Refresh or remodel the bathroom?

[Mrs Brightside]

We bought a house with a depressingly pastel blue bathroom. I see some bloggers embracing the colored tile look but I just can't get on board with it. I'm debating whether to put a bandaid on it or do a full remodel. What do you think? We plan to stay in this house for a while. This bathroom would end up being the kids' bathroom but also the one guests use.


Look at these pics and you'll have the right idea: https://retrorenovation.com/2009/06/25/scenes-from-22-blue-midcentury-bathrooms/



Haven't priced it out but I guess the first option is less than half the cost of the second.


Quick, cheap solution:

• Refinish tub and tile to white color - would likely pay someone to do this right. still not sure how long it will last.
• Do nothing with floor tile (condition looks ok but we kind of hate it), or DIY new tile (can you tile over tile??)
• Remove wallpaper and paint
• New vanity
• New toilet
• No plumbing location changes

Full remodel:

• New tub
• New vanity
• New toilet
• New tile floor
• Demo tile walls and replace
• No plumbing location changes

[BikeFanatic]

My wife redid our  bathroom for about 3 k or less. Got a company to paint the tiles and reglaze the tub. Used bad chemicals and we could not use shower for days. looked great though. Then my Wife replaced the toilet medicine cabinets, and the vanity keeping the
same layout and water supply lines. Looks great. we did not redo the tile floor. 

[omachi]

So let me get this straight. This bathroom is:

• fully functional
• in good condition
• for the kids or guests and not one you'll be using
• not a color you like

And so you want to dump a bunch of money into it rather than be forced to look at its oh so hideous color scheme when, exactly? When you clean it?

In general, I'm on board for doing housing things sooner than later, and to the degree it will take to be happy, which is something only you can answer. I'm just failing to see the real problem here. So, assuming this is a new development and you haven't been there a year and are just getting to it, sit on it for six months and see if it still bothers you. Keeping the door most of the way closed may be a much cheaper fix than either that you've listed. Or you may find you get used to it, and while it isn't what you'd choose, it really doesn't matter.

[Papa bear]

Are you paying for the work or DIY?

I would not want to go the “bathroom outfitters” route and just epoxy/glaze over the existing.  I could probably DIY gut that entire thing for all in 2-3k in materials.  That would be my personal choice.  Then I would know for sure it’s waterproofed correctly, etc. 

If you can’t DIY it, leave it and just paint the place until you really know what you want to do. 


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[Mrs Brightside]

So let me get this straight. This bathroom is:

• fully functional
• in good condition
• for the kids or guests and not one you'll be using
• not a color you like

And so you want to dump a bunch of money into it rather than be forced to look at its oh so hideous color scheme when, exactly? When you clean it?

In general, I'm on board for doing housing things sooner than later, and to the degree it will take to be happy, which is something only you can answer. I'm just failing to see the real problem here. So, assuming this is a new development and you haven't been there a year and are just getting to it, sit on it for six months and see if it still bothers you. Keeping the door most of the way closed may be a much cheaper fix than either that you've listed. Or you may find you get used to it, and while it isn't what you'd choose, it really doesn't matter.

No it's really the main & largest bathroom in the house. We use it often too. There's another small 4'x8' bathroom attached to the master bedroom. So that's why I said it was for kids & visitors. Anyway, isn't it a waste of space to close off a room when you don't like the looks rather than spend a little to fix it?

[Mrs Brightside]

Are you paying for the work or DIY?

I would not want to go the “bathroom outfitters” route and just epoxy/glaze over the existing.  I could probably DIY gut that entire thing for all in 2-3k in materials.  That would be my personal choice.  Then I would know for sure it’s waterproofed correctly, etc. 

If you can’t DIY it, leave it and just paint the place until you really know what you want to do. 


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It would be a mix. I don't think we have the confidence to install and waterproof for a new tub. We know a local handyman who would do it. We also thought paying a pro to refinish tile might last longer than whatever the retail kits would do. Otherwise we'd DIY the rest. Agree the materials are probably 3 - 3.5k. It's the labor that gets you.

[JLee]

I redid a bathroom with a new ~$100 toilet, new ~$500 Costco vanity, new ~$300 lighted mirror, and paint (stripped wallpaper and painted). It looks WAY better and was maybe $1k all in.

[Metalcat]

It really depends on what actually is the colour and what you are looking to replace. You may not need to alter much to have a non-barfy room.

My bathroom was fucking hideous with various clashing shades of yellow and fake wood paneling, but I was able to work with the yellow tile by contrasting it with a deep royal blue everywhere. I replaced the sink and toilet because they were old and crappy, and covered the countertop with contact paper, mostly just to try out different styles before committing to anything, but it turned out so nice, I've just left it.

What are the actual coloured structures you are dealing with? What colour is the tub and tile? What colour is the flooring? Old sinks and toilets are often worth replacing eventually and easy things to swap out, so it's really a matter of narrowing down the colour that's the hardest to alter and seeing what's worth doing.

[omachi]

No it's really the main & largest bathroom in the house. We use it often too. There's another small 4'x8' bathroom attached to the master bedroom. So that's why I said it was for kids & visitors. Anyway, isn't it a waste of space to close off a room when you don't like the looks rather than spend a little to fix it?

How would it be a waste of space? I'm not suggesting walling it off. It's still functional. How much time are you spending gazing into the space that is your bathroom, anyway? Do you leave all your closet doors open because it'd be a waste of space not to look into them? Kitchen cupboards?

