Primary Bath Makeover: From Outdated to Bright + Modern
When we bought our house, the Primary bath was… fine. Functional. But it definitely had that 1990s dated look: dark finishes, bulky cabinets, and absolutely no personality. I wanted this space to feel like a little retreat, bright, modern, and still cozy enough that I’d actually enjoy getting ready in the morning.
So, after way too many Pinterest boards and late-night scrolling, we finally did it. (Because let’s be honest, in a house full of boys, I deserve the bathroom of my dreams!) Here’s the full glow-up, along with links to all the items in case you’re planning a redo of your own.
The Before:
The Vision
I wanted clean lines, a white and bright palette, soft sage walls, and just the right amount of gold accents. Let’s be honest, I want everything in my house to feel aesthetic, and the bathroom was no exception. The goal: traditional elegance, sophisticated, with a little modern simplicity.
The Details
We started with a fresh white vanity topped with marble countertops, which instantly brightened the room. The vanity comes as an all-in-one (linked above), but you can also order the pieces separately if your space doesn’t fit a double sink, Single sink with vanity, or single sink. I knew I wanted to keep a makeup vanity because that was one thing I did love about the old bathroom. My makeup chair is from Universal Furniture.
For the walls, I chose Sherwin-Williams “Contented” and added wainscoting throughout. On the floors, I went with a white marble tile and carried a similar look into the shower (shower tile) for a cohesive, uniform feel. For the shower floor, I used this tile, which gave this clean design a little extra interest.
One of the biggest changes was ditching the jacuzzi tub we never used and expanding the shower into the spa-worthy space of my dreams, complete with not one, not two, but three shower heads. During the process, I also discovered that our old stained-glass window was actually just vinyl (yes, I could have saved myself from that eyesore two years ago), so we swapped it for a clean, frosted pane window.
Swapping out the dark old fixtures for sleek new gold fixtures was a total game-changer (and yes, I found a more cost-effective faucet option that I’ll link here). The new bathroom light fixture added beautiful texture and transformed the whole mood of the space. I couldn’t resist adding the chic-iest mirrors for that boutique-hotel vibe, especially paired with gold wall sconces. Then I finished things off with cozy touches like a rug, fresh gold towel holders, and all the little styling details that make the space feel finished. And yes, I even ordered a gold handle for the toilet because if everything else was going to match, you better believe that was too.
Finishing touches to complete everything was the gold tray here, the vase here, the olive foliage here, and the soap dispenser that match the gold finishes perfectly, here!
Around the corner from the shower, a small hallway leads into our master closet. We decided to move our washer and dryer there, no more lugging laundry up and down the stairs! It’s been such a game-changer with four boys (yes, I’m including my husband in that count). While we were at it, we also swapped in this modern hallway light fixture to tie the space together.
The finishing touch was artwork. Lucky for me (and for you), I just picked up my brushes and painted fresh botanicals and landscapes, which inspired me to launch an entire new botanical collection of originals and prints. You can shop them all now under the Botanical + Floral Collections tab.
The After
Now it feels like a completely different bathroom. It’s bright, modern, and makes me ridiculously happy every time I walk in. Honestly, why didn’t I do this sooner?
If you’re planning your own renovation, I can’t recommend Miles Group Contractors enough for the remodel, and Lowe’s for being my one-stop shop for all the materials.
Save This for Later
Dreaming up your own bathroom redo? Pin this post for inspiration or share it with a friend who’s in renovation mode. And if you try out any of these pieces in your home, tag me, I’d love to see how you style them!
Before and After:
