1. Coordinate Accents
1. Coordinate Accents
Give your bath a designer touch with matching accessories. Here, the medicine cabinet's silvery frame is echoed by the decorative metal outlet covers.
Similar to shown: Kohler 20-inch Recessed Medicine Cabinet, about $178, and Betsy Fields Design Brushed Satin Pewter standard wall plates, about $7 each;
2. Tile the Countertop
2. Tile the Countertop
An alternative to a stone slab, a tiled counter resists water but costs a lot less and is easy for DIYers to install. This terra-cotta top has white-painted wood edging to go with the vanity below. A bead of clear caulk keeps water away from the wood.
Similar to shown: Merola Tile Augusta 4-inch tile, about $8 per square foot;
3. Refinish Fixtures
4. Paint the Floor
5. Salvage a Towel Rack
6. Make Your Own Wallpaper
6. Make Your Own Wallpaper
Make your own graphic wall covering out of pages from a vintage book. Brush the page backs with wallpaper paste and adhere to the wall. Then seal the surface with a clear top coat.
Zinsser SureGrip Kitchen and Bath Wallcovering Adhesive, about $23 per gallon, and Minwax Satin Polycrylic Protective Finish, about $16 per quart;
7. Install a Salvaged Slider
7. Install a Salvaged Slider
When space doesn't allow for a traditional hinged door, install a sliding one. This salvaged schoolhouse door glides on a wall-mount track patterned after barn-door hardware. Glass in the door's top panel ushers light from the hallway into the windowless bath.
Expect to pay about $300 for a similar door at .
8. Use a Metal Tub Surround
9. Brighten Tile
9. Brighten Tile
Refresh a vintage tiled floor, such as this unglazed Art Deco–era yellow-and-black porcelain mosaic, with an eco- and homeowner-friendly acid etcher that removes ground-in dirt from the surface and grout lines.
Green Envy Muriatic Acid Replacement, about $7 per gallon;
10. Create a Harmonious Color Palette
11. Use Water-Resistant Wainscot
12. Frame a Mirror
12. Frame a Mirror
Frame mirror glass with fluted door casing; about $36 for a trim kit at .
See the step-by-step at How to Build a Mirror From Case Molding
13. Craft a Paneled Overlay
13. Craft a Paneled Overlay
Dress up a plain mirror that's adhered to the wall by overlaying a wood frame. Here, three mirrors were created from one by fastening a 1×8 to the wall at the top and gluing vertical 1×6 stiles and a 1×4 bottom rail to the mirror with clear adhesive caulk. A 1×2 ledge crowns the assembly.
Expect to pay about $45 total for poplar at lumberyards.
14. Tile a Mirror Frame
15. Salvaged a Mirror Surround
16. Use Elegant Lighting
16. Use Elegant Lighting
Turn the ceiling into a focal point by installing a medallion and handsome hanging fixture, such as this bronze-toned light with crystal teardrops. If installed over a tub, as seen here, be sure there's at least 8 feet of clearance from the tub rim to the bottom of the pendant to comply with electrical code.
Similar to shown: Fypon Florentine 16-inch medallion, about $17.50; . Petite Claire Chandelier, about $179;
17. Install Plantation-Style Shutters
17. Install Plantation-Style Shutters
Install louvered interior shutters to provide privacy and direct streams of sunlight for subtle illumination. Vinyl ones are mold- and warp-resistant, and require little upkeep.
Similar to shown: Allen + Roth Colonial White Faux Wood Shutters starting at about $36 per pair;
18. Paint Two-Tone Walls
19. Use Faux Candles
20. Dress Your Windows with Roman Shades
21. Showcase Accents on a Display Rail
21. Showcase Accents on a Display Rail
Cap wainscot wall paneling with a ledge on which to prop decorative accents. Here, a windowsill does double duty as a landing spot for toiletries and a mirror.
Similar to shown: ½-inch-thick plate-rail trim with a 2½-inch projection, about $1.75 per linear foot; at lumberyards
22. Choose a Checkerboard Floor
22. Choose a Checkerboard Floor
Vinyl composition tile offers a durable and inexpensive alternative to a two-toned ceramic-tile floor. To get the look of these small squares, use a vinyl tile cutter to slice 12-inch tiles into 4-inch ones.
Armstrong Standard Excelon Imperial Texture tiles in Dutch Delft and Butter Cream Yellow, about $45 for a carton of 45; . Roberts 30002 Vinyl Tile Cutter, about $50;
23. Make a Rustic Towel Rack
23. Make a Rustic Towel Rack
Make a wood holder by cutting a 2×4 into five 12-inch sections and nailing each to a mounting strip cut from the same board. Brush on a wood stain and fasten the assemblies to the wall, leaving space in between for rolled hand towels.
Douglas fir board, about $4 for 10 feet, and Minwax stain in Golden Pecan, about $4.60 per half pint;