What is in the soffitt? That will decide if it goes or stays . If nothing important I would remove it . That will allow you to add some nice lighting above the mirror which will aslo give you much better lighting for the whole space .I see quite a bit of work why not make it better if possible.

Mostly spiders and a fluorescent light. We wanted to avoid scraping the ceiling, but it would probably be worth the trouble.

Sure, recessed cans above, but while you have the electrician there and the wall is open, add sconces on either side wall for better direct lighting.

or add slimmer mirrors above each sink and add sconces on the back wall, including between the mirrors.

... add that slim mirror on an angle above that back wall to see the back of your head when looking into the vanity mirror.

If you are updating everything else, then get rid of the soffit too. Only reason to keep it would be if you have HVAC/plumbing hidden in there and you don't want to take the extra time and money to reroute things.

I had nothing in the soffet of my master bath except lighting, so I removed it. I, too, had to scrape the ceiling. Definitely worth the effort! It actually made the bathroom feel larger. I would highly encourage it.

I guarantee there is nothing in that soffit, and you RIP it.

Second? That's carpet I see on the floor........? The walk in closet is directly opposite and reflecting in the mirror?

Before you worry about the LIGHT? Show all of the bath, and if you want the great bath you may not yet "see"?

Draw and measure the whole thing. To the inch...Every wall, door passage. every last inch.Add jpegs of all the rest...Closet , bedroom etc.

Something tells me the vanity is just outside the wetter areas, and is directly off your master bedroom, with the same carpet? Is there a tub etc, A smallish shower as was common?

That's clearly a 72 inch vanity, LOW height at no more than 33 inches high. No convenient storage to speak of given the beauty products in the corner?

Start with a good PLAN before you rip....every last inch on a drawing. Use graph paper , 1/4 inch and 2 boxes to one foot. = 1/2 inch scale.

We’re planning to sell the house, so we want to get the bathroom presentable without breaking the bank. Opposite the vanity is a pocket door to the master bedroom. Light already peaks underneath it, so we are worried if we remove the vanity area carpet, the gap under the door will be bigger. To the right is a tiled space with a toilet and shower stall. To the left is a carpeted walk-in closet.

I do wish there was more storage.

"We’re planning to sell the house, w.h.e.n?? so we want to get the bathroom presentable without breaking the bank. Opposite the vanity is a pocket door to the master bedroom. Light already peaks underneath it, so we are worried if we remove the vanity area carpet, the gap under the door will be bigger. To the right is a tiled space with a toilet and shower stall. To the left is a carpeted walk-in closet.

Two words!!~~ WHOA NELLIE!

There is no update " without breaking the bank" that fixes this. You don't even CONSIDER leaving carpet in the vanity area.

Want some brutal truth? Price the house to sell. That price is considerate of the bathroom. No matter who buys it? They will address the bath from a "far earlier date" !

Light seep ? Homes are photographed in daylight, They are viewed in person...in day light. Nobody on earth would be looking for light seep beneath a bath door to a master bedroom.

If you want to go as far as , ripping out the soffit, removing ALL the wallpaper.....and who knows what else? It will still be money spent, that you won't get back.

Add more pictures, bedroom, closet, and the toilet shower etc, and make me change my mind.: )

If you honestly believe a bit of "cosmetic surgery" will bring it into the present time? It would mean a rip of ALL the carpet, all the floor tile beyond the vanity, and full replacement as I would suspect long discontinued. ..... and who knows what tile, as we don't know what is in the shower....or that is a plain fiberglass sort of thing?

More pics of all....and sorry to be the bubble buster.

Realize that swapping the fluorescent with (2) recessed lights will give about the same amount of light that you have now. Except the drywall work may open a can of worms (wallpaper transition or plastered ceiling). In other words, updating to recessed lights will not overcome the dated carpet, (probably) tile, wallpaper, faucets, counter, and vanity. Right now it all falls within what is expected in an 80s-90s house.

Since you are selling, and the bathroom suite remains as is, I would suggest just swapping the fluorescent tubes to LED bypass in a warmer color temperature (maybe $20-$35).

