Basement Bathroom Makeover Reveal

This space has had a very long journey starting with, well, actually nothing! Not even walls or proper drains.

This is part of our basement finishing project. There are also no windows for natural light, which can make spaces feel a little cold or lifeless. So, I added a little color to keep the space feeling cozy, but serene and clean.

Paint Color: Seattle Gray (looks bluer than usual under these lights) | Trim Color: Pale Bloom (same as the rest of my house)

I borrowed some things from around the house to stage it, but she is ready for her showcase! I always give myself time to find just the right accents rather than shopping all at once.

If you haven't been following along, you can see all of the projects that lead us to this point here:

• Beginner's guide to Tiling
• How to Waterproof Your New Shower
• How to Tile a Niche
• Three Ways to Hang a Heavy Mirror
• How to Avoid the Most Common Bathroom Design Mistakes

Shower

Like most real estate photos, this bathroom is not as large as it sometimes appears in photos. Because we have other bathtubs in the house, we maximized space, both functionally and visually, with a glass enclosed shower. The full tiled wall also lends to this illusion, which is this large format tile and they look similar to marble but eliminated any concern about staining or maintenance. (I have a real marble floor in an upstairs bathroom that I have to deep clean yearly).

Plus, it's much cheaper than stone and I love the large format with less grout lines.

Because this bathroom is really only going to be used by guests and family, we don't need as much storage in the shower (check this post out for a large niche and bathtub installation we put in the kid's shared bathroom). Therefore, a simple, premade box niche was perfect to hold toiletries as needed.

We also loved the contrast of black hardware, so we incorporated this showerhead and valve which has a wide showerhead giving a soft rain like feel and good flow. It also comes with technology to decrease water usage by 20% and ensure a consistent temperature so no one gets scalded.

The Vanity

 One of my primary challenges was navigating décor decisions through a man who asked for "Industrial traditional design, like a vintage Pittsburg bar or Dark Academia" but then chose a mid-century modern vanity. Lord help me.

I was able to get this affordable and more traditionally styled vanity. Mine is no longer available that I can find, but this one is similar. The countertop and sink came with it. We added a contemporary faucet to the mix.

Then we added seeded lights, a large mirror, and a beautiful rug (I love that this one is printed and washable).

Future Project: Toilet Shelves

One this I didn't add yet was shelves over the toilet. I honestly haven't decided whether it's actually necessary. Since it is a guest/mancave bathroom, there is plenty of storage in the vanity and an extra linen closet.

However, I do love the Bird artwork (it comes on a canvas roll so it doesn't look like a cheap poster). I framed it myself with a white mat and budget frame from the craft store.

Linen Closet and Towel Rack

This deep linen closet is a blessing. The closet sits in from of the house's main drainpipe, which you have to have an access point in case there is a blockage, or it needs serviced.

The shelves and back wall of the closet are removeable. It also functions perfectly to hold extra linens and towels, a hamper, backup toiletries and supplies.

A generous towel rack was also a must to keep anyone from trying to hang their towel on the shower door. This is honestly just a 1×6 board painted the color of the wall and screwed into studs. Then we added the hooks directly to the board so it is all secure.

All in all, I love how this turned out. It looks so fresh and clean without feeling cold or sterile. With a bit of charm and a dash of the unexpected, I think it came together beautifully!

Now we are on to the rest of the basement, and you won't believe where it will go next. Ever thought about building your own kitchen cabinets?!