Our Small Bathroom Remodel: From Hospital to Spa
When we bought our home in 2016, it was almost perfect. Almost. We quickly tackled the paint colors that screamed “sterile” and started swapping out worn-out carpet to make our space feel warm and inviting. But the biggest challenge loomed: our small, hospital-like primary bathroom in desperate need of a remodel.
It wasn’t until June 2024 that we finally rolled up our sleeves and decided to take on the renovation ourselves.
My husband, bless his heart, dove in. He ripped out the old vanity, tore out the dated shower (goodbye, hospital vibe!), peeled up the floor tile and baseboards – basically, anything attached to the walls, except the light fixtures, was fair game.
I was buzzing with excitement, envisioning our new, private oasis just off our bedroom!
In the meantime, our guest bathroom with its tub and shower became our temporary sanctuary. My only personal rule?
This remodel absolutely, positively could not take a year. Six months felt ambitious, but doable.
Well, as they say, life happens.
And sometimes, life involves a tricky little thing called leveling a shower drain.
After countless YouTube videos and a few desperate calls to fatherly figures for advice, it became crystal clear: we needed a pro. Someone who genuinely knew their way around a bathroom remodel.
So, we tapped into our network, gathered recommendations from friends, and finally connected with a contractor in March 2025.
He was confident he could work within our budget, and we agreed on a plan: we’d source all the materials, and he’d handle the labor.
Two weeks. That’s all it took after our contractor started. Two weeks, and our small primary bathroom remodel was complete!
I know taking on a project like this can feel overwhelming.
That’s why I’m excited to share what we learned, where we found our favorite products, and what essential things to look out for when you’re tackling your own small bathroom renovation.
Choosing the Right Tile for Your Small Bathroom Remodel
This was surprisingly one of the hardest parts of the entire remodel. We had a vision, but finding the exact tile to match that vision was a journey.
We scoured Home Depot, Lowe’s, and even a fantastic local tile shop. Ultimately, the tiles that captured our hearts (and now adorn our bathroom!) came from Lowe’s.
Get a Sample First!
Before you even think about buying in bulk, purchase one or two pieces of each tile you’re considering. Bring them home and place them directly in your bathroom space.
Store lighting is often drastically different from your home’s natural and artificial light.
A tile that looks bright in the store might appear darker at home, and vice versa. Investing in a sample is the best way to ensure you’ll love your final choice.
This is the exact tile pictured above that we used in our bathroom remodel.
Don’t Forget the “Run” Number
If you’re buying tile yourself, here’s a pro tip: always check the “run” number on the packages.
Tiles from different manufacturing runs can have subtle (or sometimes not-so-subtle) variations in color.
Matching these numbers ensures consistency across your entire purchase, preventing patchy or mismatched areas.
Small Bathroom Remodel Hack For Making a Space “Bigger”
One of the most overlooked hack for making your small bathroom seem bigger is to have the tile of the shower go all the way up to the ceiling.
This simple design choice draws the eye upwards, creating a seamless, vertical line that instantly makes the ceiling feel higher and the room more expansive.
Instead of stopping abruptly at shower head height, extending the tile visually stretches the space. My goal was to make our small bathroom feel larger without any extra square footage.
It also makes for a cleaner, more modern aesthetic that elevates the entire look of the room.
Want to try the matte black herringbone tile? Here’s the link!
Grout Secrets for a Flawless Small Bathroom Makeover
We opted for two different grout colors in our remodel, and it made a huge difference.
For the light gray wall tile, we chose a darker gray grout to make the texture pop. On the floors, however, we went with a lighter “sandcastle” color grout.
This was a brilliant decision! Our contractor advised against white grout on the floor, explaining it would show dirt much quicker.
The sandcastle color helps the tile texture blend beautifully while maintaining that clean, fresh look we wanted. It was definitely the right call for durability and aesthetics.
Compact Vanity Storage
This vanity is, hands down, my favorite feature. Why? Because it has a hidden top drawer! It’s sheer genius.
Instead of wasted space around the plumbing, modern vanities now come with a clever top drawer cut around the pipes, providing incredibly valuable storage.
For two people sharing a small bathroom, this was the game-changer we needed to keep everything organized and out of sight.
The best part is that many of these vanities also come with built-in sections or dividers, making organizing your toiletries and essentials a breeze right from the start!
Beyond that hidden gem, our vanity also features three regular drawers on the right and an open storage cabinet on the left.
I’ve used desk organizer containers to dedicate one drawer to my “spa and getting ready” essentials, a second drawer perfectly holds my blow dryer, and the bottom drawer is ideal for backstock items like toilet paper and a small box of tissues.
Inside the cabinet, we’ve placed a large lazy Susan. This makes it super easy to access taller products and other items that don’t quite fit in a drawer but are still daily necessities.
Our main goal was to keep our countertop completely clear for a clean, streamlined look – and so far, it’s working out great!
The Modern Matte Touch for Fixtures
For all the fixtures, we went with a sleek matte black finish – from the shower head to the handles on the vanity drawers. Our shower head came from Home Depot, while the matching lever for the shower was a great find on Amazon.