Isn't it a waste of resources to gut a room, throw a bunch of stuff in the landfill, and buy the same thing in a different color? More so if you have to pay somebody for the labor of doing so?

I'd still sit on it a while and see if you don't just get used to it. Hating a room because of color seems weird to me. I can see not loving it, but wanting to drop a few thousand bucks on it because the color needs to be "fixed"? This board tilts towards frugality. If you just have to get started, what can you do inexpensively that will have the most effect?

It's clear from your first post, option one being peppered with not sure it will last, kind of hate it remarks, that you want people to bless you to do the whole remodel. You can DIY a complete bathroom remodel for a few thousand if you're not going upscale, which is something I've done because the bathroom had underlying problems. If that's what you really want, then own it and do it. Doesn't make it any less ridiculous, but you don't need our blessing to throw your money at it.

[Metalcat]

^ I agree, I'm afraid your OP really sounds like you are looking for support to gut a functional bathroom because of the colour.

You're also leaving out the option of tub and shower covers, which are very inexpensive and will make the bath/shower white. If your toilet is blue, it's probably very old and may be worth replacing just for the sake of saving on water.

Perhaps at that point, leaving the floor tiles may not seem like such a big deal if the rest of the blue (or whatever your ugly colour is) is gone.

[Mrs Brightside]

No it's really the main & largest bathroom in the house. We use it often too. There's another small 4'x8' bathroom attached to the master bedroom. So that's why I said it was for kids & visitors. Anyway, isn't it a waste of space to close off a room when you don't like the looks rather than spend a little to fix it?

How would it be a waste of space? I'm not suggesting walling it off. It's still functional. How much time are you spending gazing into the space that is your bathroom, anyway? Do you leave all your closet doors open because it'd be a waste of space not to look into them? Kitchen cupboards?

Isn't it a waste of resources to gut a room, throw a bunch of stuff in the landfill, and buy the same thing in a different color? More so if you have to pay somebody for the labor of doing so?

I'd still sit on it a while and see if you don't just get used to it. Hating a room because of color seems weird to me. I can see not loving it, but wanting to drop a few thousand bucks on it because the color needs to be "fixed"? This board tilts towards frugality. If you just have to get started, what can you do inexpensively that will have the most effect?

It's clear from your first post, option one being peppered with not sure it will last, kind of hate it remarks, that you want people to bless you to do the whole remodel. You can DIY a complete bathroom remodel for a few thousand if you're not going upscale, which is something I've done because the bathroom had underlying problems. If that's what you really want, then own it and do it. Doesn't make it any less ridiculous, but you don't need our blessing to throw your money at it.

I concede that doing something is more expensive than doing nothing. The only obvious problem is I don't like the looks, and all the fixtures are very old. We already fixed the sink a few times but technically it works.

^ I agree, I'm afraid your OP really sounds like you are looking for support to gut a functional bathroom because of the colour.

You're also leaving out the option of tub and shower covers, which are very inexpensive and will make the bath/shower white. If your toilet is blue, it's probably very old and may be worth replacing just for the sake of saving on water.

Perhaps at that point, leaving the floor tiles may not seem like such a big deal if the rest of the blue (or whatever your ugly colour is) is gone.

Yes the entire bathroom is 60s era including the blue toilet. Getting a more efficient one is a win but I guess that would be only $100 or so. Agree about the tub cover, I think it's probably similar expense to DIYing a tile refinishing project (basically painting the tile white). There's blue tile on the walls too but it might be less in your face if the tub/toilet/sink weren't blue too.

[Mrs Brightside]

It really depends on what actually is the colour and what you are looking to replace. You may not need to alter much to have a non-barfy room.

My bathroom was fucking hideous with various clashing shades of yellow and fake wood paneling, but I was able to work with the yellow tile by contrasting it with a deep royal blue everywhere. I replaced the sink and toilet because they were old and crappy, and covered the countertop with contact paper, mostly just to try out different styles before committing to anything, but it turned out so nice, I've just left it.

What are the actual coloured structures you are dealing with? What colour is the tub and tile? What colour is the flooring? Old sinks and toilets are often worth replacing eventually and easy things to swap out, so it's really a matter of narrowing down the colour that's the hardest to alter and seeing what's worth doing.

Everything is blue except the floor tile and vanity, which is white. And the wallpaper is shiny ... oof.

[Metalcat]

It really depends on what actually is the colour and what you are looking to replace. You may not need to alter much to have a non-barfy room.

My bathroom was fucking hideous with various clashing shades of yellow and fake wood paneling, but I was able to work with the yellow tile by contrasting it with a deep royal blue everywhere. I replaced the sink and toilet because they were old and crappy, and covered the countertop with contact paper, mostly just to try out different styles before committing to anything, but it turned out so nice, I've just left it.

What are the actual coloured structures you are dealing with? What colour is the tub and tile? What colour is the flooring? Old sinks and toilets are often worth replacing eventually and easy things to swap out, so it's really a matter of narrowing down the colour that's the hardest to alter and seeing what's worth doing.

Everything is blue except the floor tile and vanity, which is white. And the wallpaper is shiny ... oof.

But you also hate the floor tile? What colour is it? Why do you hate it?

The blue bathtub and shower could be covered and made white very easily if the colour really bothers you that much. Or, you could get rid of the blue toilet and sink to eliminate the blue overload and get a nice shower curtain that you keep closed. That's what I do. I would love blue tile instead of yellow, but whatevs, I rarely actually see it and my shower curtain is lovely.

I see no reason to do a full gut and remodel unless that just happens to be what you really want to spend your money on and you're not fussed about the waste involved. Just don't expect to get a lot of support here for that choice.

