diy bathroom Archives - Page 3 of 4

I Easily Added a DIY Arch to My Bathroom

June 29, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

I am finally remodeling my primary bathroom! This is a super exciting project because I have just been waiting for the chance to do it. I had very big plans for this space including new vanities, classic decor choices, a window to bring some natural light, and best of all, an arched doorway for my shower. Arches can be such a classy and easy element to make any space feel so glam.

A DIY Arch is Easier Than it Seems

I started with demo of the shower and the rest of the bathroom. I took that shower down to the studs. Then I added new framing in the doorway. The framing was built out from the wall a little to provide some shape for the arch. Once the door was framed I searched for the perfect window to add to the shower. Imagine my surprise when I found the perfect window on Facebook Marketplace! My husband and I installed the window and it is so nice having some natural light in the bathroom.

Woman shows off new window by sitting on the sill

I moved on to starting the arch. Using my jigsaw I cut an arch out of particle board and attached it to the framing that I had already installed. This arch was used for the front of the doorway, I added some blocking to it for stability using cut 2x4s. The other side of the doorway was created with an arch I cut out of cement board since it was inside the shower. That was attached to the framing and blocking.

Woman measure cement board for an arch in a shower

Woman installs cement board inside shower

With the skeleton of the arch up I needed to finish it with drywall on the parts that didn’t get cements board. For the front I just cut an arch out of drywall. Then I screwed that into the blocking and 2x4s, then taped and mudded it. On the inside of the arch I used drywall. I added relief cuts to the drywall for the top so that it would bend with the curve of the arch. The cement board and inside of the arch was painted with Red Guard to help make it waterproof. After the Red Guard the inside was plastered using drywall mud.

Not Quite Done, But I’m in Love

I’m still mid renovation on the bathroom, so the shower isn’t quite done. This arch was so easy to create, I love the look it gives the shower and the timeless feel of it. I can’t wait to get the bathroom finished and add a gorgeous glass door to my shower. Follow along to see how the bathroom turns out!

Conquer Tiling With Easy to Use Peel and Stick Tiles!

April 26, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

Sometimes, a wall just needs a little something. I recently updated a half bathroom, and I created a butler pantry/wine bar area in my house. There were so many new design elements that I used in them. I added a slat wall and an asymmetrical mirror in the bathroom. The unused wet bar in my house was demolished to create a wide hall with arches, cabinets, and a wine rack. I loved adding fun elements to these spaces, but there was a wall in each space that was just a little boring.

Peel and Stick Tiles Are a Simple Solution

Paint is always an option for a fun accent wall, but I really wanted something different. I wanted these walls to stand out and have some texture. Enter: peel and stick tile. Amazon has a lot of options for these peel and stick tiles from Smart Tile. These tiles have real 3d texture and they even feel like real tile. I started in the bathroom with the wall behind the asymmetrical mirror. The bathroom was painted white and really needed some color. I chose gorgeous Moroccan style tiles in dark green.

It is so easy to install these tiles! I made sure to clean the wall so they would adhere well and then I just peeled the backing off and stuck the tiles to the wall. Taking care to be sure that they were level I continued on. When I got to a point where a full sheet of tile wasn’t necessary I used a box cutter and a straight edged paper cutter to cut them to the right size. Once the wall was tiled I caulked around the edges to give it a more finished look.

So Easy, I Did it Twice!

I repeated the same process on the wall in my wine bar area. For that wall I chose some contemporary Zellige tiles in an ivory color. I repeated the process with the peel and stick tiles. I was able to tile that wall in just a few hours! Less time and less mess makes for a super easy DIY project that honestly, anyone can do.

The results are beautiful and I’m really happy with them. Both walls have the texture I was looking for and the tiles made them amazing accent walls. There are so many options for these smart tiles and they are so affordable and easy to use. I love that this project is simple and has great results.

How To Refinish Your Tub and Tile With Paint

January 19, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

We live in a 1970’s fixer upper and there is so much potential in this house. At some point the previous owners updated the finishes in the house but I think they did it in the late 90’s or early 2000’s. Cue a lot of dark and dingy looking tile and paint. When renovating spaces, it can get expensive very quickly, so I wanted to update the tub and tile surround as inexpensively as possible in my daughters’ bathroom.

An Inexpensive DIY Tub Update

I began the renovations on my daughters’ bathroom and initially was only going to renovate the vanity area. Well, when you give a mouse a cookie, Kelsey updates the tub and tile surround. Rustoleum makes a tub and tile refinishing kit that is about $50 instead of $$$ for new tile. This is a great way to refinish your tub and tile with paint, and I was so excited to try it!

It’s a good idea to clean the tile well before you paint to make sure that the paint adheres well. You can use a scrub brush or scouring pad with any bathroom cleaner to make sure to get all the gunk off the tile. Once that is done prep the area by covering and taping off anything that you don’t want to get painted. Then you’ll use a foam roller and a brush to paint the tile. The paint was runnier than I expected and I realized partway in that I needed a respirator or I was going to be high as a kite from paint fumes.

Another thing I realized partway through is that the paint eats the foam rollers! I made sure to change the foam roller often to avoid getting foam in the paint. After the first coat I was still a little skeptical, but once the second coat was on I was convinced!

The Finished Product

It’s done and I love the way it turned out! The tile looks so clean and the whole room looks and feels bigger. There is always a gamble when my projects snowball, but I am so happy I went with this one. The girls’ bathroom is finally done. Click here to see the whole thing.