Our Best Bathroom Renovating Ideas Ever
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There’s nothing quite as exciting as the prospect of totally remodeling a space—especially a bathroom. Daunting, yes, but exciting nonetheless. Whether you’re just looking to refresh your bathroom with a new coat of paint or going all-in on a complete renovation (we’re talking new tile, fixtures, lighting, etc.), we’ve got ideas below to make 2025 the year your bathroom becomes a place you actually want to spend time. We even have easy decorating ideas to give your space a quick facelift to hold you over while you build your budget and figure out what else you may want to do. Regardless if you have a large or small bathroom, or what your budget is, there’s guaranteed to be some ideas below that will have you ready to break out the toolbox before the clock strikes midnight!
Ready to get renovating? Check out more of our favorite bathroom design ideas!
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Enhance Your Entrance
Set a relaxing, welcoming tone with a prettied-up bathroom entrance. In this wet room, designed by Richard and Anne De Wolf, an arched stained glass doorway creates a stunning spa-like effect.
RELATED: Stained Glass is Trending Again! See What Other Vintage Decor Ideas are Making a Comeback.
Convert a Small Bedroom
In a small home where space is at a premium, you might have to make a few sacrifices to get the bathroom you desire. In their Cape Cod cottage, homeowners Steve Ballerini and Colin Bohrer chose to enclose a small bedroom off their guest bedroom and transform it into this en suite bathroom.
Get the Look:
Floor Paint Color: Stiffkey Blue by Farrow & Ball
RELATED: 20 Best Small Bathroom Ideas to Spruce Up Your Space
Go All-In on Personality
There’s no such thing as too much in a bathroom; the space begs for personality! In this farmhouse makeover, serial renovator Holly Williams layered in loads of pattern and color through wallpaper, patterned tile, and a painted ceiling.
Get the Look:
Wallpaper: Country Living Toile on Spoonflower
Floor Tile: Cluny by Granada Tile
Ceiling Paint Color: Black Blue by Farrow & Ball
Rethink Your Awkward Vanity
If your bathroom proportions are slightly off, leaving you with that annoying wasted space between your wall and vanity, then it’s time to rethink your layout. While you could opt for an expensive built-in, you can also do what homeowners Victoria and Marcus Ford did in their bathroom and choose two petite vanities to stand side-by-side.
RELATED: Check Out the Rest of This Bathroom and Laundry Room Makeover
Update a Vintage Sink with New Hardware
We’re never going to tell you to get rid of beautiful, still-functioning pieces in your bathroom for the sake of modernization. Heritage pieces, such as this vintage sink in Landon McAfee’s cabin bathroom, can take on new life with a shiny new faucet.
Lean Into Rustic Charm
If you want to do a full gut reno but don’t want to strip your space of classic farmhouse charm, then look to rustic finishes that will complement your sleeker designs. In her upstate New York farmhouse, designer Christina Salway picked a perfectly patinaed clawfoot bathtub to bring aged character to her freshly tiled bathroom.
RELATED: Our Favorite Claw-foot Tub Ideas That Will Elevate Any Bathroom
Paint Your Floors
On a budget and up for some quick geometry? Then you are ready to paint your bathroom floors! A checkered pattern is classic, but feel free to get creative. Check out our guide below for all the tips you’ll need on picking proper paint and finishes for floors.
RELATED: Here’s Everything You Wanted to Know About Painting Your Floors
Use Space Creatively
Looking to expand your bathroom’s footprint? Don’t overlook oddly shaped spaces, such as this farmhouse attic alcove. It makes the perfect cozy spot to tuck in a shower! Go for all-white finishes to keep low ceilings and small spaces from feeling too cramped.
RELATED: These Are the Only Shades of White Paint You’ll Ever Need
Pick Vintage Fixtures
If your house wasn’t blessed with chic vintage fixtures, you can still bring them in to add back classic country charm. In this Alabama river cottage, designer Jensen Killen found this small cast iron sink on Etsy. Your local architectural salvage yard should also have a good selection if you prefer to shop in person.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: London Clay by Farrow & Ball
RELATED: 40+ Powder Room Decorating Ideas That Add Storage and Style
Opt for a Beadboard Backsplash
Sure, tile is the standard choice for bathroom walls, but we just love the charm wood beadboard paneling adds. In this bathroom, a creamy sage color pairs nicely with the warm wood vanity.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: Quiet Moments by Benjamin Moore
RELATED: These Are the 20 Best Green Paint Colors, According to Designers
Keep It Simple With Statement Pieces
Sometimes, you don’t need to overcomplicate a space. For this Texas farmhouse makeover, helmed by design stars and real-life friends Leanne Ford and Grace Mitchell, a stunning antique double-sink vanity steals the scene, leaving little need for much else in the bathroom.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: Lime White by Farrow & Ball
Make Your Existing Vanity Pop with Paint
Happy paint colors can do a lot to change the look and feel of a bathroom. If you’re looking for a one-and-done weekend project, start with paint. And, you don’t have to commit to changing your walls—we love how this sunny yellow vanity pops against the white backdrop.
