Before & After: A Dreamy Bathroom Makeover

What's better than a transformative makeover? Our coworker, Chelsea, who recently refreshed her rental kitchen, opens in a new tab, decided it was time to give her bathroom the same treatment. With a fresh coat of paint and a few simple swaps, she was able to turn a once bland and stale space into a delightfully charming bathroom oasis.

Below, Chelsea gives us insight into her design process and shares more about the DIY that made this space truly shine.

Before:

After:

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What inspired the makeover?

I'd been dreaming up this specific refresh since I first toured this apartment. I knew I wanted something bold and feminine, and after spending more time than I'd like to admit looking at and thinking about paint, I landed on the color Vanilla Chai by Sherwin Williams, which informed the rest of the bathroom design. I love that this color boasts a lighter or darker sheen depending on the time of day, creating the perfect light and airy bathroom for getting ready in the morning, and a moody escape when it's time to wind down with a bath in the evening.

"I love making mood boards to help me conceptualize a space! It's nice to see everything I've been thinking about in my head all in one place so I can thoughtfully narrow down design decisions."

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Can you tell us your favorite part of the finished design?

I'm definitely most proud of my DIY bead-board wall. I'm a very "go for it" type of person, and after looking at a few (very long) tutorials online I decided to just wing it. In this case, it totally turned out! There are definitely a few things I think I would do differently next time around, but overall I'm so happy with how it looks. It's the perfect spot for hanging towels, clothes, plants, baskets...honestly just about anything!

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We'd love to know more about the bead-board DIY! Can you give us a little insight into how it came to be?

It ended up being a lot easier than it may look, which was a very nice surprise. Plus, I think it really took my bathroom to the next level! I actually started off by just painting the wall, and figured I would put up some shelves to fill the space and give me a little more storage. But after going back and forth on what kind of shelves, and whether or not I should paint them the same shade of pink, I decided to scrap the idea altogether and try to find something that would add a bit more visual variety to the space.

After spending some time on Pinterest hunting for inspo, I came across a few bead-board tutorials and realized it was the perfect solve. It makes my bathroom feel more elevated while providing plenty of storage in a tight space, making it a win-win!

Tell us more about your Schoolhouse picks for this space. What are a few of your favorites?

My favorite pick for this room (and one of my favorites of all-time) is definitely the Fran Sconce, opens in a new tab. Dainty and delicate with a subtly romantic scalloped edge, it fits into the overall design of this space seamlessly.

Additionally, I've really been loving the the Brake Angle Shelf, opens in a new tab! It's sleek, sturdy, and only gets better with age. Plus, it can fit in just about anywhere so I know that I'll have no trouble finding a spot for it in my next home too.

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