I think the floor could stay but it looks like the vanity has seen better days. Why not get a new one with sink and counter (pref solid surface) included? Costco has some nice options and I'm sure other big box places would too. Kitchens and baths sell houses and there is no way to make a scalloped sink look modern...especially another five years down the road! Definitely keep it neutral and simple. You'll have more of a "new" looking bath rather than just an updated one, and it should still be affordable. Plus, you still get to enjoy it for five years!

I would definitely get rid of the sink and cabinet--the current style is much higher and it will just look like you "put lipstick on a pig" if you make all the other changes and leave the sink. Look at what HD or Lowes has online (a bigger selection than at the store), use a white cabinet with a stone counter. You will have to change the mirror because it will be too big with the higher counter--but make it on the larger size to reflect light. I like the bead board run sideways like kaywestmass showed. Paint a very pale blue or green above the white bead board, and your room will look fantastic. Since you are handy I'll bet you can change the vanity your self. I think you can just screws the water lines on now--much easier. Love to see an after photo

The pulls, tp holder and other hardware look too dominate for the small bath. Replace them with a slimmer, simpler style. I'd go with all knobs if you're up for a little putty and redrilling.

You can also have the doors converted to hidden hinges if you decide to keep the vanity. It needs a light sanding and a good coat of paint.

Remember, if you replace the vanity that could change the footprint--there probably isn't tile under the vanity.

Redo wallpaper in a metallic/blue pattern or light jewel tone paint to dress up the bathroom. Take out the dark blue rugs and add light tan or white rug to ground the floor. Choose another shower curtain - no patterns - something that matches the rug. Keep one of the nautical pictures and add a silver starfish to the counter.

If you've already started, you may have discovered one thing leads to another. The big question: Does the tile extend under the vanity? If so, a new vanity will need to match or cover the old one's footprint. If the current vanity is structurally ok, I might keep it but sand rough spots, paint, replace hinges and pulls*, and install a new top. (A new top means stripping the wallpaper since it (probably) ends at the current 4" lip.) Btw, I would absolutely replace the vanity top. Big payoff when marketing the house.

*You might consider removing the vanity doors. Paint interior of vanity and use (covered) baskets for storage. I've done this in the house we were selling; it updated and 'visually' opened up the space. Getting rid of the doors makes access easier in a tight space.

Beadboard would update the bath, but might be more than you want to take on, Instead, you might look at paintable beadboard wallpaper. (It can be installed on horizontal or vertical.)

http://www.lowes.com/pd_350745-37364-10-103_0_?productId=3379098 I have used this with good results.

*The easiest update is changing out the "soft" elements. Remove the rugs for a cleaner look. For a tub mat, consider a towel type (like used in hotels.) Easy wash. Lay mat over the edge of the tub when not in use. I would go with a solid neutral shower curtain and towels.

Since this bath does double duty, as a guest bath, I would want to style the tub wall: Personally, I like to hang a pair of "real" curtains on either side of the tub, with a liner on a second rod. It dresses up the space.

As to floor, with 2 boys, I would stain the grout a darker color; perhaps dark gray. That would update your white tiles and ease maintenance. I have stained grout and it's not difficult.

Of course, changing out the lighting, faucet and hardware is a relatively inexpensive, easy update.

Good luck!

Remove the wallpaper and add chair rail and crown molding, all in white. Use either a bead board wainscot, or paint the lower part of the wall a taupe color and the upper part cream. If the toilet is in good shape, just leave it; if not, replace it with a chair-height fixture. Install a curved shower rod with a hookless shower curtain in white for a "hotel look." The curved rod makes the bath area surprisingly luxurious. I particularly like a hookless shower curtain with a see-through panel on top. A new faucet , in either chrome or brushed nickel, would add an updated feel, as would removal of all of the brass hardware, to be replaced with chrome, or brushed nickel to match the faucet. Paint the vanity white and add a new countertop with an updated sink. Paint the mirror frame white, as well. A white bath rug always looks fresh. (Do not use a rug at the base of the toilet.) White towels are always appropriate and continue the clean, fresh look.

I agree with those who say just change out the metals (faucet, handles, etc.). Chrome is popular in bathrooms right now and is also clean and classic, so good for resale. If you do decide to replace the vanity with a smaller one, look for one that has room around the sink for soap dispensers, setting a brush down, etc. and also had storage underneath. I would not put in a pedestal sink because people like to see storage in a bathroom for extra rolls of t.p. and such. Seeing a pedestal sink says "this bathroom is too small for a vanity and has no storage" and is more likely to put off buyers than an oversized vanity. You can't hide the fact that it is a small bathroom but that is not a big deal for many buyers anyway, as long as it is clean and functional.

Regarding changing the sink to a granite top, keep in mind that granite is trending out and many people do not like it in the bathroom because of the water stains. Many love it of course, but I'm just throwing in a different view.

Good luck! :)

Just my two cents that if you update the bathroom now in a style that you love, you will be able to enjoy it for 5 years (or however long!) until you sell it. We are in the process of buying a new house and I've already decided that I'm not going to "live with" things I don't like if there's a way to update them now without spending a fortune. I've never regretted the updates I've made in a house and have typically always wished I had made the changes sooner!

Thanks SO MUCH for all the wonderful suggestions. I realize that some of my DIY skills are not good enough yet, so I came up with a practice plan so I can develop these skillls.

I just started demo on another small bathroom that is rarely used or seen. It's way on the other side of the upstairs off of a room that DH has overtaken as an office. It is used as a guest room sometimes, but so rarely that I have plenty of time to practice in that bathroom, and no one will see it if it's messed up for a while. The elements of the bathroom are the same size/materials, but the sink/vanity is actually IN the bedroom and then the toilet and bath/shower are behind a door.

I'm working on the sink/vanity area now. I have already demoed the lightbox and the vanity doors and drawers. I'm keeping the vanity because it's built in wall-to-wall, so it takes up the whole space, sort of recessed. I don't want to deal with wall and floor issues by replacing it. I have a cabinet person making me new doors and drawers and I will install them. I kept the large mirror and will paint the frame to match vanity. I have to look for a remnant piece for the countertop and will have a fabricator install the sink to that and put the counter in for me. I'll install a new light and faucet. I'll paint everything. So it's partly DIY and partly hired out for a few things.

In the bath/shower room I will remove/replace the toilet with DH help, change the shower curtain (also a very 80s one in there right now), and do the easy stuff like new towels and a rug, towel bar, toilet paper holder. I have to decide whether or not I want to remove the tile floor and tub tiles. This is beyond my current skill and where I will have to really learn something because I don't know the first thing about tile.

My motivation for practicing in this other bathroom is that this house has 3 bathrooms that REALLY need to be updated, and I don't want to have to contract out for all of the work. I figure if I can learn to do some or all of the work myself, I will be able to afford to update all of them and save money for a steam shower that I really want downstairs in my master. If I can learn tiling that will really help.

Thanks! You have all been very helpful!

That is a good idea for keeping the vanity --you might want to think about raising it up because all current vanites are around 34"-35" tall. See this blog post to see how to do it http://www.remodelaholic.com/2012/11/how-to-raise-up-a-short-vanity/

There are lots of You Tube videos about how to do things--My son replaced the springs on his oven door (involving some disassembling of the door) after he learned it by watching videos. So don't be afraid to try!
I have done tile floors --it isn't super hard if you just take your time (walls are harder and I might have a pro do that)
Good Luck!

I don't think I can add to all the great ideas here, but I'm going to throw out one more thing regarding the tile floor. If you're going to keep it (and it seems that was your plan), the thing that makes tile look its worst is dingy grout. If the grout isn't cracked anywhere and in good condition, consider purchasing some Grout Renew made by Polyblend (can be purchased at Home Depot). You can either go with something that perhaps blends better with the color of the tile to give the floor a more uniform look, or, if you're in to contrast, pick something that stands out. It comes in every shade that the Polyblend grout does, so I'm sure you can find something that you like. I'm partial to a more blended color choice, but it's an inexpensive fix either way you go and its also a sealant. If the grout is in bad condition, you can easily (although a bit time-consuming) remove the old grout and replace with new, again choosing a matching color. Then seal the grout (adding sealant about every 18 months or so) and in 5 years it should still look like new.

