DIY Bathroom Makeover with Classic Coastal Style

Transform a dated bathroom into a serene coastal retreat with DIY molding, peel-and-stick floors, and Benjamin Moore Boothbay Gray.

My boys’ bathroom makeover simply makes me happy. It was a budget-friendly approach to a space that was functional, but not our style.

Bathroom Before and After

Just look at the transformation.

As always, I knew I wanted something elegant and classic but still comfortable. Something that wouldn’t go out of style with trends. I leaned slightly into the coastal vibe, but this is not a beach house, so I wanted it to be subtle. I did not want to retile the shower, so I had to work with the taupe-ish brown tile (which, honestly, I kind of like). It’s almost a cafe-au-lait color with a gold shower door…

I originally considered matching it for a color drenched look, but I found it had more orange in it than I truly wanted on my walls. So I used my color theory and chose its opposite: blue. My favorite gray blue to be exact. And the Boothbay Gray bathroom is just perfect with the tile.

DIY Coastal Bathroom Makeover

Let me break down the process, though, of each step we took to transform this bathroom.

1 – Skim Coating Walls

Knowing that I wanted some wall molding in this space, I started by skim coating the orange peel texture. Learn how to smooth textured walls here.

2 – Picture Frame Molding

Next up was my favorite DIY elegant simplicity. Get the full tutorial for picture frame molding here.

3 – Peel and Stick Flooring

I used this same flooring in our guest bathroom a couple of years ago, and it has held up beautifully. Someday, we’ll retile the space entirely, but for now, covering up the peach tile helps the space feel crisp and clean and more us. Get the full tutorial for installing these floors here.

PS It cost less than $60 for the entire bathroom. SUCH a budget-friendly option!

We also replaced the baseboards while we were at it (to match the rest of the house), which helped make the new flooring look really polished.

4 – Boothbay Gray Paint

Blue gray walls are classic and elegant, and they give a hint of coastal feel. I love when the trim and walls all match. This space doesn’t have a vanity, but I did paint the rest of the trim. I even painted the door (get the full tutorial for painting interior doors here). Get more details about painting a space like this with this tutorial.

I chose not to paint the ceilings. To be honest, this room is dark. Though it has a large window, the light is shaded by a large awning outside, so I wanted the ceiling to remain white for light reflection.

Pro tip: Actually paint the walls BEFORE installing your picture frame molding, then come back and paint the trim. Step-by-step tutorial (plus the very best paintbrush) here!

5 – Decor and Accessories

Finishing off a space like this is so fun. I started with this ocean artwork by Degas called Beach at Low Tide. It’s a simple pastel from his time in Normandy, and I love it. It actually helped me choose the color scheme for the room, as it gave me inspiration with its color palette of orange-brown sand and shades of blue that I wanted to capture in this space. I used one of these frames.

Though the storage is all in a separate space, the water closet still needed towels. I truly love the waffle-weave towels we found. I prefer hooks over bars, as my children especially never had towels correctly on bars. So I brought in some antique brass hardware as towel hooks (which I think fits the coastal bathroom decor beautifully). I also added this brass plate cover. I just love how these finishing touches stand out against the light blue walls.

Finally, I added this rug. I love using real rugs (rather than bath mats) in my bathroom designs. I really love true vintage wool rugs, but this rug was such a great price and the perfect size and color palette. I think it brings the perfect amount of function and elegance to the space.

Coastal Bathroom Design

I hope you found this bathroom reveal helpful! I just keep thinking that my master bathroom – with its miles of 40 year old cultured marble – may have to be next. I’m starting to feel jealous of my kids’ beautiful spaces!

Truly, I love bathroom transformations, but I love them even better without the chaos or cost of a full renovation. I hope this mini bathroom remodel gave you lots of coastal bathroom ideas and small bathroom design ideas.