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Guest Bathroom Makeover: A Budget-Friendly Transformation

Before and after images side-by-side of a budget-friendly guest bathroom makeover.

When we moved into our house, we wouldn’t have called it a “fixer-upper,” but it definitely had its rough spots. Among the most glaring was the guest bathroomā€”a room that practically screamed for a makeover. The peeling paint, yellowing walls, and outdated fiberglass tub surround were impossible to ignore and had has ready to take this guest bathroom makeover.

This is the story of how we gave our guest bathroom a complete budget-friendly transformation using paint, subway tile, and a little DIY grit. Keep reading for tips, lessons learned, and even the drama of a massive glass explosion.

Choosing a Modern Vintage Color Palette

The first step in our guest bathroom remodel was selecting a color scheme. We opted for Muted Sage by Behr, a moody green that complements the modern vintage vibe we were going for. This color added depth without clashing with the rest of our home.

I was about 10 weeks pregnant during this project, so Alex took on most of the painting duties. While painting isnā€™t his strongest suit, he did an impressive job, and the walls turned out great.

We also spray-painted the old chrome light fixture using a black spray paint we swear by. Paired with new light shades, this quick update gave the fixture a fresh look while staying within budget.

Refinishing the Fiberglass Tub Surround

Updating the dated fiberglass tub surround was a high priority. We used a tub and tile refinishing kit to paint over it in a clean white finish.

Pro tip: this process is incredibly fume-heavy.

Since the guest bathroom has no windows, Alex wore a mask, turned on multiple fans, and opened nearby exterior doors. Despite the precautions, the fumes were strong enough that we considered staying elsewhere for the night. He even stuffed towels under the doors to minimize the smell.

The results were worth it, though. While there are a couple of visible drips, the refinished tub surround looks brand-new.

A woman stands and looks at her subway tiles and dark gray grout as part of a budget-friendly guest bathroom makeover.

DIY Subway Tile Installation for a Timeless Look

Neither of us had tiled before, so we started with a classic: white subway tile with dark gray sanded grout for a modern, yet timeless, look. It gave a modern vintage kind of feel, and got that done in a day, with sand everywhere. We truly underestimated how much sand is in sanded grout.

We prepped the surface, applied thinset with trowels, and stacked the tiles with spacers.

One beginner mistake: I accidentally started in a stacked pattern instead of the traditional staggered layout. Thankfully, we caught it early and corrected the rows. Working around uneven windows and a crooked ceiling added to the challenge, but the dark gray grout and caulk we used helped camouflage imperfections.

We got into a pretty good groove of me thinsetting and tiling, then at the end of each row Alex would measure and cut the tiles to fit using a manual tile cutter we got. It worked great on subway tiles because theyā€™re so small and you can just score and cut them really easily but probably wouldnā€™t work on bigger tiles (it totally failed me for my scrap wood boot tray).

A glass panel door shattered as part of a budget-friendly guest bathroom makeover.

The Great Glass Shower Panel Explosion

Everything was coming together beautifully until it was time to install a glass shower panel. We ordered a fixed glass panel from Wayfair that fit our modern aesthetic and allowed light to flow into the shower space.

Alex carefully carried the glass panel into the room whenā€”BOOMā€”it shattered into what felt like a million tiny shards. Despite handling it properly with gloves, the glass inexplicably exploded, showering me (safely seated in the tub) with fragments.

The cleanup was intense, but thankfully, Wayfair sent a replacement panel free of charge. This time, we hired a handyman for $50 to handle the installation. Lesson learned: sometimes, outsourcing is worth every penny.

Final Touches: Shelves, Faucets, and More

To finish off the space, we added affordable shelving from Amazon and swapped the old faucet for a sleek, modern design. These small changes made a big impact on the overall aesthetic.

Future plans include stenciling the floor tiles, replacing the mirror, and possibly building a custom vanity. But for now, weā€™re thrilled with how this guest bathroom makeover turned out.

Lessons Learned from Our DIY Guest Bathroom Remodel

  • Paint is transformative. Updating the walls and fixtures with paint made a huge impact for minimal cost.
  • Expect the unexpected. From uneven walls to shattered glass, DIY projects rarely go exactly as planned.
  • Know when to hire help. Some tasks, like installing heavy glass panels, are worth outsourcing to avoid potential mishaps.

If youā€™re looking for more inspiration and budget-friendly DIY ideas, sign up for our newsletter to follow our journey.

This guest bathroom makeover proves that with a little creativity and elbow grease, you can achieve stunning resultsā€”even on a tight budget.

Before and After Photos of Our Guest Bathroom Makeover

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