As for changing the colour of the existing tub and tiles, I know nothing about that option, but it sounds labour intensive and therefore quite expensive if you pay someone to do it. I also have no idea how well something like that holds up to wear, so really can't comment as to whether or not it's worth doing. The inserts are stupid simple though, so look at that option if the blue bath/shower is truly intolerable for you.

[lthenderson]

I have not seen good results on recoloring tiles or tubs and it is likely to cost you just as much as more as gutting it and purchasing all new tub and tile depending on grade of both. Me personally, I find bathrooms a great DIY project to cut your chops on especially if you have another bathroom to use during the remodel. The last bathroom I remodeled in my current house took me about three months to do though the toilet and sink were functional 95% of that time. I completely gutted it, custom tiled the shower and put high end fixtures, body sprays, thermostatic control valve, glass doors, new lights, toilet, vanity mirror, sink, heated floors, etc for about $3k total. (I made my own vanity so it isn't included in the cost.) The other two bathrooms were more run of the mill and probably cost less than $1k each to buy the materials and DIY it.

[draco44]

Since the changes you are considering are for aesthetic rather than functional reasons, it's entirely up to you how much or little you spend. I miss a vintage (50s?) bathroom a relative used to have and would err on the side of living with it for a while before doing anything.

One other idea I haven't seen is what if you do nothing to the bathroom itself but got a few all-white accessories (towels, shower curtain, bathmat) to balance out the blue? That could be done for next to no money and would keep perfectly good fixtures out of the landfill.

[Metalcat]

Oh! I also forgot to mention, if you replace the blue toilet and sink (assuming you have them), there's a huge demand for them, so it's not like they'll be wasted because they can easily be sold.

[draco44]

Oh! I also forgot to mention, if you replace the blue toilet and sink (assuming you have them), there's a huge demand for them, so it's not like they'll be wasted because they can easily be sold.

That's encouraging to hear, @Malcat! OP, you are ultimately of course free to do whatever you want with your bathroom, but if you do change things out, I encourage you to sell/donate/give away as much you can rather than getting all sledgehammer-y about it. ReStore donation centers are a good option if one of those is near you. I just don't like waste on principle, but if nothing else, you'll save on trash/disposal fees.

[Metalcat]

Oh! I also forgot to mention, if you replace the blue toilet and sink (assuming you have them), there's a huge demand for them, so it's not like they'll be wasted because they can easily be sold.

That's encouraging to hear, @Malcat! OP, you are ultimately of course free to do whatever you want with your bathroom, but if you do change things out, I encourage you to sell/donate/give away as much you can rather than getting all sledgehammer-y about it. ReStore donation centers are a good option if one of those is near you. I just don't like waste on principle, but if nothing else, you'll save on trash/disposal fees.

Oh yeah, vintage coloured bathroom porcelains are having a huge moment right now, especially the blue.

If OP demo's their bathroom, they should definitely look into the possibility that a company might want every speck of blue porcelain in there.

[Sibley]

Another vote for dealing. You have a perfectly good bathroom that you don't like. It's not going to kill you. If you actually spend hours in there a day, then you need to talk to your doctor.

Remove the wallpaper and paint. Get a nice shower curtain and keep it closed. A bathroom rug will help hide the tile you don't like. Other decorative touches can help tone down the blue. Get creative. I've seen some amazing results with the maroon bathrooms, and I'm sure equally amazing results can be achieved with the blues.

And painting or refinishing the tile/tub isn't going to last, and then you'll really have a mess to deal with. I've seen it. Spare yourself.

[cooking]

I'm not going to opine on the waste/environmental issues since much has already been said here.  I just wanted to mention to OP that if you decide to tile over the old tiles on the floor, there is a fairly new product for those kind of situations.  I was at a specialty tile store a few years ago, and the salesman showed me something he referred to as "thin tiles" that they just started to sell.  He said they were a new product at that time.  I think they were not cheap, and also of course you would have fewer tile choices by narrowing it down to this specific type.  But it would save on dumping costs and a lot of messiness.

[sonofsven]

Well, you'll definitely save money by keeping the existing plumbing locations intact; that's generally the most expensive part of a remodel.
I've seen lots of newer homeowners struggle with this question over the years (I'm a contractor). They know what they want but they can't (or don't want to) afford it. So your options are the two you laid out, and the third "do nothing" that seems popular.
I would recommend either do nothing or do everything, but not the middle path of re finishing to change the tub color, or tiling over old tiles.
If you're going to do it, do it right. If you're going to spend money, make it for what you want. I've seen many examples of half assed remodels done on a budget that, to me, look like a waste of money. It's not what the client wanted, it doesn't do much to improve re sale, it's the old "lipstick on a pig" idiom.
In my own house I have an ugly master bath that was ugly the day it was built but as it's completely functional I've left it alone. As I've found deals over the years I have all the tile, new shower pan, exhaust fan, etc. Someday I'll tear everything out to the studs (which is really the best way to go) but right now I just live with it.

[NaN]

Demo - $100 with bags and tools and a lot of fun labor
Ikea sink/vanity - $350 : hang it on wall (make sure you support it with blocking between studs)
Toilet: $200 : American Standard toilet
Floor tile and materials: $400, higher if other repairs needed
Shower tub insert: $800 or Shower tiling and tub
Lights, mirror, etc: $150
Towel racks, etc: $100
Drywall repair: $200
Faucet and Shower Fixtures: $300 (not counting having a plumber install any new boxes in shower)
Misc: $200 (caulk, new toilet ring, plumbing stuff etc.)

