small wooden cabinets that you could put up there and then have extra storage. I would get a blue gray bath mat and towels to match. I absolutely love the floor you put in. Get some Rustoleum spray paint and paint your vanity hardware a chrome color to match.

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  • Julie M. Julie M. on Jan 25, 2021

    I think you might end up with too much grey. A black vanity would contrast beautifully with black storage to top it off. Like this:

    https://www.thisisourbliss.com/2016/04/22/neutral-glam-basement-bathroom-reveal/

  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Jan 25, 2021

    Absolutely love the floor and shower curtain. Definitely agree with getting rid of the popcorn ceiling, the curtain over the towel storage, and light fixture over vanity. The two front doors of your vanity is dated with that pattern - can you replace these with plain ones like the drawers? If you are replacing faucets, etc. then also replace the hardware on the vanity. I'd go with a matte silver so it fits in with your towel storage and maybe cheaper than others. .... IMO, black hardware is too harsh for your neutral colour scheme. Declutter. Get rid of the decals on the mirror, etc. For unity, get a metal basket that matches your towel storage units for your husband to throw his junk in. Need a colour punch. In view of your going more modern, I'd replace the art above your toilet with a colourful abstract or semi- abstract, and maybe repeat one of the predominant colours in an useful accessory or two such as a liquid soap container. Is there room in your budget to replace the open shelving on each side of the mirror with skinny mini-towers? The open shelving adds to the feeling of clutter. You're well on the way to a tasteful upgrade. Post an after pic when you're done~

  • Sydney Dawson Sydney Dawson on Jan 25, 2021

    Lots of suggestions to declutter, which I’m always here for.. My brain functions better when I have less things to look at. However, my husband wouldn’t make it if he had to open a cabinet to find his bathroom vanity things. (Insert biiiiiig eye roll at him!) Just remember the space has to function for YOU, not pretty pictures on the internet.


    As far as changing out the shelves, those wire shelves are sturdy and handy! We have many in our house. I put built in shelves in my pantry, or maybe check out some tutorials on how to make covers for your existing wire shelves.


    I think it’s gorgeous already, I can’t wait to see what you decide on!! 🖤

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Jan 29, 2021

    Here are some ideas! https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Master%20bathroom%20upgrade%20ideas%3F&rs=typed&term_meta[]=Master%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=bathroom%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=upgrade%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=ideas%3F%7Ctyped

  • Deb K Deb K on Feb 04, 2021

    Hello, I think of you do the cabinets in grey, frame the mirror in grey, & add grey towels. Grey goes well with brushed nickel, you could paint your faucets & lighting any color you like with metallic paints, they hold up well. The shower curtain could be the focal point, here's a link to some beautiful ones. You can buy plastic to go over the shower curtain rod sleeves to change the color

    https://www.amazon.ca/Shower-Jenacor-Plastic-Protective-Diameter/dp/B01H2EGMR6


    https://www.google.com/search?q=grey+shower+curtain&newwindow=1&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA937CA937&sxsrf=ALeKk03Qv4p6-v0KMUjV4P19lP3bi02t9g:1612486443338&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi63qONxNHuAhWFsJ4KHTAYC70Q_AUoAnoECAUQBA&biw=1536&bih=722&dpr=1.25