lets start with the oversized granite top on that vanity. the overhang should be 1/2", or 1" at the most. someone got that vanity top and just stuck it on top of the existing vanity. it looks bad. either get a proper fitting vanity/top, or replace whats on there with a cheap remnant from a stone yard.

get that done first before you decide on wallpaper or tile. right now it looks like a cheap redo from the seller.

that existing mirror is too big.

here's a small powder room with wainscot, paper and bold colors. choose a white vanity or even a pedestal sink if going this route.

proper sized vanity/top (you can find a 24" or 30" vanity w/a top and often a sink, everywhere for less than $500)

repurpose a piece of furniture for a custom vanity

I'm very handy and can definitely take on a powder myself. I'm just all over the place with designs... I've been following posts for awhile in anticipation of the house.

HU-4,....all of your choices are nice. I really like that last one if you lean more modern. The middle two are also nice if you want more of a farmhouse or industrial type of vibe. (if you don't have a large floor area, you really don't want to use a larger type of tile design like those cement tiles. the design will get lost with all the cuts. find more of a compact design if you want to go that route)

It all depends on what you want to spend. if you can do all the tiling, plumbing and lighting yourself, you could redo that entire bath for less than a few thousand, or just the cost of materials you choose.

The problem I'm having is that we're from the east coast and want some New England charm... but we live near the beach so we want some beach inspiration too. Having a hard time getting a style down that works with both

Get a new white vanity top, and a new bronze mirror. And new lighting. Paint the walls a soft black. Add some art with a bit of red. Done.

ok, well, that last one you posted doesn't say beach or New England! none of them really give that vibe.

this is new england/coastal

or:

you could bring in some warm wood w/the vanity, and then do blues or greens.

I love the tongue/groove ceiling w/this one.

I also adore this walnut vanity :

If you did a floating vanity like this, you get more of your floor design. I'd bring in white tile and soft blues. maybe do a recycled glass countertopscallop tiles, gold hardware...

or a pale blue glass tile wall in a herringbone

if you want dramatic, marble and navy w/gold always works.

thank you so much Beth H. I love all your ideas

following

so many times, a new home brings major expenses. the powder room doesn't have to be one of them.
it's not usually heavily used.
delete the ugly mirror, hang a $50 wall mirror, and change the overhanging countertop. the toilet looks old style, but if it works, leave it, for now.
paint or wallpaper, your choice, in the latest cool color/ pattern... it's a tiny room, and easy to redo that stuff later. you can do these changes. yourself, for under $1000.
congrats on your new home. i hope you enjoy many happy years in the new place

thank you for your comments. I definitely agree with your plan... the entire house needs cosmetic work like this. I'm planning about $1000 for this room and to do the work myself to save up for the rest of the house

Aside from the vanity top, I think that bathroom's kind of cute. However, what you do with it should depend on the style you have in the rest of the house. Do you like sleek and modern? Victorian? Navy blues? Eco-looking? Bohemian? Playful?

What kind of condition is the floor in? Does the toilet work?

To save $$$$, maybe catch on to the idea of the previous owners..... go to a thrift store and get an old chest of drawers (or some such thing) and rehab it for a vanity. If you like Rococo, heck you could do Rococo all on your ownsome, a a few gold touches and curlicues, a pale pink or deep blue, and you're good to go. You might just be able to score a mirror at the thrift store, too.

Then, spend your bucks on the infrastructure features. Is the plumbing good to go? Would you replace the floor?

New toilets don't cost much, and most people won't tell the difference between the cheapest and a high brow version. My favorite one for effectiveness was the cheapest HomeDepot stocked.

Pick out some new sconces and/or vanity lights. These will transform the bathroom because the light will be so much better.

Here's an idea for a striking power room about your size and door placement that would work for not a lot of $$$$. The combination of the very angular sink and the round mirror plus roundish toilet and angular window is very nicely done, IMO. That's not a pricey mirror. You might even be able to re-use your faucets. Is there a light fixture in that vein somewhere in the house that you'd love to re-locate? The window could be replaced by a picture. Note the additional recessed light which brightens the whole thing up.

I don't know what that floor is.