Total: ~$3000. So this is in line with what others say. Of course this with your own labor and DIY lessons learned along the way. I wonder how much you could get for your tub and toilet. If it is cast iron it will be an ordeal to get out.

My view is if you bought the house knowing you would remodel that bathroom I would say go for it. If you bought the house that pushed your price range then I would say that you should deal with it as long as possible. We bought a house at the low end of our price range that had pink tubs and pink tile in a lot of the house. We rearranged the bathrooms completely so we had to do a full remodel. But we knew work had to be done when buying the house. We just loved the area and not much was available at the time.

[BudgetSlasher]

Thought I'd chime in my thoughts.

First, I will echo what others have said. If you can live with it and there is nothing functionally wrong with it, do that.

Second, if you cannot (and it sounds like you have decided you cannot) do not, erm, half-arse it. What I mean by this is if you are going to spend a big a good chunk of money "refreshing" do not leave things that you are going look at down the road and still hate. Also, there are some items that will instantly date a bathroom, some tile shapes and layouts come to mind; to some buyers having a mismatch of new and older will be a put off or make it feel ... cheap.  It may well be possible to refresh it in a consistent way.

Third, if you do a complete remodel expect surprises. It is a 30 year old bathroom, water leaks, rot, mold, and other surprises likely await you. Every bathroom I've worked on had at least one surprise. The last two had completely rotted out the subfloor under the toilet due to a vent pipe/roof leak and the other had a lovely mold filled wall due to someone putting a drywall screw right through the shower riser pipe.

Fourth, weird costs happen. For example, the last bathroom I did I had budgeted for ~200 for the toilet based on a quick survey of all the toilets out there. Turns out rear exit toilets, which is what we had and were stuck with, are more expensive.

Fifth, if you do a total remodel and either hire it out or get it permitted and inspected anticipate that there might be code changes that you now have to comply with.

[Mrs Brightside]

 

If you actually spend hours in there a day, then you need to talk to your doctor.

Hahahahaha. Very true! 

And painting or refinishing the tile/tub isn't going to last, and then you'll really have a mess to deal with. I've seen it. Spare yourself.

I have not seen good results on recoloring tiles or tubs and it is likely to cost you just as much as more as gutting it and purchasing all new tub and tile depending on grade of both. Me personally, I find bathrooms a great DIY project to cut your chops on especially if you have another bathroom to use during the remodel. The last bathroom I remodeled in my current house took me about three months to do though the toilet and sink were functional 95% of that time. I completely gutted it, custom tiled the shower and put high end fixtures, body sprays, thermostatic control valve, glass doors, new lights, toilet, vanity mirror, sink, heated floors, etc for about $3k total. (I made my own vanity so it isn't included in the cost.) The other two bathrooms were more run of the mill and probably cost less than $1k each to buy the materials and DIY it.

This is the kind of thing I was hoping to find out. I don't want to do something that actually makes it worse. Right now it's not my favorite but it's presentable. Great to have DIY encouragement.

First, I will echo what others have said. If you can live with it and there is nothing functionally wrong with it, do that.


Second, if you cannot (and it sounds like you have decided you cannot) do not, erm, half-arse it. What I mean by this is if you are going to spend a big a good chunk of money "refreshing" do not leave things that you are going look at down the road and still hate. Also, there are some items that will instantly date a bathroom, some tile shapes and layouts come to mind; to some buyers having a mismatch of new and older will be a put off or make it feel ... cheap.  It may well be possible to refresh it in a consistent way.


Third, if you do a complete remodel expect surprises. It is a 30 year old bathroom, water leaks, rot, mold, and other surprises likely await you. Every bathroom I've worked on had at least one surprise. The last two had completely rotted out the subfloor under the toilet due to a vent pipe/roof leak and the other had a lovely mold filled wall due to someone putting a drywall screw right through the shower riser pipe.

Your second point hits on one of the reasons I made this post. One of us is advocating for refresh (cheaper way to make it look better) but the flip side is that could be seen as doing a half-ass job. The other one of us thinks we should just go for replacing it. Anyway, it looks like getting someone to reglaze the tub is almost as much as a new one. For your 3rd point, yes a little scary. There's mildew already on the ceiling because bathroom fans weren't a thing back then. For now we'll paint over with mildew resistant paint.

Demo - $100 with bags and tools and a lot of fun labor
...
Total: ~$3000. So this is in line with what others say. Of course this with your own labor and DIY lessons learned along the way. I wonder how much you could get for your tub and toilet. If it is cast iron it will be an ordeal to get out.


My view is if you bought the house knowing you would remodel that bathroom I would say go for it.

Yep this cost is about what I came to after geeking out on Home Depot and Ikea for a while. The house was definitely underpriced for the neighborhood about $100k because the elderly owners hadn't updated it before selling and the photos were bad. We knew we were probably 1) ripping up the shag carpet and 2) coming for the pastel colors.


Appreciate all the feedback - I can't quote it all here. I think we'll start with switching wallpaper for paint. See how we feel after that. Maybe we can find a way to embrace it, maybe make friends with these people: https://savethepinkbathrooms.com/


If we do more later, we'll DIY a more complete overhaul. We would donate or sell anything we can remove in good condition. Should only be in for a few $k materials.

[Metalcat]

^absolutely tackle the easy, superficial things first

My bathroom was improved DRAMATICALLY just by changing the wall colour and painting the faux wood panel cabinet doors and changing out the handles and hinges. We too got a great price on our place because it was so hideously ugly, but we didn't gut anything, just changed colours and cabinet hardware and that was enough to totally update the look of the place. It still has a vintage vibe, but in a fun way not, not a depressing and eye-burning kind of way.

