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alessa_torres

Small Bathroom missing personality

last month

Hello! I recently redid our small bathroom, which is our main guest bathroom. It’s visible from the kitchen and living area. I attempted to give it some personality with the flooring choice but I find that it needs help. I’m looking to change the vanity as well (maybe dark). Our home is pretty neutral - white oak flooring, Taj Mahal counter top in kitchen, beige and dark wood kitchen cabinets. So I’d like to keep it “neutral” but it needs personality!

Any suggestions are welcomed!

Comments (24)

  • PRO
    last month

    Seems nice aneutral to me not sure what yu want . Get the new vanity and then see if there is anything else it needs I sthis connected to guest room or just used more like a poder room . I think it makes adifference as to what it needs for sure . The shwer curtain is pretty blah maybe something a bit fun .

  • last month

    The shower curtain appears too white compared to the other neutrals in the room, which otherwise looks quite lovely. Maybe a curtain with some pattern?

  • last month

    looks to me like a nice clean space. I would replace the framed art with a canvas print so the natural light doesn't reflect off the glass.

    clear all the surfaces, especially the window sill in the shower. Mount the TP on the side of the vanity cabinet.

  • last month

    A bathroom doesn't need "personality"! It just needs to be clean and uncluttered.

    The toilet seems really close to the vanity?

    Get rid of the toilet paper stand and get a toilet paper holder installed on the side of the vanity.

    Put a towel bar under the art and get towels with "personality".

  • last month

    A shower curtain has a big impact and suggest one that reaches the floor in good a quality fabric so it hangs well and feels substantial.

    Guests might appreciate more warmth; coordinate both walls (art could be larger) and add a towel rack with a lux towel.


  • last month

    Does the vanity need replacing? If not then would you consider painting it a dark colour? Maybe a charcoal colour - I don't think I'd go as dark as black. Agree a less white shower curtain might help bring things together. A light grey or choose a darker grey from the colours in the floor tile.

    Some wood shelves as suggested above would be nice. Maybe a dark stain on the shelves since you mention dark wood elsewhere.

    What does the mirror look like? Maybe it needs a change or an update too if the vanity is getting one.

    The other thing you could consider is a warmer colour on the walls - a simple change in paint colour could make a difference to the overall warmth of the room.

    It really looks very nice as it is - although I see how you would feel it is a bit cool especially in comparison to the other things you've mentioned - Taj counters etc, beige dark wood.

  • last month

    Not sure if you like the Gatsby era but this article might have some ideas for you: https://inspiredrealms.com/gatsby-roaring-20s-bathroom-decor/

  • 29 days ago

    What Kendrah said …. & they’re on sale now. I’m not familiar with RH’s shower curtains ( we have glass ) , however, their Italian sateen coverlets are the best! we have a few, never wrinkle, idk why, & they look great.

  • PRO
    29 days ago

    Definitely a more interesting shower curtain, some wood, and a contrasting darker color on the walls. Being visible from the kitchen and living room is not really a good thing. I'd keep the door closed.

  • PRO
    29 days ago

    Without seeing the kitchen and living room its hard to say what changes to make. I would mimic the same color palettes from the kitchen and living room to make it feel more cohesive. Changing the vanity to the same darker wood as the kitchen cabinets is a great idea. I personally like a more neutral backdrop and add color through accessories. Remember it is a bathroom so its not meant to upstage the kitchen and living room.

  • 29 days ago

    Lovely floor! It's a bit boring with all the white though. New shower curtain is a must! Can we see a pic of the vanity? It's a small bath. Maybe Google small baths on here for other inspiration.

  • 29 days ago

    Instead of a dark vanity, how about a dark hanging cupboard over the toilet with a live plant on top? A towel bar with thick towels and art framed in real dark wood (no glass), and a few nice items on the vanity would add interest.

  • 29 days ago




  • 29 days ago

    Had the same problem. Adding wood made a big difference and a bit of colour with towels and greens

  • 29 days ago

    Agree with the towel bar under the art and the toilet paper holder on the side of the vanity. Pick out a fabric with some personality and have a shower curtain custom made. You wont believe how that will elevate the space. won’t be

  • PRO
    29 days ago

    Love that wood jojo!