We recently sold our home and had to do as you are doing. Neutralize the space, paint walls Revere Pewter by BM or a soft grey. Then the rest would blend but yes, update fixtures to satin nickle, remove pattern on shower curtain, a nice solid cream to go with sink, No rugs. if pictures go with one bigger to make a statement. Buyers just want to see a neutral palette they can then put their stamp on. Boring sells if updated.

Kitchens and baths sell houses, I'm sure you've heard that before. It would be a wise investment to replace the floor and the vanity set , all hardware . Go classic not trendy, no bead board.. too small a room for that, neutral paint . Big box stores have good prices on sets, they are easy to install , make sure you get a vanity top with faucet 4" spread, the 8' spread faucets are double the price. Match faucets and hardware to your kitchen, Keep scale and classic style in mind... big floor tile in neutral color, white vanity and sink , small scale faucets and hardware, white shower curtain.
If you just can't replace try an update with color, paint the vanity a soft color that looks good with your off white floor and vanity top and the walls a fresh off white , Glidden antique white good choice. Instead of bead board use board and batten and run it 3/4 height of the room. I use pvc moldings to do this because it doesn't rot. Btw... for resale make sure all the hardware in your home matches , gives a home a well put together look, adds value with little investment.

Since opinions are free, I wanted to share mine...I agree with much of what has been said previously but have a couple of different thoughts. First, you might check to see what your competition is doing - easiest done if you search local real estate websites for your neighborhood and look at the pictures to see what other baths in your area look like for homes of a similar age. I loved the idea of the board and batten run 3/4 high (from the floor) and a neutral color above that (maybe a taupy canvas). I like the idea of painting the existing vanity black and using black and white photos (not photos of people) in simple black frames with white mattes - but keep the artwork to a minimum. Nickle or shiny chrome for faucets, lighting and all hardware. White towels are great when showing (recommended to me by a realtor) and simply keep a different color for the boys that you can quickly swap out when about to show. Think about Stanley Steamer cleaning your grout. Make sure everything is squeaky clean. As for the higher vanity - in a bath kids are using this may or may not be a good idea - small children will have a hard time being high enough to wash and brush teeth. Good luck and have fun with this exciting project.

Forget neutral...BORING! Go BOLD. Bright Mexican colors and talavera tile. Paint your cabinets turquoise. Saltillo tile floor. Color in your life will do you good!

First--I think it is so awesome that you are tackling these projects.
Second--neutrals are a definite for anything expensive/difficult to replace. You can always paint a bold color and repaint a neutral when you are ready to sell. With young boys around, you will probably need to repaint by then anyway.
Third--all wallpaper must die. Remove it, don't paint over it. And don't replace it! No resale value in wallpaper.
Painting your vanity, replacing hardware, updating decor and mirror will do a lot. It would be preferable to update the counter but whether it's necessary depends on comps in your area. As you well know, sometimes replacing things ends up more complicated than it should be.
Good luck and we can't wait to see the after pictures!

remove wall paper. paint wall and trim. new hardware. paint cabinets so they are fresh to match the trim. new tile (maybe 13x13 in a brick lay). make sure the plumbing fixtures match and if they come from different families, make sure the finish matches. different lines/brands make each finish different. New vanity top (cultured marble, inexpensive!), remove area rugs (or update them... shag is gone!) - hope this helps!

oh and maybe add some picture framing to half of the wall where there is empty space!

Here's an example of the board and batten I did with pvc molding, right atop the drywall and walls painted out in gloss white. I chose to keep very simple. A big picture opposite wall of your toilet like done here would be a nice simple update too.

Paint the vanity. (sand it first, prime it, then paint it). If the wall paper comes off easily, then strip it and paint. IF the wallpaper is a big huge Pain. Did you know you can paint it? Step one. Paint with OIL based primer (not latex). Then use slightly watered down drywall compound, skim the seams to make them disappear. Lightly sand. Caulk by baseboards and ceiling and trim. Then paint with a primer/paint tinted to the color you want. (anyone that wants to argue that, go ahead, but all drywall is, is gypsum sandwiched by (???) yep, paper.

