DIY Powder Room Makeover and Small Half Bath Ideas
Need inspiration for a small half bath refresh? Today I’m sharing the reveal of my budget friendly DIY powder room makeover, plus the best ideas for half bath design.
A little love went a long way in this tiny bathroom. I didn’t want to spend a ton of money, so I relied on a fresh coat of paint and small decorative items that would make a big impact. This entire powder room makeover cost under $500!
Love green wall paint, vintage style artwork, and making every room in your home feel cozy? I hope you are inspired by this small space!
Related: Primary Bathroom Makeover on a Budget
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Powder Room Before
Here is a photo of our builder grade powder bath before. It was perfectly functional, but I wanted to add character and coziness. The good news is that a half bath makeover doesn’t have to be expensive!
I think many people wonder how to decorate a powder room. Sometimes the smallest spaces are the hardest to tackle! Of course, you can replace the vanity and flooring if it is in your budget to do so. But there are so many great things that you can do on a budget!
Small Half Bath Design Plan
A little while ago I shared my powder room mood board. I like to create a mood board when I am planning a space because it helps me nail down the color scheme and general design. While I don’t necessarily end up buying the exact items on the mood board, it is a helpful guide to refer back to as you go.
Want to design your own mood board? Tap to get my free room makeover guide!
DIY Powder Room Makeover
Ready to see the reveal? I am so pleased with how this small half bath makeover turned out! Here are all of the details.
1. A Fresh Coat of Paint
The most time consuming DIY project for this powder room makeover was repainting the walls. But nothing makes a big impact on a budget like a fresh coat of paint!
Personally, I tend to choose muted tones over bright colors because I find them calming and easy to style. But I have seen some beautiful bright bathrooms too, so really, anything goes! I decided to use a medium green color for a fresh yet cozy space.
I originally planned to use the color Intrigue by Benjamin Moore for our half bath, but ended up going with Village Green by Behr because it is a Marquee color. Behr’s Marquee colors are guaranteed to cover in one coat, and the paint is high quality.
Pro tip: I always use this paint roller and this roller frame. Be sure to fully load your roller with paint and work in small sections.
In this case, there were a few areas that I went over with a light second coat, being the perfectionist that I am! I used satin finish, but eggshell would also work for a powder room.
2. Modern Look Faucet
Secondly, my dad helped me replace our half bath builder grade faucet with this modern look brushed nickel faucet.
In addition, I updated the towel ring and toilet paper holder with brushed nickel hardware to match the faucet. These changes alone made a such a difference and made the powder room feel more custom!
3. Arch Frame Mirror
Thirdly, a large wall mirror over the sink is the perfect focal point for a half bath. This rattan arched mirror was the piece that inspired my powder room makeover, and I love the warmth and interest it adds.
More powder room mirror ideas:
4. Brass Light Fixture
One item that we had replaced previously in this small space was the builder grade light fixture. I chose a brass wall sconce with exposed lightbulbs, mounted above the mirror. Other options for a half bath would be two wall sconces or pendant lights hanging on either side of a mirror.
Related: Browse all of the best lighting options in Best Flush Mount Ceiling Light Replacements for Boob Lights and 90+ Best Wall Lights for a Bedroom! These would all work for a powder bath since it is not a damp location.
In addition, if you are lucky enough to have a window in your powder room, choose a pretty privacy shade or curtains to help filter the natural light.
5. Vintage Style Artwork
For the rest of the half bath refresh, I was able to recreate several of the higher end pieces from my mood board, on a budget.
While I loved the McGee and Co art, I knew I could achieve a similar look with printable artwork (landscape art, bird art) and standard frames (black frame, similar wood frame). The wall area above the toilet is the perfect place to display framed art that can be swapped out seasonally.
6. Pretty Hand Towels
Another great way to refresh your powder room is by adding new hand towels. This striped towel from the Hearth and Hand line at Target adds just a bit of farmhouse charm.
More cute towel options for a half bath:
7. Small Decorative Items
I also found designer dupes for the ceramic vase, dried florals, and hand soap on my powder room mood board. These small decorative items add visual interest, without taking up a lot of counter space.
Here are some more small half bath decor ideas:
8. Bathroom Vanity and Sink
For now, it was my goal to give our powder room a makeover without replacing the builder grade vanity or adding a new sink. But I love the look of a vintage pedestal sink, so maybe someday!
It is always fun to compare the mood board to the completed space, so here is a side by side comparison. Overall, I think that the final look is very similar to the design plan!