[NaN]

Maybe we can find a way to embrace it, maybe make friends with these people: https://savethepinkbathrooms.com/

I think the authors of this site would cringe at the site of me taking a sledgehammer to my pink bathroom tub. Our bathrooms were remodeled immediately because of a lot of reasons I won't get into here, but the anger from that was temporarily released with that destruction.

Best link from that website: https://retrorenovation.com/renovate-safe/ I put up so much plastic, venting, etc when demoing. I wore respirator masks, which today are really hard to get.

[mrsnamemustache]

Try to love it. I would take this style over a modern bathroom any day, especially when styled nicely (good paint choice, etc) and with a few updates. For example

https://m.lonny.com/photos/Bathroom+Tiles/BKV-wYQGeIy

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/302374562479890365/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/176484879123321210/

[Greystache]

I had a similar situation. I didn't have much money, so I did some cosmetic fixes like paint and tile and then after about ten years, I tore everything out down to the studs and built the bathroom the way I wanted it.  If I had it to do over again, I think I would have just lived with the ugly until I could afford to do it right.

[BudgetSlasher]

I'll second the caution of not to bother with painting the tile. Bathrooms get scrubbed a lot, and flaking or peeling paint will look far worse than any existing tile.

As for the rest of the discussion, can you DIY the easy things like removing the wallpaper, changing out the toilet and painting the ceiling with mildew-resistant paint (I love that stuff) and then stand back and live with it for a while before deciding if it still bothers you enough to feel like you need to change the rest?

FYI, I also have a strong dislike for my bathroom tile, and perpetually fantasize about smashing the whole thing up to redo it, so I totally understand your urge to get rid of the (perfectly functional) ugly. Keep us posted on what you do, I'll want to live vicariously through your changes!

I *hope* that when people say painting in regards to tile they mean a product/service along the lines of perma glaze. I've known several people who have used that for high traffic items, thick shower surrounds and/or bath tubs) and it is a ton more durable than "paint". Supposedly it can be used on countertops too, but I have not seen that in person.

As an added bonus it glazes the grout lines, so they are much easier to clean.

Of course to go that route you need tile and grout that is in good condition and in a shape/layout that you like.

[Cranky]

Well, I’d live with it myself, but it doesn’t cost that much to replace the sink/vanity/toilet. We’ve done that ourselves a couple of times over the years. Then put up a new shower curtain that hides the tub and throw down a bathroom rug that hides the tile and find something else to worry about.

[Metalcat]

I'll second the caution of not to bother with painting the tile. Bathrooms get scrubbed a lot, and flaking or peeling paint will look far worse than any existing tile.

As for the rest of the discussion, can you DIY the easy things like removing the wallpaper, changing out the toilet and painting the ceiling with mildew-resistant paint (I love that stuff) and then stand back and live with it for a while before deciding if it still bothers you enough to feel like you need to change the rest?

FYI, I also have a strong dislike for my bathroom tile, and perpetually fantasize about smashing the whole thing up to redo it, so I totally understand your urge to get rid of the (perfectly functional) ugly. Keep us posted on what you do, I'll want to live vicariously through your changes!

I *hope* that when people say painting in regards to tile they mean a product/service along the lines of perma glaze. I've known several people who have used that for high traffic items, thick shower surrounds and/or bath tubs) and it is a ton more durable than "paint". Supposedly it can be used on countertops too, but I have not seen that in person.

As an added bonus it glazes the grout lines, so they are much easier to clean.

Of course to go that route you need tile and grout that is in good condition and in a shape/layout that you like.

My mom had her tub perma glazed, and it did wear and chip after a few years. It also wasn't cheap, but it's worth it to her to do every 5-10 years as she has a very rare 6ft claw tub.

I don't know how it holds up on shower tiles, I've never known anyone who did it.

[BudgetSlasher]

I'll second the caution of not to bother with painting the tile. Bathrooms get scrubbed a lot, and flaking or peeling paint will look far worse than any existing tile.

As for the rest of the discussion, can you DIY the easy things like removing the wallpaper, changing out the toilet and painting the ceiling with mildew-resistant paint (I love that stuff) and then stand back and live with it for a while before deciding if it still bothers you enough to feel like you need to change the rest?

FYI, I also have a strong dislike for my bathroom tile, and perpetually fantasize about smashing the whole thing up to redo it, so I totally understand your urge to get rid of the (perfectly functional) ugly. Keep us posted on what you do, I'll want to live vicariously through your changes!

I *hope* that when people say painting in regards to tile they mean a product/service along the lines of perma glaze. I've known several people who have used that for high traffic items, thick shower surrounds and/or bath tubs) and it is a ton more durable than "paint". Supposedly it can be used on countertops too, but I have not seen that in person.

As an added bonus it glazes the grout lines, so they are much easier to clean.

Of course to go that route you need tile and grout that is in good condition and in a shape/layout that you like.

My mom had her tub perma glazed, and it did wear and chip after a few years. It also wasn't cheap, but it's worth it to her to do every 5-10 years as she has a very rare 6ft claw tub.

I don't know how it holds up on shower tiles, I've never known anyone who did it.

My inlaws have had it on their upstairs tub/shower combo surround at their current house for about 7 years without problem and have had it done at some of their prior homes. It has held up fine.

I've known others who have had it, or a similar service, done and have heard no complaints; but, I do not know how long they have had.

