Let me walk you through our principal bathroom. Because our home is a new build, we were able to select the fixtures, flooring, countertops and help design the layout. Overall, we’re pleased with the end result, but I can see some changes on the horizon - like how awesome would a black and white checker style floor look in this space? Hmmm?? - Stay tuned!

In the interim, I want to bring builder boring to life with a few simple added touches:

Let’s start with artwork …

The Before - A Facebook Marketplace find - the size was perfect 5 ft x 3.5 ft

The After - DIY art that suits the space perfectly

Artwork - I really struggled finding artwork for this space. The challenge was finding a piece that was simple, tasteful, the right scale (ah large) and oh - didn’t cost a fortune!!

My solution? Why not create my own piece? Buying a blank canvas at the local craft shop (Michael’s) was one option but that was even more than what I was willing to spend. So, my hunt on Facebook Marketplace begun! And after a couple of weeks of searching, I found the most hideous canvas wall art for $30. But what I loved about it was its size - 5 ft x 3.5 ft … perfect!

Now that I have my canvas, it was time to get creative! I gave it 2 coats of white latex paint covering the hideous design and was left with a blank slate (that was easy).

Next using a spackle tool, I randomly covered the entire canvas with Drywall Spackle (DryDex Kit) and let dry over night. I then gave it another coat of white paint. The texture from the DryDex really popped. To add more depth, I painted 2/3rds using Charcoal paint (reads black) and I couldn’t be happier with the end results. And for a 5ft x 3.5 ft piece of art, I spent approx $45 ($30 for the canvas and $15 for the DryDex kit The paint I had from a previous project)

Now that artwork is solved … on to other elements in the room!
Jute runner - forget the typical bath matt(s) and opt for something that gives warmth and texture. The natural jute (although unexpected in a bathroom) adds instant charm. Another option is low pile runners. There are so many sources like Wayfair, Amazon, Ruggable (Canada), HomeSense and Walmart - all at very reasonable price points.
Bath caddy - I hunted for a bath caddy for a while before I found this one on Etsy. I was looking for something that had a simple design (no I don’t need a book stand or a place to hold my wine on my caddy) and yes, I definitely wanted something wood. Wood is another element that adds warmth. Styled with a simple scrub brush and bath balls - perfection!
Window Treatments - I think we can all agree what takes this room from boring to beautiful are the window treatments. Full on ceiling to floor drapes is probably not something one typically thinks to hang in a bathroom, but why not? We have blinds for privacy, so the drapes are purely decorative - and I think makes such a statement.
A few tips -
- hang the drapes as high as possible to the ceiling. Hanging your window treatments close to the ceiling (in any room) gives the illusion of height.
- Extend the rod and hang the panels outside the window frame. Again, this tricks the eye and the window instantly looks much grander.
- Drapes should skim the floor. Honestly, I wanted to hang these a couple of inches higher but that would mean they would be too short and so, I opted to install a little lower for the sake of having them skim the floor.
  
  And that’s a wrap! I’m really happy with the simplicity of our black and white bathroom. I hope you found some great lessons that you can apply to your home. Happy decorating :)
  
  Want to shop the look?
  Light Fixture
  Jute Runner (similar)
  Runner (Other Options)
  Bath Caddy
  Window Treatments
  Bath Brush

Builder Boring to Beautiful and Easy DIY Art

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