And be careful while doing any work because there's a Sasquatch standing behind you.

Yes, obviously the wallpaper has got to go!We are already planning on removing the wallpaper, replacing vanity top, hardware, fixtures, shower stall and toilet. My husband is good at tile work, so we’ll retile the toilet area and add a backsplash to vanity. The rest of the house is fairly updated so we did not want the master bath to drag down the value, but we also didn’t want to take it completely down to the studs if not necessary.

Ope, you found Sasquatch!

Out with the carpet and continue the tile throughout the bath, too. That is a necessity.

First step is to consult a local realtor about your local market, pricing strategy, and prepping your home and property for sale.

"We are already planning on removing the wallpaper, replacing vanity top, hardware, fixtures, shower stall and toilet. My husband is good at tile work, so we’ll retile the toilet area and add a backsplash to vanity."

There is NO point to a new counter top on that vanity. The vanity has outlived a useful life. It is dated, Too low, no storage. except inconvenient burial ground beneath sinks and fools nobody, not even with a new top.

Please add pictures of all the rest, before you jump in? Show the adjacent primary bedroom....even your KITCHEN.

As to realtors? No offense to any, but they will have you go overboard for a better listing look. You haven't answered timeline, either, but two years is different than nine.

A good question to ask yourself is what would you do if staying ten years or forever. You do reno for YOU, and no matter what you do, anyone who believes they may guess the needs want of a mystery buyer Is crazy.

good advice already - Realtors often want buyers to make upgrades so the sale is faster/easier for them but it may not pay out for the seller

WHEN are you selling? We purchased our previous home with a master bath even more dated & in worse condition than what you‘re showing. We bought the house for reasons other than the condition of the master bath ( location, primarily ) . We then had the master bath gutted. I realize you’re doing this DIY , I just wouldn’t spend a lot of $ on it, just clean & declutter.

If you're selling, I would simply declutter the room, remove the items we see reflected in the mirror, and stage the bathroom with coordinated bath towels.

I’d like to sell in the next year. Here’s more pics of the bathroom to the right.

Here’s the closet to the left and the master bedroom. We haven’t touched it. In the kitchen, we painted the cabinets, removed light box/installed canned lights, removed cabinets separating great room/added hanging lights, replaced backsplash. That was 5 or so years ago.

All I suggest when you're selling your house is to declutter and have everything look nice and clean.

In the bathroom, you can paint the navy walls a nice creamy white to match the wallpaper:

Declutter your walk-in closet:

Same for the bedroom:

and the kitchen and lower the 2 pendants down to 30 inches above countertop:

Wow @lisedv. These photos are really helpful and it would definitely save us time and headache to just paint and declutter. I guess I've always assumed no one would want to buy it with the wallpaper, but you're right that I shouldn't assume I know what they want!

@emdutto

When there's clutter or if closets are over filled with clothing people think there isn't enough closet/cabinet space.

What k laurence said.

Now knowing that you are updating to sell, I rescend my encouragement to remove the soffet. I think lisedv makes the best case with photos to clean, declutter, and paint out some of the bolder colors.

" Within the the next year"

So as above......one color for walls in the bedroom, lose the shelves crowding the window in the kitchen, touch up the paint. Lose the wallpaper in the bathroom .

Beyond that? Is a change of habits. No taped art work on the walls from the kids anywhere but their rooms. That means everything off the fridge: ) and being ready for a look/see on a moments notice.

Use this time before listing for de clutter/ purge instead of cosmetic "refreshing " beyond anything but above and any carpet cleaning necessary.

It's a great time to lighten the load for a move. Go room by room, closet to closet, drawer to drawer. Ditch every single scrap of we don't use it, love it, need it , it is outgrown, Do same with garage, basement. Don't forget the exterior curb appeal and include sparkling clean windows

You will thank yourself when it IS sold and time to pack up and get out with a "lighter load".

That is the real point here,, is it not? You bought it..............and so too will another: ) at the right PRICE.

All homes, anywhere, any variety size, refreshed or not, current or dated?

A home is "worth" exactly what someone is willing to PAY.

Save your money for YOUR next home.