With the holiday season rapidly approaching, we can expect to do our fair share of hosting. That means that the kids’ bathroom, which serves as the guest bathroom as well, is going to get plenty of traffic. It was in sad shape but also not something we want to drop a bunch of money into right now. So a simple, frugal non-renovaion refresh was the ticket.
I was so pleased with how this turned out for about $200. I love when the solution to a problem is simple and doesn’t break the bank or take up too much energy. Here are the little things that went a long way to bring our kids’s/guest bathroom up to par.
By focusing on deep cleaning, fresh textiles, and smart, kid-friendly organizational choices, our main bathroom was completely revived. No drywall was harmed in the making of this blog post! Here is exactly how we gave our space a whole new life on a budget.
The Power of Zero-Dollar Prep
Before spending a dime, the biggest transformation started with elbow grease.
Removing the Clutter: How kids accumulate so many random objects I do not know but apparently this happens to their bathroom things as well. We went through and threw out garbage, put misplaced things where they belonged and wiped out their drawers.
The Deep Clean: We scrubbed every single corner, replaced the caulk and gave the baseboards a serious wipe-down. The shower liner still had some life in it so I gave that and the one floor mat a good wash. Getting rid of accumulated dust and soap scum instantly brightened the room. (Tip: It is so often overlooked, but making sure every inch of the toilet is scrubbed down is vital in smell control. Getting under the toilet rim clean and around the hardware is not optional and will accumulate a very nasty smelly build up if not dealt with. Toilet seats also just need replaced from time to time and this may be the perfect time to do it during a little bathroom refresh)
Paint Touch-Ups: Instead of buying a whole new gallon of paint, we used leftover wall paint to patch up scuffs, dings, and water spots around the baseboards and door frames. It made the walls look brand new. (Tip:If you don’t have a can of your current paint color you can carefully peel a small area from the wall and take it into your hardware store to have a color match. I did this years ago and it’s what I’ve been using. While you are at it, you could place some of that paint into these handy touch up pens to have on the ready)
Choosing a Visual Anchor
If you aren't changing the tile or the vanity, your shower curtain has to do the heavy lifting. It is the largest piece of "real estate" in the room.
I recently went through the Home in the Hemlocks Color School for some fun and inspiration. This helped me to stay on track with our homes color palette. It really does make decisions easier having this little tool built out. It’s not only fun but worth the time and effort. But back to the shower curtain…
The Inspiration: We swapped our old curtain for a gorgeous sage, blue, and floral print. It brought a soft, nature-inspired palette into the room that feels calm but cheerful. This is the exact one I bought from Target. But I’ll put my other favorites below. Even if you have a glass door over your shower, you can add a shower tension rod and the decorative portion to make a pretty soft impact and add some privacy.
Accents: There are plenty of inexpensive shower curtain hooks out there but I do like a little statement here. I’ve had these for many many years but I’ll link some similar ones. They are a heavy weight, rust proof and stood the test of time.
Smart, Kid-Friendly Upgrades
When a bathroom is shared by kids, form has to follow function. We made three specific upgrades to handle the daily chaos:
The Splash Zone Fix: Kids in general and my kids in particular are notorious for stepping out of the tub and tracking puddles across the floor. I went ahead and used one of the mats I already had but was able to find a second coordinating one. This alone has made a wonderful difference in reducing the whining and irritation from all household members after stepping into a left behind puddle and experiencing wet socks.
The Waffle Towel System: To end the daily argument of "Who used my towel?", we bought each child a dedicated color. Each one has two towels in their color and they are responsible for it. We went with fast-drying waffle-weave towels. No more mix-ups, and the waffle texture dries incredibly fast, preventing that dreaded damp towel smell. I’m thinking we may swap our grown up towels out for these next.
Whimsical Wall Art: Mostly I keep things minimal in the bathrooms but I wanted a little pop of playful interest. To keep the space feeling youthful and fun, we hung up two cute animal prints on the wall in coordinating colors. It frames the space beautifully and adds a pop of personality and color to that wall.
Polite Touches for Guests
It’s always nice to make sure guests feel comfortable in a bathroom. Cleanliness is number one but closely following this are those nice little touches that anticipate needs.
Start with the Basics: Of course we want to have fresh hand towels out and hand soap refilled. Could you use a fun seasonal scented soap? A nice simple hand lotion on the counter is nice also.
Scent and Odor Control: Smell is also, of course, very important. Having a clean space is foundational but some other add ins are nice. I mentioned seasonal smelling soap but how about a heatable candle or reed diffuser? I don’t trust the open flame of a candle with kids and towels flying about so those are my go-tos. I also make a simple room spray from vodka, essential oil and water.
Other Conveniences and Considerations: Check that the toilet paper is stocked and easy to get to. A small accessible drawer of feminine products and flushable wet wipes is nice as well. Maybe some hair ties and floss sticks as also.
This sweet little basket with the plant aesthetically holds wet wipes and room spray. The drawer in the cabinet is stocked with extra TP.
Setting the Mood (Safely)
Lighting can make or break a room. To make evening baths feel like a spa day (and middle-of-the-night bathroom trips safer), we added simple, hands-off lighting:
The Timer Candle: A battery-operated candle on a built-in timer turns on automatically every evening, casting a warm, flickering glow.
The Plug-in Night Light: A simple, sleek plug-in night light keeps the room dimly lit for the kids so they don't have to flip on the harsh overhead lights at 2:00 AM.
Adding a Dimmer: My husband and son installed a new light dimmer. We have had one for years but it recently broke and was a cut hazard. A dimmer makes transitioning to evening vibes a breeze. Also, swapping out your bulbs to mimic a more natural light and avoid the high flicker of many modern bulbs is a much healthier option.
The Takeaway
A beautiful home isn't about how much money you spend; it's about making intentional choices that work for your family. With a little cleaning, some strategic color choices, and a few budget-friendly purposeful purchases, we turned a chaotic kid zone into a fresh, functional oasis.