$15 Bathroom Transformation

Ashleigh Sommer
by Ashleigh Sommer
9 Materials
$15
1 Day
Easy

If you've looked up DIY sponge wall lately, you may have come across my pictures and/or my post about how to do it.


Here's the post if you're wondering how to do it - https://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/walls/sponge-wall-yes-you-read-that-correctly-43451881


Anyways, I did that DIY about a year ago now and still love it, but I've been wanting a little bit of a change while still keeping the overall vibe. I did this project for around $15, cost of wood and liquid nails I had everything else on hand, and am obsessed with how it turned out!

Before + After

Just a few easy steps to transform the space

This was my vision before starting. If I can't fully visualize it in my head before starting sometimes I like to map it out.

This is the before

Materials needed + a saw of some sorts to cut the wood.


Paint color - Night Watch by PPG

Stain color - Jacobean

Step One - Measure


I measured the space from the wall to my mirror. I knew I had to get a thin piece of wood so it wasn't too heavy, but also wanted to make sure it would fit behind the mirror.

I also measure the length of my wall. For me it was roughly 65 inches.


*Note I had already completed this project before taking pictures, that is why the wall is already painted. I was too excited when I got started doing this that I forgot to take in progress photos.

I purchased two of these pieces of wood I bought from Lowes. I had my husband cut one of the pieces to fit the size we needed.

Step Two - Paint + Stain


I taped off the area I was going to paint and got to work! Before painting I held up the wood to decide where I wanted it to go and then taped off there to know the exact area to paint.


While I waited for the paint to dry, it took about three coats, I stained the wood. I always just use a scrap piece of cloth to stain. Make sure to wear gloves!


Paint color - Night Watch by PPG

Stain color - Jacobean

Step Four - Hang Wood


Before actually attaching the wood, I held it up, made sure it was level and did a little pencil mark on the wall of where it was going to go. This was when I had the glue on it, I wasn't just blindly pushing it onto the wall. I did a zigzag pattern with my liquid nails on the back of the wood and pushed it onto the wall, lining up the pencil marks I made. I made sure it was level before really pushing it down.


After attaching it to the wall I sealed it with polycrylic. It would be easier to seal before attaching it to the wall, but I was being impatient and wanted to see it all come together lol

I am absolutely obsessed with the way this turned out. I love how it gives the small bathroom a little more color without being out of control and it looks more finished in my opinion.

I will note since the wall had the sponge technique, the paint was a bit thick where the sponge print was. I didn't sand it down before painting - again I was very impatient, but if you were doing the same thing covering up the sponge technique I would suggest to sand down and you won't notice at all once it's painted over.

This is the overall progression of my bathroom. First photo is when I moved in, middle after the initial make over was done, and finally today. This was a super easy project that completely changes a space!

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  • Amanda Dearing Amanda Dearing on Dec 17, 2020

    I’m surprised which pic is the before and which is after, as my taste differs a bit. It is a beautiful job and I know for our mental health minds we need to change things up from time to time. I’m sure you’ll love it, plus it was a labor of love. Enjoy!! Thank you for sharing. Was the before wall done with hand-painting or is it wallpaper?

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  • Lisa West Lisa West on Dec 17, 2020

    Looks great. Now it really looks finished. I agree with you. It needed an up grade with a smack in the face elegance. Merry Christmas. I do thi k we all needed a change. And covid gave most of us the time to finish new and old projects and find some thing new to try etc. Unfortunately it took a pandemic for us to get things done. I feel bad for those who have lost loved ones, and those who are fighting now. I thank God a vax was made. Let's hope and pray that this virus goes away soon. Merry christmas every one.

  • Nmr65128676 Nmr65128676 on Dec 08, 2022

    Fantastic... took the whole design up a notch! Amazes me how sometimes more can transform a design rather than less. Gives it that final "je ne sais quoi" we all love!

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