Sure you can paint over wall paper... I've done it and it was fine. But a warning sometimes a paint will take differently to materials... it may look more shiny where the dry wall compound is, so if you do this use a flat paint for best results. There is so much that can get fixed with a bit of plaster and a good coat of paint.

Biggest needs: get rid of dated wallpaper, new hardware (no more gold), new tile flooring in modern LARGER size 12" MINIMUM (those tiny squares are extremely dated and doing the work for a buyer makes them more willing to buy so it's move-in ready), new countertop and faucet/handles, change curtain to plain white, remove artwork from walls (dated styles), remove rugs.

You don't need beadboard on the walls. It's a very particular traditional look and buyers with different taste will be turned off. My first thought when seeing beadboard is "Great, something I have to remove!"

You don't need a new vanity it looks to be in great condition from photo just needs new handles and countertop. If there are chips or peeling paint we can't see then give it a new coat of white paint.

Paint the walls a neautral color, NOT blue or green or red or anything with any color in it. You want to stick with whites, creams, beige, very light tan or light gray. Nothing dark. You don't want any dark colors in this small space.

White towels. Or white towels with tuxedo trim (a thin black strip on bottom.)

Again, no colors! If you want to sell this bathroom leave it neautral blank palatte for future buyers to envision their style.

You don't show us the inside of the shower. If the tub is old and the walls are tiny tiles like the floor, replace them with larger tiles. I put 24" polished in all my bath remodels for the shower walls. If you really want to update, get a glass framless door for tub and get rid of curtain altogether. But that's not an absolute by any means. Plain white spa curtain will suffice.

Make sure you post after photos so we can all see the fruits of our labors of advice!

I hate to say this but the sink just has to go. Nothing will update that shell sink BUT you can buy a whole unit for not too much with a solid surface granite top. All your other ideas are perfect. OK, so, having sold real estate for almost 20 years, buyers will walk in and say "why didn't they replace the floor?" Just replace the floor and enjoy it for 5 years and then have a hand up in selling. You will not regret. Half a job will look like you cut corners. Ahhhh, always the bearer of bad news - that's me. Also, keeping the old tile will make the old tile look even OLDER next to the newer items. Best of luck and enjoy your new bathroom. I wonder how we get to see the finished project? Excited for you. Makes me want to update something. House is newer so...

OH and stick with the spa look. Do NOT go bold for resale. Folks want their own look - not your bold look.

Thanks everyone! It's going to take me a long time, but I will incorporate all these great ideas! I will post after pics, but again, it may be a while since I'm learning as I go...

Just a couple of additions here...

I think the idea of beadboard is great BUT..... Home Depot sells a paintable wallpaper that looks just like beadboard (much easier to install!), I used it for a bathroom with the same configurations and it looks like a beach cottage bathroom! It's VERY durable and doesn't peel off with moisture...it's also prepasted. Paint the wallpaper a soft watery blue (I see the hallway is blue as well which will flow nicely into it and it will make the color of the sink look fresher) The sink with the shell shape will actually go really well if you do a seaside theme. Change out the shower curtain for something light and possibly no pattern, unless its with the theme but soft and muted. Bouclair and some decorating centres carry small canvas pictures of shells, sand, starfish etc for around the 5$-10$ mark. Light towels with either decorative edges or softly colored striped towels will keep the look airy too....good luck!