  • 29 days ago

    And the towel bar is actually under the art, Gloria 🥰

  • 29 days ago

    I think the bathroom is very pretty and all you really need is to add some splashes of color. I would suggest having a nice shower curtain made like someone else previously noted and some pretty towels and if you really want to go out, you can add a little color to the walls, but I would make it a subtle color to give it maybe a little warmth like a greige but decide that based on what color shower curtain you’re getting. But it really is a very nice bathroom has a lot of good bones.

  • 29 days ago
    last modified: 29 days ago

    I'd get a cool shower curtain and great towels.

    Shower Curtains | The Company Store

  • 28 days ago

    Or you could wallpaper the area. Does not have to match kitchen. A dark wall paper with lighter color pattern would work well.

  • 28 days ago

    Hi Alessa, your bathroom is charming and soothing, yet it has a little pizazz with the flooring. You say you want to add some "personality" because the patterned flooring just isn't enough. You want to still keep things a neutral shade to match the rest of your house. The way to add livelihood to your guest bath is to go with textures.


    Do you keep the door open all the time when no one is using the bathroom? If so, then give the "wow factor" to what you see first when looking at the room. I'm thinking it may be the shower, which also happens to be the largest part of the room. That is a beautiful tile in the shower, and I'd want to show it off, but if you leave the curtain open all the time, you'd have to find a different spot for all the shower necessities. Maybe splurge on a really nice luxury shower curtain, a soft white, perhaps you can pick the lightest shade from the floor tiles and match it up. Make sure it reaches to the floor, as having a curtain sit 6" above the floor makes it look like it's unfinished. I hope your shower curtain rod is moveable--you may have to lower it so that the curtain reaches the floor.


    Now for the style of the curtain--let the texture be the "pattern." Definitely not a waffle weave--that's not luxe. A linen curtain has the right texture and weight. Just remember the curtain, since it takes up the entire wall, will really be "in your face", so the style should be classic, and you can make it a canvas for your 'personality.' If you can find a curtain rod that matches either the doorknob or the bath/shower fixtures (unless the fixtures are chrome) you can look for curtain rings with the ball bearings that make sliding the curtain much easier. The rings often have some decorative charms attached that go on the outside of the curtain ring. There are metal rings that are guaranteed rustproof.


    Have you considered painting the walls? Maybe one of the colors in the shower tile appeals to you. If you go with the color that is most abundant in the tile, it won't be such an abrupt distinction between the shower tile and the wall. With the large format white baseboard moulding, you can pick a darker color from the tile, and the baseboard will really pop. Also, the baseboard needs a little dressing up. A little shoe moulding at the floor, and a little ogee style moulding at the top of the baseboard will really give it some refinement.


    As for a towel rack on that wall... unless someone is using that shower every day and needs to have a towel hanging out to dry, I'd just go with a towel hook right there on the wall next to the tile, OR on the back of the door. You can use that wall for your favorite artwork. Go bigger than what you have there now, and look through the thrift stores to find a frame that you really like. If you go with a darker shade of paint, then go with a large white picture frame, and a white mat.


    Do you really want to change the sink & cabinet? If it's not "on display" all the time--if you can't see it from the other areas of the house, it's not necessary. If you can't stand looking at it any longer, then, by all means, go for it. Sure go for a darker color, that adorable stepstool seems like it would be a great wood tone.. Do you like having a little rug in front of the sink, just so little tootsies don't have to stand on a cold floor?😊 If you get a small memory foam bathroom mat and put a small flotaki style rug on top, it's almost heaven for the feet...and it will look cute by the new wood vanity, if you decide to replace it.


    Remember, the personality is all yours! Good luck, and please post photos when you make all your decisions!


  • 28 days ago

    Leave it as is and add interesting shower curtain and towels in a color you like.


    Do not go dark on vanity or anywhere else. Grey and black were never good choices in homes, just a few crazy people designing or creating in grey or black. Thankfully people are coming to their senses and no longer using black and grey. Keep the vanity white to go with other parts of the room.


    Maybe paint the wall a color in pastel green, yellow, blue, aqua or pink and buy towels and cotton floor rug to match/blend.

  • 28 days ago

    because of the size of the space, I would not go dark with anything, nor high contrast primary colors! To give the room depth, the addition of small pattern and texture in monochromatic white/ gray/ beige (?) hard to tell the real colors of everything in there already would give you subtle character and keep the room from looking cramped. If the rest of the house is "neutral" do you mean, simple, clean modern, or boring beige, no one cared to make a decision ?