In the “before” picture, everything was a standard silver, which contributed to that sterile, dated feel. Our goal for the new bathroom was a modern look with an overriding sense of calm.
The shower door, which we also picked up from Lowe’s, even had an option for a black matte finish around its edges, making it absolutely perfect for our vision.
Hanging Arched Mirror for the Perfect Reflection
You can see in the “before” picture just how much our old mirror impacted the space. Its thick, etched edges cast a shadow directly over the sink, making our already small bathroom feel even smaller and perpetually darker.
I knew exactly what I wanted for the new space: a mirror with a sleek black frame, straight on the bottom, and elegantly curved at the top.
The hunt began! I scoured everywhere – Target, HomeGoods, TJMaxx, but nothing quite matched my vision. Then, on a hopeful last stop at Marshall’s, I spotted it.
It was the only mirror in the entire store that fit the description, and it was a steal at just $30. I knew instantly it was meant to be mine that very day.
All this to say: when you have a clear vision for your space, don’t settle until you find exactly what you want.
Your perfect piece might be hiding in the least likely place, but you’ll never know unless you look!
Brightening Your Tiny Bathroom with the Perfect Lighting Fixture
Going back to the “before” picture, I genuinely dreaded our old lighting fixture. It felt utterly blah and offered no warmth whatsoever to the room.
For our small bathroom remodel, we chose a new fixture from Lowe’s, and I absolutely love it.
The brown, wood-look accents perfectly complement the wood-like tile in our shower, pulling the whole color scheme together.
Plus, its matte black details seamlessly tie into all our new fixtures, creating a cohesive and polished look.
Combined with the new mirror, this lighting fixture makes all the difference, tricking the eye and making our small bathroom feel significantly larger than it actually is.
Hooks, Not Rods in a Small Bathroom
Instead of traditional towel rods, which can sometimes make a small bathroom feel like a wall of hanging towels, we opted for hooks. This simple change instantly elevated the space, giving it a much more spa-like and less “industrial” feel.
Light Switch and Outlet Covers
Another small but mighty change to how the bathroom was upgraded were light switch and outlet covers. These match the rest of our home which makes it even more aesthetically pleasing for this new small bathroom remodel.
Paint Color Makes a Small Bathroom Seem Bigger
Last, but certainly not least, we tackled the paint color. This is also a fantastic time to give that ceiling a fresh coat of paint – just be sure it’s a true white before you start!
We didn’t and the ceiling was painted 3 times… once in Seashell Gray and then two coats of white once we realized what happened.
For the walls, we decided on Seashell Gray. Not only does this soft hue make the wood-look tile in the shower truly pop, but it immediately creates that “oasis” feel we were after.
As a lighter color, it also plays a significant role in making our small bathroom appear more spacious than it is.
My Final Vent
One final, subtle touch made a huge impact: changing out the color of our floor vent.
Before, it was silver, blending in (or rather, clashing with) the old scheme. We invested just a few dollars into upgrading it to a matte black finish, and it made a monumental difference!
Now, literally every detail in our bathroom matches perfectly, and I’m beyond excited to use our beautiful new space.
Seeing Our Small Bathroom Remodel Dream Come to Life
Our small bathroom remodel was a journey with its share of surprises, but seeing the final result makes every decision worth it.
It’s amazing what a difference thoughtful choices in tile, fixtures, paint, and even the smallest details like a vanity drawer or a vent cover can make in a compact space.
For all the products, fixtures, tiles, and accessories, I’ve created clickable links throughout this post but also in my Lowe’s Storefront here.
Please note, I am an affiliate with Lowe’s and Amazon so when you click on these links and buy from my recommendations, you are also supporting my small business. Thank you in advance!
More from a Professional Organizer
Transforming a small space like a bathroom can feel daunting, but as you’ve seen, intentional choices and smart systems make all the difference.
My goal is always to help you create spaces that aren’t just beautiful, but also highly functional and easy to maintain, even in the busiest seasons of life.
If you’re feeling inspired by this remodel and ready to tackle your own organizing projects, here are a few ways I can help you create that same sense of calm and order:
Ready for Hands-On Guidance?
Whether it’s your bathroom, kitchen, or that overflowing closet, I offer personalized organizing services to help you declutter, create smart systems, and set up your space for long-term success. We can work together virtually from anywhere, or in-person if you’re in my local area.
Book Your Free 30-Minute Connection Call Here!
Let’s chat about the space that’s causing you the most stress and map out a plan to make it work for you.
Dive Deeper into Organization
Want more practical tips and insights from a professional organizer? Check out these related posts to continue your organizing journey:
- 5 Hacks to Organize Your Classroom (And Keep It That Way!)
- Double Your Space: 3 Simple and Unexpected Uses for a 2-Tier Organizer
- Simple Steps to a Stylish Home: Practical Storage Ideas
Bonnie Hintenach | Bin your Space
Professional Organizer for Homes and Classrooms
Maryland Organizer
