I would want all those wall coverings down! The shower stall looks ok, but the fake tile wall boards don't look great and are obviously not holding up well. How you handle that depends a bit on what's behind them and your facility for DIY...

I wouldn't demo the wall panels. I've never seen these to be honest so im not sure how they are installed. But my gut says there might be glue involved and it sounds like it could be a mess that ends up even running the drywall underneath

I have a diy idea 💡 solution maybe you can put up crown moulding and vertical trim to cover the seams. You can also do wainscoting and then put wallpaper on the top half. Target has nice neutral linen shower curtains. You might still not love it while you shower but at least it covers it

@jo mu, wouldn’t the wallpaper still show what’s underneath? I’m not sure if you can tell but they are almost like fake tiles so there are ridges that might be picked up by the wallpaper no?

I should’ve prefaced that the picture showing me holding the trim piece, i cut open to see what it looks like back there. They are sitting on the drywall somehow!

Sorry this isn't the best rendering but you get the idea the white is bead board and it comes in sheets and you can paint it rather inexpensive

The biege one i rendered you could buy these flat panels i forgot the name but they sell them at the hardware story and you can glue and nail (careful not to nail the plumbing! )and paint but the bead board is an easier project

Yeah I figured there's glue involved from that image lol and the dry wall underneath may never have been floated/ finished because the nail is visible

Yeah you could probably see the tile shape under wall paper its an imperfect diy solution lol ....you could also do peel and stick they sell like sticker tiles but idk if that will hold on walls with the humidity

I figured with a panel of wall paper or peel and stick wall paper you could put it on before the trim work and the trim can help keep it pinned up on the wall

You could try the gel back splash peel and stick tile on the wall that might hold

I'd paint the walls and the trim pieces on them a flat darker color. Hopefully you new mirror, light, and shower curtain will be so stunning that your eye doesn't go to the odd trim as much as it does now.

Your current vanity has fantastic storage and looks size appropriate for the space. Why get a smaller one and then add storage over the toilet? I'd keep the vanity, get new faucet, add nice framed artwork over the toilet.

@kendrah thanks! i was thinking of doing a tall storage cabinet in between the toilet & smaller vanity.

if i painted over the wall panels i think it would require to be sanded down enough too, im worried that the current ”tile” look will come through. what colour would you recommend in this case?

Your current vanity and countertop/sink look fine, so unless they are worn out, I would keep them and just replace the faucet and mirror, and maybe the hardware.

By far, the biggest issue that is dating your bathroom is the wall paneling followed by the mirror cabinet. I think your money will be much better spent removing the paneling and fixing the walls than getting a new vanity/sink.

I agree with izeve about the vanity I would just paint it if you want a new look

However Izeve this is a diy and removing the walls seems like a demo that should be saved for the day she wants a complete remodel. It looks like the tub and tub walls where installed over the wall panels

I agree that the tile look will still come through if you paint over the wall panels. But, I think it is too big of a mystery and can of worms to take it off. I don't mind the tile look. It is the trim pieces that are odd. But select a great color, light fixture, mirror, art, and curtain and it will still look beautiful.

Regarding color - What colors and styles do you like? Are you changing the floor and vanity, if so to what colors? Do you have inspiration pics you like? This could go in so many directions we need more info to start with.

IMO gut it and start over By the time you try to fix what is wrong it will never be perfect and a waste of money. Budget wise a nice new tub and surround from Maax in acrylic would be my choice . remove the weird walls and do drywall then add the flooring and a nice new vanity I suggest Godmorgon from Ikea great storage and affordable if you stay with the sink thye include. A nice new one piece toilet done .

If the hall flooring is still in stock, you could use that for the bathroom floor. It would give you a new, unified look.

Paint will not stick easily to the wall panels.

Paint for the mirror frame and light fixture should work fine.

Adding a second towel bar would be nice. It could go over the toilet since you do not have a lot of free wall space. A towel ring or 18" bar on the wall above the light switch would be good, too.

If the wall panels are some sort of plastic, it will be a lot of work to get anything to stick to them - lots of sanding. If just replacing the trim with something nicer won't do, then I would opt for taking them down.

You would still have to do the work to remove any adhesive, and sanding, perhaps mudding (if you want to paint) to prepare the surface, but then you can cover with wallpaper, another wall surface like real tile or better quality prefab, beadboard etc.

There is a product called " wallpaper liner" which serves to cover and hide flaws in a surface to make a smooth base for wallpaper. I used it to hide the ridges in paneling before wallpaper and it worked perfectly.

I think the wall panels might be Masonite or Marlite. They made Masonite or Marlite bathroom wall finishes and bathtub surrounds in the middle of the 20th century. It is put up like paneling. Marlite still makes "tile" panels in a subway pattern with interlocking edges.

I'm always trying to find the laziest solution: Could new shower curtain, pretty towels, art on the wall, new flooring, new mirror, new light, new faucet make this room feel new and beautiful enough that you can just leave the walls as they are and not even paint them? I think so!

How high are your ceilings? I'd hang a straight rod really high and get tall shower curtains with a beautiful print.

Can you show some more pics of your house so we can see what your style looks like? Do you like chrome, black, brass hardware and faucets? Neutrals or color? Abstract, prints, feminine, masculine? Cabinet wood or painted?

What budget did you have in mind?

Do you think youll do a complete remodel in the future or is this suppose to be that?

Looks great

Was going to suggest gutting the bathroom but then saw that's exactly what you did. Great job!

Looks great. I particularly like the clever shelves behind the door.

Great shelves behind the door. I bet the top surface of the pony wall gets a ton of use too. Love seeing shoe string renovations and what is possible without breaking the bank. Congrats.

I bet you are so happy to use your beautiful space!

That is a well done refresh!

So pretty and fresh.