Like most things, perhaps it comes done to the installer ... and the amount of prep work done.

[ChickenStash]

My only word of caution is if you decide to use one of those "bathroom refitter" types to do the work that you are very careful and closely check out a lot of their prior work before deciding. A lot of those companies are fly-by-night and do questionable work. Make sure to check with an actual contractor, too.

The previous owners of my home went with a refitter for the main bathroom and I can't say I'm impressed but id does mostly work. They did a plastic/vinyl tub that deforms when stepped in. They used a plastic tile-look panels for around the tub and half-way up the walls that looks very cheesy and is surprisingly hard to keep clean. The tile floor, toilet and vanity were actually done decently, though, so it wasn't all bad. I don't know how much they spent on it.

[Runrunrun]

I am dying for some pictures of this bathroom! In my mind I'm imagining a really cool mid century bathroom that just needs the wallpaper nixed, fresh shower curtain, maybe a modern mirror and light fixture to feel updated. But my mental picture could be way off, it could be much more offensive than in my mind :)

[Mrs Brightside]

I am dying for some pictures of this bathroom! In my mind I'm imagining a really cool mid century bathroom that just needs the wallpaper nixed, fresh shower curtain, maybe a modern mirror and light fixture to feel updated. But my mental picture could be way off, it could be much more offensive than in my mind :)

Inquiring minds want to know.... It gives me a lot of joy that people want to help me rescue my bathroom! Here's the basic bathroom: https://imgur.com/a2VnyCU
We have a shower curtain like this but haven't changed anything else yet.

[deborah]

That’s not pastel. It definitely needs toning down. At least the vanity isn’t the same colour. However, I lived with a bathroom that was almost the same colour for eight years, and it wasn’t in good condition, like yours is.

A white shower curtain that was normally closed would tone it down a lot.

[Freedomin5]

I am dying for some pictures of this bathroom! In my mind I'm imagining a really cool mid century bathroom that just needs the wallpaper nixed, fresh shower curtain, maybe a modern mirror and light fixture to feel updated. But my mental picture could be way off, it could be much more offensive than in my mind :)

This. I actually really like the blue. I also can see how the floors could still work. The reflective wallpaper is a bit weird. I would leave the tile, paint/paper the wall, change out the toilet seat, update the fixtures, and change the sink so it matches the cool retro vibe.

[ToTheMoon]

I am dying for some pictures of this bathroom! In my mind I'm imagining a really cool mid century bathroom that just needs the wallpaper nixed, fresh shower curtain, maybe a modern mirror and light fixture to feel updated. But my mental picture could be way off, it could be much more offensive than in my mind :)

This. I actually really like the blue. I also can see how the floors could still work. The reflective wallpaper is a bit weird. I would leave the tile, paint/paper the wall, change out the toilet seat, update the fixtures, and change the sink so it matches the cool retro vibe.

I *wish* our old blue bathroom had been in that good of shape! The toilet seat is the thing that stands out the most to me, and I agree that a crisp white shower curtain would help balance the blue (though I do not think it needs to be shut all of the time. Let that natural light in!)

My plan of attack would be:

* http://www.classic-colors.com/ for a matching toilet seat
* A white shower curtain with a white textured bath mat hung over the side of the tub
* Ditch the wallpaper & freshen up the paint,
* Replace the sink with a crisp white one (think Ikea)
* Put a plant on the back of the toilet for a punch of green
* Consider replacing the vanity handles with black ones, and maybe even the shower curtain rod (I think every room needs a touch of black to balance it)
* I am also a fan of black faucets/handles but they are not (yet) popular and still a bit harder to find[/li][/list]

Something like this would probably go a long way to increasing your happiness when you walk past/use the bathroom. Then, when the time comes where there is something larger that fails (tiles/water infiltration) tear it down to the studs and build it back up at that point.

ETA - I love retro stuff and think this bathroom is awesome!

[Cranky]

I think that’s lovely, and quirky!

New toilet seat, *maybe* sink, shower curtain, art, enjoy!

He upstairs bathroom in our new house features lavender fixtures, and they are awesome.

[Zamboni]

How long have you lived in this home?
That's a great shower curtain and I bet it really helps. I doubt your kids care. I doubt that the company cares. And, honestly, I think the blue you have looks pretty good.

Here's the thing:
If you spend a bunch of money to reno your bathroom to whatever is in style right now, it will still be "horribly dated" in 10 years. Seriously. I just looked through pages and pages of early 2000's beige bathrooms (with the big square tiles) that people ripped out to put in grey and white big rectangular tiles . . . which will be "dated" by 2030.

I built a brand new home in the early 2000's with top of the line everything, 100% in style, fancy granite edge cuts and all. Looked like all the model homes in the parade of homes at the time. By 2010 all the realtors were saying "eww dated."

In my opinion, your bathroom will hold value better at this point if you embrace the retro nature of your bathroom tile and give it a few updates (like get rid of the wallpaper, obviously). The most recent posters had good ideas. I'm not sure what you should do about the toilet, because the non-matching seat makes it an eyesore. Sounds like the toilet and sink need to be replaced anyway, though, from what you wrote, and those things don't last forever. No one will blame you for replacing bathroom fixtures that are rusting out.

Lol, I moved and I now have two versions of your blue bathroom. Both have the similar floor tile to yours.
One is the pink bathroom.
The other is the brown bathroom.
Guess what? It's coming back in style. It's cool again. Seriously.