RELATED: These Are The Best Paint Colors for Small Bathrooms
Choose Checkerboard
Relying on classic patterns ensures your renovation will feel timeless through the coming years. In this farmhouse bathroom renovation, the duo behind the Jersey Ice Cream Co. design firm chose to upgrade their shower space with a simple checkered tile pattern.
RELATED: Here Are Our 50+ Best Bathroom Tile Ideas
Take Wallpaper Up the Ceiling
Looking to add an expert-level look to your bathroom? Wallpaper the ceiling! In small bathrooms such as this attic space, it may actually make the room feel larger!
RELATED: These Bathroom Wallpaper Ideas Will Have You Pulling Out Your Paper Paste
Embrace Existing Elements
When Country Living Editor-in-Chief Rachel Hardage Barrett renovated her Mississippi home, she kept the original black and white subway tile and previously installed green-and-white toile wallpaper. To enhance the vintage feel while still giving the small bath a fresh update, she painted the trim a delightful coordinating green shade.
Get the Look:
Trim Paint Color: Oakmoss by Sherwin-Williams
Just Add Artwork
Looking for a quick way to refresh your space that can be done in just one afternoon? Try hanging new art! Go all in on a collection to fill your walls, like homeowner Anthony Brewington did here in his Alabama cottage, or hang just a piece or two to keep things simple.
RELATED: Get Inspired With These Gallery Wall Ideas
Make Moody Paint Work
2025 is going to be the year of moody paint colors. (Don’t believe us? Check out our paint color trend report for 2025!) If you’re ready to embrace a more sumptuous look in your bathroom, start with paint. The homeowners of this cabin bathroom went with a daring shade of inky black milk paint, but left the wood ceiling exposed to bring in a little warmth.
RELATED: The Best Dark Blue Paint Colors for Any Room in the House
Pick a Dramatic Backsplash
If you love the look of tile, go for a dramatic tile backsplash behind your sink, as designer Anthony D’Argenzio did here in his upstate New York bathroom. The powdery gray-and-white tile extends from the floor up behind the sink, creating an interesting backdrop for the vintage cabinet vanity. For even more visual interest, he bumped the lower part of the wall out slightly to create a display ledge.
Pay Homage to the Original
A bathroom refresh doesn’t have to be all-encompassing! In this humble bathroom, the homeowners installed new beadboard meant to reference what may have been there originally. Simply painting it the same white as the walls and trim keep it feeling fresh.
RELATED: Beadboard vs. Wainscoting—What Are They and How Are They Different?
Reveal Your Wood
If you’re really lucky, when you strip away that drywall and popcorn ceiling, you just might reveal some stunning original wood. If that happens, our best advice is to leave it exposed so you can revel in its natural texture and beauty. Just be sure to check with your contractor and get their approval first!
RELATED: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Reclaimed Wood
Play Up Pattern
Bathrooms have a tendency to be bland and boring with simple all-white finishes. But this colorful shower, whose tiles are meant to reflect a classic patchwork quilt, proves that introducing color and pattern is only ever a good idea. Keeping the color and pattern confined to only one area of the bathroom makes it feel special and also means you’re free to leave everything else classic white.
RELATED: Here’s How to Decorate With Color in a Country House, According to Designers
Add a Shower Storage Nook
Shower nooks have become all the rage in the last few years, and for good reason! Built-in recessed storage like this keeps your shower free of clutter and looks cute to boot!
RELATED: Colorful Bathroom Tile is Officially BACK!
Make a Splash With Salvage
Looking for a unique feature to add to your bathroom that no one else will have? Then head out to the architectural salvage yard! Besides antique bathtubs and sinks, you’ll find tons of other unique pieces to add to your bathroom, such as this door turned into a bath backsplash.
Pick Pretty Pendant Lights
Sconces may seem like the obvious lighting choice in a bathroom, but you aren’t limited to them—and you may not even have room on your wall for a light fixture. In this coastal California cottage, wood pendant lights hanging over each sink add an unexpected flair.
RELATED: Pretty Bathroom Lighting Ideas for All Styles, From Modern to Rustic
Bring Out the Brick
Brick is one of our favorite unexpected materials to bring into the bathroom because it adds such warmth and rusticity. So, if you’re looking for an alternative to tile, go for brick! Tip: Look for brick pavers for less cost and easier installation. You can even by them in pre-laid sheets.
RELATED: Why the Herringbone Pattern is a Great Choice for Floors
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