Make a budget and figure out what is going to add value to your house at less than the cost to you. If this is a kids' bathroom, is it worth changing so much? I'd get rid of the funky wallpaper, pick a bright shower curtain, towels and bathmat. It will look good when they walk in, but the bathroom will be neutral. Keep the counter clear, except for maybe one elegant hand soap bottle.

i would just remove the wallpaper and replace the hardware with brushed nickel. you can get a kit for cheap that includes all pieces at home depot or lowes. paint with a nice creamy white or pale aqua. use whatever towels you want and for showing the house just buy some cheap white hand towels. buy a white shower curtain it enlarges the room a lot. do not invest a lot as a buyer may want to redo anyway. just did mine like this, painted a pale aqua and did the other things and it looks fantastic. beadboard can be tricky. i would not bother.

we have a similar narrow bathroom and have just redone it. We put a floating vanity and a wall mount toilet which makes the bathroom look much wider and open. Replaced bath faucets with body shower and frameless glass shower door then used same 6 X 12 tiles for backsplash and shower walls.

EBK GROUP LTD.....Of course this is only a suggestion.....That is, not to change a thing! The new Owners will more than likely rip out the entire bathroom according to their taste. However is you still feel you need to make a change...You may want to consider first painting the outside hall from blue to a neutral color....warm off whites.....Then: 1. Change counter top and replace with cultured marble +-$90 @ Lowes tor shop online for 4" centers (if you can change the faucet then the counter is an easy DIY). 2. Change faucet to an updated traditional gooseneck in brass, w/4" enters to suit, & let it reflect from the mirror. See: Amazon.com. 3. Paint ceiling a dark color such as expresso in contrast to warm beige in wallpaper and replace ceiling fixture for better lighting, updated & traditional. 3. Replace shower curtain to a faux raw silk or updated stripe multi color pattern in traditional form integrating wallpaper colors in the process (such as burgundy, gold @ 2Xs the fullness by purchasing 2 sets with beautiful rings also in brass. 4. Change Towels & rug to same color as ceiling or expresso above...Notes: a) You may want to re-grout tile to expresso , same as ceiling to freshen. b) Rug should be a runner from entry to tub......which looks like 30"w X 60L" to clear toilet.

We will you well and good luck with your project!

The bath is nice enough for selling the house as is. The buyers will likely want to make any updates of their own choosing and, therefore, would likely prefer have the cost of any updates you might be considering deducted from the purchase price so they can do that. The only caveats to this is if the faucets/fixtures don't match -- it would be better if they did -- and/or if actual repairs need to be made such as wall dings or grout or broken tiles, etc. I agree with those that say lose the rugs.

I am with Jesse, and taking a non standard line. I think neutrals are reaching their end and individuality is coming into its own. For resale, go happy individuality. Her examples, every one, are the thing I would buy, and I had to forcibly restrain my husband last time we bought a house, from buying it solely for the bathroom which had some elements in common with her illustrations, only was half the size of the house we needed and bought.

This bathroom is a copy of the main bath in my parent's house. For resale, you always want to go neutral. While beadboard would be lovely, someone might nix a purchase based on that alone, same with wallpaper. Remove your current wallpaper and paint a neutral color. If the vanity, flooring and fixtures are in good shape, simply polish them up and leave them as is. Spend your money on accessories. The main thing I did was to take three shower curtains to dress the bath. I cut one of them in two and made a very long valance, hanging this from the ceiling with the other two pushed aside. That little move alone made the bath look so much larger. Matching decorative towels, artwork and accessories complete the staged look without imposing (your) taste on prospective buyers.

I think your room is too small for the beadboard idea. Definitely change all the hardware to brushed chrome look and match with towel bars, etc. Ditch the shower curtain, maybe for a white terry cloth one. Paint the walls a neutral that you like - gray, tans, etc. - and paint the vanity a shade or two darker. If you can afford it, I would definitely replace the counter top with something more updated - quartz, marble - also very calm and neutral. Can't tell what color the toilet is but the counter top should probably match that and the tub. Have the floor professionally steam cleaned. White towels. Add quarter round molding along the tub for a more finished look. I like the idea of black and white photos in black frames. If you feel like it's too blah, throw in a splash of color with counter top accessories. Pitch the rugs - they make the room look smaller. Keep it clean and fresh looking.

I recently re-did two small bathrooms and have the step by step on my blog. Both baths I did on very small budgets. If you do the work yourself you have more to put into your reno. You can find about a million tutorials on YouTube.

Check out mine.. www.knowtheit.com/blog they are very different from each other since they are on different floors.