Our initial plan was to change both our bathrooms. Rip everything out and start over. But then we lived here awhile. Guess what? The "weird" square tub in the pink bathroom holds heat better than any tub I've ever had, and it's really big and comfortable. The tile grew on us. Instead, just like you we got new shower curtains. We decided to have groutmedic come out and clean everything and refresh and seal the grout. Wow, sparkles now! But, we did replace the rusted out wall mounted sink with a more modern white sink with a grey vanity in the pink bathroom. Toilet is also white. Put up a light grey shower curtain and small bath rug for getting out of the tub. Looks great! We are also eventually going to replace the brown bathroom's vanity, sink, and shower (The shower stall itself is a rusty nasty pit . . . you can't even imagine how bad it is.) But the wall and floor tile is staying . . . learn to love it!

[Metalcat]

Ah, I see, yes, that is hideous, but not because of the blue.
The vanity is pretty ugly by itself and a brutal clash with the rest. Oy. And that wallpaper is atrocious.

For the toilet, you could either find a retro matching seat, but since you don't seem to love the retro feel anyway, I would just sell it. As I said, there's a huge demand for the blue toilets right now and they're not water efficient.

Obviously get rid of the wall paper. But choose your colour very, very carefully. That blue is a particular shade, and you can either blend with it or contrast it. I would personally bring in a colour consultant to find the exact shade to tone it down. That will really depend on the undertones in the tile, but it's very doable, and the white is not helping. Perhaps a more heather grey type of colour.

You could then coordinate a nice vanity and shower curtain with that colour once you decide.

I actually like the floor tile, and I think it will look nice once everything is pulled together.

It really wouldn't take a lot to get that bathroom from fugly to quite lovely and with a bit of character.

[former player]

The two things that are making the blue/grey/white of your bathroom look fugly are the shiny wallpaper and the yellow/cream top to the vanity.  So I'd strip the wallpaper and paint the walls white, put in a new vanity and dress everything else up with a good shower curtain and maybe a plant or two.  And maybe also paint that orange edge to the door too.

[Zamboni]

If you sell the blue toilet (which is a good idea!) and put in a white toilet, then there will be a lot of white in there. The cream counter does really clash, as noted above, and cream is out out out. It's not the floor that's bad, it's the counter and wallpaper.

I can't really see your floor tile well, so it's hard to recommend wall color. I'm with the person who said a matte pale gray, probably, but be very, very careful. Because the tile is medium dark (I'd say more towards turquoise from the photo more than pastel blue) think about how other colors would work with it. Turquoise with dark brown was all the rage a few years ago, so a brown cabinet might make it dated. Gray and/or white with a bright color like you have is all the rage today. Personally I think that floor tile is awesome, and those tiles are probably mounted in concrete, which means they will be difficult to remove. So embrace them! Seriously, I'm starting to see these little mosaic mid-century inspired tiles being used by interior designers again.

Retro but with a modern twist, that is what you should go for, I think. Not sure where you live, but mid-century gems are back in style in much of the country. There's a reason that retro-renovation website has so much traffic.

[Metalcat]

If you sell the blue toilet (which is a good idea!) and put in a white toilet, then there will be a lot of white in there. The cream counter does really clash, as noted above, and cream is out out out. It's not the floor that's bad, it's the counter and wallpaper.

I can't really see your floor tile well, so it's hard to recommend wall color. I'm with the person who said a matte pale gray, probably, but be very, very careful. Because the tile is medium dark (I'd say more towards turquoise from the photo more than pastel blue) think about how other colors would work with it. Turquoise with dark brown was all the rage a few years ago, so a brown cabinet might make it dated. Gray and/or white with a bright color like you have is all the rage today. Personally I think that floor tile is awesome, and those tiles are probably mounted in concrete, which means they will be difficult to remove. So embrace them! Seriously, I'm starting to see these little mosaic mid-century inspired tiles being used by interior designers again.

Retro but with a modern twist, that is what you should go for, I think. Not sure where you live, but mid-century gems are back in style in much of the country. There's a reason that retro-renovation website has so much traffic.

Agreed, that's why I recommended a colour consultant. The wrong paint shade could make that blue really horrible, while the right shade could tone it right down.

I had a tricky brown bathroom tile in my last place and the Benjamin Moore colour consultant figured out exactly how to make it work. DH had tried multiple colours of grey and beige and they all looked horrid. The consultant found this particular greige shade with an undertone of purple, which I thought was utterly hideous on the search, but looked like a perfect soft grey in the bathroom.

The colour I thought I wanted would have looked greenish.

There's knowing what colour you want, and then there's knowing how to get it with paint.

[NaN]

Is there tile under the vanity? I would get a new white toilet, and maybe a grey cabinet with white counter/sink. I would suggest the GODMORGON grey lineup now but if there is no tile under the vanity that would not work.

[Mrs Brightside]

All this advice is making me SO happy! Do you guys want to revive my retro kitchen next? It might be beyond help :)  Yeah, the house is mid-century and luckily that's in style now, so we've been embracing it with our furniture/style choices as best we can.

I *wish* our old blue bathroom had been in that good of shape! The toilet seat is the thing that stands out the most to me, and I agree that a crisp white shower curtain would help balance the blue (though I do not think it needs to be shut all of the time. Let that natural light in!)


My plan of attack would be:


*
http://www.classic-colors.com/ for a matching toilet seat
* A white shower curtain with a  hung over the side of the tub
* Ditch the wallpaper & freshen up the paint,
* Replace the sink with a crisp white one (think Ikea)
* Put a plant on the back of the toilet for a punch of green
* Consider replacing the vanity handles with black ones, and maybe even the shower curtain rod (I think every room needs a touch of black to balance it)
* I am also a fan of black faucets/handles but they are not (yet) popular and still a bit harder to find


Something like this would probably go a long way to increasing your happiness when you walk past/use the bathroom. Then, when the time comes where there is something larger that fails (tiles/water infiltration) tear it down to the studs and build it back up at that point.