More Small Half Bath Refresh Ideas
There are so many ways to refresh a powder room on a budget, so I wanted to include a few more below!
1. Floating Shelf
While I did not install wall shelves in our half bath, the area above the toilet is a great place for them. You can use floating shelves to store extra toilet paper, hand soap, and lotion if you do not have storage space under the sink. A floating shelf is also perfect for small decorative items or a diffuser.
Browse floating shelf options for a small space below!
2. Statement Wallpaper
If you want to take your powder room walls a step further than fresh paint, statement-making wallpaper goes a long way!
Pro tip: Decide what type of wallpaper application process is best for you. You can choose from peel and stick, pre-pasted, or non-pasted. I have used peel and stick wallpaper for an accent wall in both my entryway and my daughter’s room and personally really like it, but everyone has their own preference.
Wondering what type of pattern to choose? Try delicate floral wallpaper for a cottage look, or bold colors or stripes for modern spaces. Here are some gorgeous wallpaper options:
3. Wall Designs with Molding
Another great idea to add visual interest to a half bath is with wall molding or wainscoting.
For example, try easy picture frame molding like I did in our primary bathroom. Or, you can install bead board or shiplap on the bottom half of the wall.
4. Washable Powder Room Rug
If you have the floor space, a small washable rug is the perfect match for a half bath. We have several Ruggable rugs in our home and while they are an investment, the quality is much better than cheaper options that I have tried.
Here are my top picks!
5. Tile Floor
We didn’t replace the flooring in our powder room, but I love the look of patterned or bold tile to make a statement.
Shop my favorite bathroom tile below:
6. Knobs and Hardware
Finally, swapping out cabinet knobs and drawer pulls is a unique and inexpensive way to refresh your half bath.
Here are some beautiful options:
DIY Powder Room Makeover Cost Breakdown
Finally, here is the budget breakdown for my half bath makeover in case you are interested!
Please note: Prices were accurate at time of posting, but may have fluctuated.
- Arched wall mirror: $105
- Brushed nickel faucet: $122
- Towel ring: $19
- Toilet paper holder: $31
- Landscape, black bird, giclee prints: $27
- Striped hand towel: $8
- Tissue box cover (peach pink): $17
- Dried florals (3): $23
- Apothecary style hand soap: $6
- 8×10 black and silver frame: $39
- Village Green wall paint (satin): $48
- Ceramic vase (no longer available, this one is similar): $15
The total cost for this project was under budget at $460! What do you think?
(I already had the brass light fixture, but for reference it is $99. I also had the bottom picture frame, but this 11×14 wooden frame is similar and only $13.)
More Room Makeover Ideas
I hope you found these half bathroom ideas inspiring! Have you tackled any of your bathrooms, either with a full renovation, or a simple refresh? Since I originally shared this post a few years ago, I have refreshed our primary bathroom, and I’m currently working on our guest bathroom too (to be shared soon)!
You may also like:
I’m Caitlin.
A creative homebody on a mission! Since 2017, I’ve been dreaming up ways to make our builder grade house feel like home. Blogging every step of the way, my goal is to help you create a space that is cozy and functional. I write about decorating, organizing ideas, and DIY projects, plus occasional gift guides. Grab a cup of tea and let’s make home cozy!
Such a lovely makeover! The tissue box cover with its unexpected colour really adds charm and interest to the space. Very inspiring.
Can I ask what trim color you used?
Hi Ashley! The trim throughout our house is just white from our builder, I think it is pure white!
Love the bathroom, did you paint the ceiling the same color as well?
Thank you so much Arianne! I did not paint the ceiling, but love the idea of using the same color! My only suggestion would be to use flat finish paint on the ceiling (rather than eggshell or satin).
Hi, I love this look. Would it be weird to use all gold accessories (towel bar, light fixture, faucet) vs. mixing the brushed nickel and gold as you have done?
Hi Alexandra! Thanks so much for the comment. You can definitely use all matching metals in a bathroom! I mainly chose the brushed nickel faucet to coordinate with our other bathrooms, as well as our brushed nickel doorknobs throughout our house.
Hi! Love this look. What is on the wall opposite the toilet? I have a similar style bathroom and feel like the wall when you sit to use the toilet with the door closed is so blah! Would love to hear what you would do to add interest? Is yours just all painted green?
Hi Tiffany, this is such a good question and I have the same dilemma! Right now the opposite wall is just green with no decor and it has always bothered me. I am going to keep thinking about it because it deserves an update. One idea I have is to add picture frame molding just to give the wall a little something. Let me know if you have a breakthrough!