YAY!!! It is my favorite time of the year… another round of the $100 Room Challenge starts now. If you are not familiar with the $100 Room Challenge, this is a one month challenge in which people makeover one room with a budget of $100. (You can check out all the participants at the end of this post, or follow the hashtag #100roomchallenge on Instagram).
So, let’s chat about this month’s challenge… I am taking on our basement bathroom (a.k.a., the kids’ bathroom). Let’s take a look at the “before”.
It’s not awesome. Let’s talk about the crazy things I want to do in here with my $100 budget, shall we?
Goals For This $100 Basement Bathroom Makeover
Goal 1: Paint the Walls
If you look at the walls, they are a creamy white… the exact same color on the beadboard. I’m going to paint the walls a lighter gray to add a little warmth, and keep the beadboard white (although, if the budget allows, I may paint it a brighter white than its current state). I did find some “Amazing Gray” paint at the recycle center (for free), or I have some leftover “Agreeable Gray” that I could use as well (also free 🙂 ).
Goal 2: Vanity and Medicine Cabinet Makeover
The vanity and medicine cabinet in this room are a dead-giveaway that this house was built in the early 90s. They’ll both be getting an update with paint; and while I would love to remove the medicine cabinet all together, we simply can’t because it dips down into the chair-rail and beadboard. Shoot. I have almost an entire gallon of “Hale Navy” paint left over from our entry makeover last year, and I think I might just use it… ’cause it’s free!
Goal 3: Stencil the Floor
While this image makes it appear as though this floor is black… it’s not. It’s actually the darkest navy ever. I am not gonna lie, I am freaking out about stenciling because I have never done it, but I have seen others who have, and the results are always stunning. I already have my stencil and can’t wait to get started. Fingers crossed this turns out as beautiful in real life as I’m dreaming in my head.
Goal 4: Fix the Shower Issue
I do not even know what happened here. A couple weeks ago this shower door just broke, and instead of doing anything about it, the kids have been showering upstairs. I’m hoping to remove those doors altogether and buy a shower rod and curtain.
Goal 5: Take Down the Valance
What is with the valance? (You can see it a couple pictures above.) It should have come done the moment we moved in. It’s a free fix, and I think I’ll probably leave the window alone. It’s has a covering so people can’t see in. At some point, I would love to add a roman shade, but unless I find one for free, I don’t think I’ll have the budget this time around.
Goal 6: Update the Light Fixture
This light fixture??? I mean… First, it needs new bulbs, right? I am sure we have bulbs somewhere around here. Second, it needs new globes. The floral pattern is not my style… at all. That alone would definitely make this light fixture 100x better.
Goal 7: Towel Hooks
Currently there is no place to hang a towel. Zero. Which is probably why my kids’ towels always end up on the floor in a soggy heap. A towel rack, or some simple hooks are a must in here.
Goal 8: Update the Mirror Or Buy A New One
I would love to do something with the mirror, like replace it. I am already freaking out about how I’m going to do all this with $100, so I can’t image I’ll be able to do much about the mirror, but a girl can dream, right?
Check back every Wednesday in September for a progress report on the bathroom.
I know you used the Navy color left over from the entryway but I can’t find where you say what “type” of paint. Is it wall paint? Door and trim? Thanks!
I used wall paint I had leftover from my entry way. You can find the full tutorial here: https://www.lemonslavenderandlaundry.com/paint-vanity-latex-paint/
Erin, I simply can’t wait to see the floors! I’ve seen a lot of stencilling on white floors but not the opposites!
I’m actually going to paint the floor white, and then do a gray stenciling. I don’t want to see any of that navy tile 🙂
Looks great Erin. A solid plan and simple things that anyone can do. Can not wait to see you finish the floors!
Erin, thank you for hosting for another round <3 <3
Of course! I love hosting this challenge!!!
I can’t wait to see what you do with it!!
Erin, I love your ideas for this room and I know from all your other makeovers that it will be beautiful. Thank you so much for organizing this challenge! I can’t wait to see all of the finished rooms.
Erin, I love all of your plans for this space! I chickened out of stenciling anything this time around (I am not a good stenciler) so I am living vicariously through everyone else- can’t wait to see how your floors turn out!
I’m so late responding to your comment, but I just finished the floor. I was absolutely terrified of stenciling because I had never done it before. It turned out to be a lot easier than I thought though 🙂
Looking forward to see what you come up with! You may already know this, but light fixture globes can often be found for very little money at thrift stores. We have stores in our area that are run by Habitat for Humanity that carry second hand home decor, building materials, etc. and I have seen lots of them there for very little money, and often several of the same style. I actually replaced the outdated globes in three ceiling fans that had three lights each for only a few dollars. Good luck and happy decorating!