ETA - I love retro stuff and think this bathroom is awesome!

Great advice here and cool toilet seat matching website! I would never have found that. Not sure if I will go that way or just get a white toilet replacement. I couldn't put my finger on what was bothering me there but you're right - the seat/toilet mismatch is yucky.

How long have you lived in this home?
That's a great shower curtain and I bet it really helps. I doubt your kids care. I doubt that the company cares. And, honestly, I think the blue you have looks pretty good.


Here's the thing:
If you spend a bunch of money to reno your bathroom to whatever is in style right now, it will still be "horribly dated" in 10 years....

Good point, fads come and go. We've been here about a year, but taking care of other stuff before the bathroom became the next priority.

Ah, I see, yes, that is hideous, but not because of the blue.
The vanity is pretty ugly by itself and a brutal clash with the rest. Oy. And that wallpaper is atrocious.


For the toilet, you could either find a retro matching seat, but since you don't seem to love the retro feel anyway, I would just sell it. As I said, there's a huge demand for the blue toilets right now and they're not water efficient.


Obviously get rid of the wall paper. But choose your colour very, very carefully. That blue is a particular shade, and you can either blend with it or contrast it. I would personally bring in a colour consultant to find the exact shade to tone it down. That will really depend on the undertones in the tile, but it's very doable, and the white is not helping. Perhaps a more heather grey type of colour.


You could then coordinate a nice vanity and shower curtain with that colour once you decide.


I actually like the floor tile, and I think it will look nice once everything is pulled together.


It really wouldn't take a lot to get that bathroom from fugly to quite lovely and with a bit of character.

The two things that are making the blue/grey/white of your bathroom look fugly are the shiny wallpaper and the yellow/cream top to the vanity.  So I'd strip the wallpaper and paint the walls white, put in a new vanity and dress everything else up with a good shower curtain and maybe a plant or two.  And maybe also paint that orange edge to the door too.

YES! You're right, the countertop & sink is really clashing. The floor tile kinda screams public bathroom to me, I don't know why. But I think it would fit with the style and be much more pleasant if the wallpaper and sink weren't screaming at me too. Regarding color consultant -- how do you do that? Does someone come out to your house? Or you just walk into Benjamin Moore and beg for mercy? 

And regarding the door - sadly the whole door is orange wood. Photo is misleading because there's a mirror on the outside of it. We plan on painting it white.

Is there tile under the vanity? I would get a new white toilet, and maybe a grey cabinet with white counter/sink. I would suggest the GODMORGON grey lineup now but if there is no tile under the vanity that would not work.

I think there is probably tile under the vanity because it looks newer than the rest of the bathroom to me, but I'll check. I actually had the Godmorgon bookmarked already! The gray colors I see on Ikea US are fairly dark, would you suggest the dark gray? And the matte, not the high gloss?

[Metalcat]

Where I live, most of the Benjamin Moore stores have colour consultants. These are usually interior decorators who also work at the store as they're a great job for meeting clients.

Just call the store and ask if they have a good colour consultant.

It really is worth doing if you have any kind of existing colour that needs to be coordinated. It's one thing to pick colour for a blank canvas, it's another to try and work with a bold, saturated, and very present tone like your tub and tiles.

They don't just help you figure out a colour, they figure out which exact paint will achieve what you want based on the lighting in your space. That's something that a lot of people don't realize, that paint looks *completely* different under the lights of the store vs in your space.

[rockstache]

I’m not very design savvy and you’ve gotten a lot of great advice here about matching the toilet seat, getting rid of the wallpaper and changing the vanity, so I can’t improve on that. I’ll just say I absolutely love this bathroom and I really really hope you roll with it instead of destroying it. It’s totally my style, and if I bought the house after you I would be thrilled.

[NaN]

I think there is probably tile under the vanity because it looks newer than the rest of the bathroom to me, but I'll check. I actually had the Godmorgon bookmarked already! The gray colors I see on Ikea US are fairly dark, would you suggest the dark gray? And the matte, not the high gloss?

I'm just envisioning a nice white wall, a white toilet, and white sink/counter. I think a dark grey vanity could work well with the grey in the floor tile and will add a little 'non-blue' contrast in the room. I guess all white except for the blue tile and grey floor might also work, as it would 'show-case' the blue as the only color. I think any wall color that is anything but a nice white would be terrible. Also, I don't know if it is possible to even chang the bathtub fixtures (i.e. might be hard to do the plumbing), but using gold fixtures with an all white or even with the dark gray vanity would really pop out. See https://www.contemporist.com/blue-white-gold-bathroom-design-ideas/

But I am not a 'color expert' by any means, so take my opinion for as far as it would print out in 1 pt font.

[Mrs Brightside]

Exciting news! We have a matching toilet seat! The color is regency blue: http://www.classic-colors.com/ENG/PRODUCTCOLOR/COLOR_Regency_Blue

I think it already looks better without the mismatch. Here it is: https://imgur.com/IMa2XF2 Now on to the walls and vanity!


Just for fun, here's a 50's color chart with regency blue. I don't think these color schemes are quite right now... ha! https://i.pinimg.com/originals/90/bf/13/90bf13e9422c05c5353f6699346fb941.jpg