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Powder Room Remodel on a Budget with 5 Easy Steps

This powder room makeover was updated on a serious budget. The homeowners could not afford to replace the floor, vanity and countertop. We saved money with cabinet paint and removed an ugly backsplash.

The “Before”  picture shows the sad result of a botched remodel.  It was so ugly, in so many ways. The original blue gray paint was washed out by the Northern exposure and looked purple.  The mirror looked cheap (it was the wrong finish), the vanity cabinet looked yellow, and the dated backsplash clashed with the granite counter.

The Powder Room Vanity and other finishes did not match.

Before picture of vanity with backsplash and counter that don't match.
Photo by M. Marceny

We updated with five easy affordable steps.

Remove the backsplash. 

The worst crime in this room was that the backsplash (yellow beige undertones) did not match the granite counter (pink beige undertones).

Before picture of granite counter and backsplash that don't match
Photo by M. Marceny

Our solution was to remove the backsplash and re-texture and paint the drywall.  Since powder rooms are low use bathrooms, a backsplash isn’t always needed. A simpler look and feel look more timeless, and it was less expensive!

Don’t replace the vanity – paint it!

Save money when you paint the vanity with dramatic black.   The yellowed maple cabinet was painted with with Benjamin Moore Satin Advance Paint and a warm black paint color, Onyx 2133-10. Ceilings, door and trim were painted a true white paint color, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65.

For the walls, We chose Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth (984), a mid-toned warm taupe neutral paint color that matched the tones in the countertop and  flowed well with the dining room next door.  Northern exposures such as this one can make colors look cooler and bluer than they are, so a warm color such as taupe is a great choice!  Ceiling and trim were painted Chantilly Lace OC-65.

Use Your Favorite Art.

Powder room with granite, black and white photos and square mirror.
Photo by M Camilli

Black and White Prints tie in with the Black Vanity – Benjamin Moore Onyx 2133-10..

We believe in using pieces that you already have an love – shopping in the house!  In this case, we used existing black and white prints of Boulder, Colorado, a sentimental choice for the homeowner, a gift from her son.  They tied in perfectly with the granite counter and the with the black vanity.  It looks simply beautiful.

Make a statement with your color palette.

Replace the mirror.

The original plastic white mirror looked cheap.  We found a classic rectangular satin nickel mirror at our local Home Goods that was just the perfect size.  For this bathroom, the right size was a mirror that was 2/3 the length of the vanity. We left 6″ above the counter and 6″ below the light fixture.  Round mirrors are trendy right now, and would have worked, but a rectangular mirror is a classic finish that will be stylish forever.

Powder room makeover with BM Stone house paint for walls and BM onyx for vanity
Photo by M. Camilli

Install a new light fixture.

We chose a trendy bar Park Harbor Vanity bar light with satin nickel hardware.  The white opaque glass tied in nicely with the sink and toilet.

The Verdict:

This powder room is now beautiful and harmonious, and the colors match.  The price was minimal – we purchased paint, a mirror, and a beautiful budget light fixture, and used our own labor to get the job done.

Don’t forget to always test your paint colors.  Our directions for how to test paint colors are here.

Powder room sink with peach roses and Jaida faucet

Online Color Consulting

If you still need help with paint colors, check out our Online Color Consulting packages or an In-Person Color Consultation in the Denver Metro area.

Color concierge offers online color consulting from anywhere in the world.

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Powder room makeover on a budget in 5 easy steps.

 


About the Author

Michelle Marceny, principal designer and founder of The Color Concierge, a paint color consulting company in Denver, Colorado.

Hi, I’m Michelle Marceny, founder, owner, and Principal Color Designer at The Color Concierge. I believe a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space. The Color Concierge was born out of my drive to help clients fall back in love with their homes. My clients trust me to help them find the perfect paint color for their home – whether it’s a whole-house paint color scheme or ideas for a single room. 

Since The Color Concierge was founded in 2017, we have completed over 3000 color consultations, both online and in-person.  I am a Certified Color Expert with 7 years of experience creating interior and exterior color palettes throughout North America.


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Meet Michelle

Driven to help clients fall back in love with their homes with intentional paint color schemes. She started the company based on her passion for color and its ability to make a house a home.

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