Oh awesome!!! I will have to look. I feel like we have a Habitat for Humanity reStore around here, but I’ve never been. I think it may be time 🙂
What a great space Erin! Super excited to follow along! Looking forward to seeing what you do with the floors!
I am SO nervous, so fingers crossed 🙂
It’s going to look FABULOUS!
You could remove the medicine cabinet, purchase a huge mirror or find one for free in your local Buy Nothing __________ (the name of your town goes in the blank) group or on Craigslist. Then you could notch out the rest of it, so the mirror will fit flush against the wall.. It could always be replaced in the future when the money is there and you are ready for a change.
I loved the Hale Navy when you used it before. Do you think it would work once the floor is stenciled? Everyone has some shade of gray, but not everyone has the perfect shade of navy! I think it would look phenomenal.
I have some fabric that would make a great Roman shade. I’m sure you’ve seen how to make them from cheap vinyl blinds. If you send me a message, I will send you a picture of it. If you want it I will be happy to mail it to you. 🙂 I have wanted to do something with it for a long time and never found just the right project. You can thank me later! lol
I am planning to stencil the floors with white and gray, so I think the navy will look awesome (gotta spray paint the current pulls though)… As for the shade, I have seen exactly what you are talking about. I’m hoping to get everything painted before making the final decision. With the floor being “busier” with the stencil, I think I’ll probably have to go with a neutral (like a bamboo Roman shade). We’ll see. I truly appreciate your offer to send fabric… so incredibly sweet of you.
I have no doubt it’s going to look amazing! So excited to see the finished floor!
Me too! I’m just nervous, but if it looks anything close to ones I’ve seen, I’ll be pretty happy!
Love this challenge. I would take the door off of the medicine chest and of course paint it. If time allows, maybe cut it in half and after painting the mirror, turning it and hanging it lower (it is a childrens’ bath) put the other half on the other side of the mirror.
Would eliminate clutter on the vanity. Looking forward to the weeks ahead.
I’m liking the idea of the door off… actually referred to your idea in my Instagram stories today. Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🙂
Great choice! So many small projects that will take very little money. My opinion on the medicine cabinet? Take it down! It might not be in the $100 budget but probably completely worth it to buy a larger mirror that covers most of the wall over the vanity, which would cover up any “dip” in the beadboard. And you can probably salvage some of the trim that you would remove for the mirror to sit flat against the wall and use it to fill any gap between the mirror and the left wall. That’s the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the photo.
Good luck with it all! I’m sure it’s going to be great! And I’m excited to be participating in the challenge along with you.
Now that’s an idea… I hadn’t thought to do a bigger mirror… Problem is that medicine cabinet also digs into the chair rail on the other wall, which presents yet another issue. Why, oh, why did they have to do that? 🙁
Thank you for starting this challenge! I can’t wait to see how your bathroom turns out! I’m digging the floor stencil idea!
I love this challenge. So fun to see what everyone comes up with. I’m so excited to have you joining this round!
Yeah I am so glad the bathroom won! It’s going to be amazing! That is a lot to do on $100 budget but if anyone can do it you can!
We’ll see… I am one nervous girl for this round.
It’s going to be amazing! Paint alone will transform the space! Can’t wait to see how it comes together.
Thank you! I think paint is going to work wonders… it always does 🙂
As soon as I saw the picture I was hoping you’d say “stencil the floors!” I love your plans, this room is going to look amazing!
Thanks Meredith! I’m excited… and completely nervous. I want to rush and do the floors first, but I will cry buckets of tears if I’m painting the walls or vanity and get paint on the newly stenciled floors, so I’ll have to be patient.
It’s going to be good. Have you thought about taking the cabinet down and putting up a couple open shelves? Maybe you could put one right in line with the moulding?
I absolutely LOVE this idea… I’m going to look into this because it would look SO much better! Thanks for the great idea!!!
Love this bathrooms potential!! What was with people and bathroom valences?! Super excited to see the process. <3
I haven’t a clue why people put valences in a bathroom… or anywhere. I’m sure there are some cute ones out there, but I keep encountering ones that are very outdated. The easiest thing I’ll be doing in this space is taking that down 🙂
Erin this looks like an amazing project. I can not wait to see the tile floor stenciled, I know it is going to look great. Ready to get this party started good luck my friend 🙂
YAY! I am so excited to see what everyone comes up with this round. I’m always amazed at what people can do with such a small budget 🙂