Software
Houzz Logo Print
slecrone3

Before/After ugly bathroom! Now what?

7 years ago

Thank you to everyone that suggested to take this awful bath out of the 80s and remove the wallpaper. I did it and survived, have a new appreciation for painters and contractors. That sucked to put it mildly (heavy duty vinyl glued right on drywall).
I'm looking for ideas on how to decorate for potential buyers now that I have it neutral and a little more updated. Now it's just blah. Artwork? Tufted pouf or chair? Full size body mirror? Plants? Would a colorful rug be wrong? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Comments (25)

  • 7 years ago

    What a difference! I can't really see the actual light fixtures because of glare, but don't think I'd worry about changing it. If someone plans on updating the bath, they'll pick their own anyway and the current ones don't appear too dated.

    I think a nice runner in front of the sinks would add a lot, but it's not really necessary. It looks very clean and in good repair and is fine, as is. Art always adds something if you're inclined, but again, I don't think it's necessary for appealing to buyers.

    Steph Doyle thanked Olychick
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    For "potential buyers" just make it look like a high end hotel bathroom. Simple, clean, fancy shcmancy soap...Cleanliness is what impresses.

    (also this: "Full size body mirror?" made me laugh and cringe and silently scream :))))

    Steph Doyle thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    Agree with the above, a runner, and some soaps/hotel looking items to dress up the sink. Also I would lose the basket and scale underneath the vanity area...putting a little chair under there instead (if you have one) would be preferable. You always want buyers to see the potential use of space.

    Steph Doyle thanked K R
  • 7 years ago

    LOL yes pennydesign, I have 4 daughters and EVERY ROOM must have full size body mirrors. Bad habits die hard....

    OK so think high end hotel bathroom at this point. Less is more.

    Any plants?

    Just a runner? Any color suggestions? The walls are SW 'Natural Tan' if that helps.

  • 7 years ago

    following

  • 7 years ago

    Karen Rose I will def get rid of that basket-right now it is just holding towels/tp/misc things. Was thinking of putting the pouf type seat(s) under there?

  • 7 years ago

    I don't care for the runner idea...carpets of any kind tend to turn potentials off...(just speaking from having bought and sold myself)


    Find a little tray type thing and add a naturals sea sponge, some bath bombs...cream you know spa type stuff...and candles for near the tub.


    Yes, add a little teak stool or something equally inoffensive for the vanity area...I wouldn't mind a picture or two in there either...maybe a seascape type of thing?


  • 7 years ago

    I’d install a towel bar and put a couple of nice white towels on it. No mat/runner. Possibly a stool and don’t put up any art.

  • 7 years ago

    You might add a sculptural shaped plant: large spired aloe or other with a bold scale but not too large and not small leaves, and put it between the sinks with the spa accessories that penny design suggested. And try to find a streamlined, brown matte finish pot to hold the plant. The brown will tie in with your hardware and brown accent tiles.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Yes, huge difference! I agree with not doing much. Our current home was FULL of busy wallpaper when we bought it, bathrooms included. We still loved the house, even with all the striped, floral and plaid patterns on the walls. You're in good shape with it gone. Buyers will do their own thing. In our case, we hired someone to remove all the wallpaper. Just too much of it!

  • 7 years ago

    best way to spruce it up would be a nice rug in front of vanity, and do what they've done here in the middle of your sinks (any variety of this would work). remove the trashcan while showing it.


    home goods is the perfect place to find 'staging' items like this


    rug, wicker, little stool, etc


    plant or vase, fresh, fluffy white towels, basket, etc.






  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    "Buyers"

    Home staging?

    -Big white fluffy towels rolled up near bathtub in a basket

    -Sculptural plant like an orchid. Or fresh flowers in colored vase

    -white hand towels near sink, rolled-up

    -wall art -yes! Coordinate colors with master suite. WEB SEARCH images and print at Walgreens, and frame

    -patterned runner rug in front of sink area in a color that coordinates with master suite. I'd choose Blue or spa blue/ Aqua. for the accent color against the warm wood. Gray, another popular color emphasizes the orangey wood tones, whereas blue would balance them (consult color wheel)

    -interesting counter containers (silver if using a colored vase)

    take tips from model home.... https://tours.stevenjamescollins.com/public/vtour/display/209715

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Are you staging the rest of the house? If so, then follow the staging suggestions.