Good luck and feel free to email me if you have any DIY questions,
Renae
www.knowtheit.com/blog

just my two-cents worth: unless you are moving within a year, i don't believe in decorating or remodeling for the next person to enjoy. i like to enjoy my own house, while i'm living here. I think you said 5+ years moving? i guarantee, in 5+ years (and it could be 10, since life often has other ideas) you will wonder why you went so boring bland neutral? it will look dull, uninspired, and you'll be back here looking for some ideas to liven it up "for resale." do what YOU want, not what you think the buyers want.

[an aside here, having bought and sold six houses, i have found buyers are divided into two categories--those that want everything done for them, ie, the fancy upgrades, the "in" colors (which soon go out of style) etc. and the buyers who want white walls, nothing done (and nothing to pay extra for!) that they can then put their own stamp on. why waste time and enjoyment of your property trying to guess which category are more prevalent in your area?]

you want bold? go bold. you want dark? go dark! you want beachy? go beachy! paint is cheap and easy to change if and when the time comes you will put your house on the market.

second point--please please please do NOT paint wallpaper if it's already hard to remove. paint makes the wallpaper underneath brittle and damn near impossible to remove later on without doing major damage to dry wall. you won't be doing yourself (or your potential buyers, if you are concerned with them) any favor painting over wallpaper.

whether it's a update, an upgrade, or a full remodel, to me, any project worth doing, no matter how small, is worth doing right.....it will show in the way your house appears to others, and that is a bigger selling point than whether or not your bathroom has bead board.

Removing wallpaper - run a saw with big teeth over the wallpaper, then spray and wait awhile. It will scrape off more easily.

I am in the middle of redoing one of my baths myself. If you don’t mind, I will simply tell you what I decided to do.
I trashed the entire vanity, sink and all. What I did was to find a vanity (one that came with a new sink) on sale that I liked. I held on to it until I found a faucet that I also liked. Total cost-

Remove wall paper, replace faucet and brass fixtures with chrome. If there is room in the budget, replace countertop. Replace shower curtain.

This is the laundry room and garage door. what can be done about the door knobs hitting at the knobs?

change the direction that one of them opens? naughty builder!

Hi, this is the original poster about the bathroom. So I'm making progress. I am refreshing the vanity base with new doors, hardware and paint. Removing wallpaper, getting ready for paint. Demoed the light box. Looking for a remnant of granite for the countertop.

Question: Should I put the little 4 inch side pieces of stone? I've seen pictures with and without, and some pics where just the back piece is there, not the side one.

Yes, I would because your vanity is against the wall. You don't want water splash or puddle from vanity top ruining your new paint.

So glad you have started your project! I would still recommend keeping it simple and not spending a fortune. As this thread alone has shown, there are as many opinions and taste differences as there are contributors. The same will be true when you sell your home...When you sell, keep your paint colors neutral (a blank canvas for the buyer) and your house uncluttered and spotlessly clean. It WILL sell. Some people want turnkey , others want to make changes. You have no way of knowing. Lots of good luck to you!

This is a really fresh look for an updated vanity ensemble. Undermount sinks are very desirable. Yours is in the corner so a side splash is necessary. Replace the tile on the floor with larger format tile or LVT (luxury vinyl tile) for an upgraded look. Tiles are larger now and give the optical illusion of making a small space feel larger. The wallpaper has to go, new towel bars also. Nickel or chrome are always "in".

And....for some reason my picture won't post. Bummer.

I'm going to read every comment b/c I have same issue; bought coop on
beach and 3 out of 3 renovators came in, talked talk but never handed in
an estimate or plan to submit to board. Is getting a contractor a joke
down in So. Broward Cty. or what? Do people just like to waste time
and pretend this is their job, for a chance to scope out someone's
private space?

To the original poster, any progress updates? Sounds like it will look great! We'll be doing this ourselves in the fall/winter.

Lowes and Menards both sell granite tops with under-mount sinks for the common vanity sizes. Plus they have the matching back-splash for the back & side. That should be more economical ( and ready to go) then finding a slab remnant thru the granite dealer.