    Something we saw suggested when we were selling my parents‘ house was to have the bathrooms easily usable if the house is not lived in. Apparently Realtors will schedule a strategic stop at an empty house when they are taking clients to several houses, and you want to make sure someone using the bathroom will not mess it up too much and will get a good impression of the house in the process.


    What we did was put a nice wastebasket with a plastic bag liner (I found some little bags that were lemon scented) where it could be easily seen and reached. I put out a box of paper hand towels (not super attractive, but I was aiming to make germ phobics like myself comfortable), a few extra rolls of t.p. neatly arranged, and some fancy liquid soap that was mildly lemon scented. We went to the house after each day’s showings and emptied the trash and made sure everything looked super clean. Fortunately we live very close and the house sold super fast.


    We also put a bunch of bottled water and a pretty little note saying “help yourself“ in the fridge, along with more paper hand towels/fancy soap/accessible trash can in the kitchen. It was the first really hot weekend of the summer, and the water was popular.

    I don‘t know how much the bathrooms factored into the house selling quickly; we also did a bunch of other things to make it look absolutely clean, in good repair, and ready to move into. It’s possible that the type of house it was was just in demand....it’s hard to know.

  • 7 years ago

    a rug! a big one...the after is awesome.

  • 7 years ago

    I would put some items (set upon some sort of tray) in between the two sinks. Don't have time to look for exactly what I mean...but here's a pic...



    Or something like this, with maybe an orchid instead of the flowers...



    Something simple but classy. I'd also remove whatever is under the vanity and put a little stool there. Do you have space for hanging towels? I'd consider hooks rather than a bar. They would add some softness - I'd keep them white to look "hotel-ish". Other than that, I'd leave it the way it is.

  • 7 years ago

    "...we also did a bunch of other things to make it look absolutely clean, in good repair, and ready to move into."


    Yes, I agree after selling several properties. Clean and decluttered are priorities. I can also see why those water bottles were popular!


    As buyers, we had something nice from the sellers of our current home. Once we got the keys to our house, we found two really nice bottles of champagne in the fridge with the sweetest note from them. It basically said they hoped we shared as many beautiful memories in the house as they did. Six years later and I still have the note.

  • 7 years ago

    Fluffy white towels, only a few nice soaps that look expensive and don't smell too much, don't go overboard, and keep it at that. You don't need color or artwork and I wouldn't do a rug. Less is more.

  • 7 years ago

    Thank you all for the great ideas. Soooooo appreciated!

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Are there professionally staged model homes in your area at your selling price?

    Are there other homes for sale in your area at your selling price?

    If any answer is Yes,then stage your home as best as you can.. You are competing for the same buyers. Staged homes sell faster than empty homes. . I'd be happy to guide you if interested

    This link is to over 50 model homes. Take a look at the professional staging techniques used.

    https://tours.stevenjamescollins.com

    Steph Doyle thanked My House
  • 7 years ago

    Chloebud, had a giggle when I read your post. I did the same when selling a house a few years ago. I left wine, a nice card with note, cheese and crackers for the new buyers to help them through moving day - welcoming them. The only time I had met them, he said to me, I walked up on the porch and knew this was to be my home.

    ONE YEAR later I got an email from my realtor that read only 'what the h*ll'.

    A middle aged downsizing couple had bought the house. One year later it was listed for sale again. They not only found it smaller than made them comfortable, they were divorcing

  • 7 years ago

    Steph, I apologize. I got sidetracked when I'd began to tell you I think you did an amazing job with that bathroom. It looks flawlessly clean and neutral just as it is. Buyers don't want to see how you would accessorize and decorate, they will be thrilled with that bath.

    Steph Doyle thanked morz8 - Washington Coast
  • 7 years ago
    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><md>Oh, come now. Bring that full size mirror back and enjoy what God gave you!

    The house we purchased had track lights everywhere. EVERYWHERE. (EVEN WALLS!) After taking down all but one (we left one in basement which made sense for the space) track light down my teenage daughter pleaded that we put a track up in her room and also hang lots of mirrors. Selfie-potential, she joked...at least I hope it was a joke.
    Steph Doyle thanked Kimberlee S
  • 7 years ago

    P.s. maybe brighten/whiten the grout to blend with tile color.

    Steph Doyle thanked Kimberlee S
  • 7 years ago

    You did a great job with the wallpaper removal and painting. It looks fresh and clean.

    White sheepskin poufs or ottomans are the stagers' choice in my area.

    GDF Studio Taso Lamb Fur Cube Pouf-stool, White · More Info