When Sophie moved into her new home, the half bath immediately stood out as the perfect place to start making the space her own. As I mentioned in our design sneak peek, we weren’t going for a full renovation—just a thoughtful refresh that would breathe life and personality into a tiny space. It was the kind of project where we could have fun, try something bold, and turn a purely functional room into a stylish little jewel box.
Sophie loves florals and anything Rifle Paper Co., so we immediately chose a wallpaper with big personality—colorful, whimsical, and full of energy. It completely transformed the space and instantly felt like her. Once we picked the wallpaper, we realized the white trim no longer worked. It looked too harsh against the bold pattern. So we painted it a dark olive green. That one change warmed up the space and made the wallpaper feel even more intentional.
Working With What We Had (and Dressing It Up!)
Since we weren’t replacing the vanity or sink, we made the materials palette work around what we had. The vanity was in good shape, so instead of swapping it, we gave it a glow-up with a few simple touches: leather pulls, a brushed gold faucet, and layered accessories that brought texture and warmth. We added a clean-lined mirror, a towel ring for beautiful waffle textured towels, and swapped out the old light fixture for something that felt a bit more intentional. The gold tones echoed throughout the room—from the faucet to the frame on the artwork—adding just the right amount of shimmer without feeling over-the-top.
Personal Touches (Hello, Cat Art) and DIY Wins
Of course, every room feels better with a personal touch, and for Sophie, that meant cats. She’s a proud cat mom, so we found a sweet art print featuring a feline lounging in a stripe pattern. It was the perfect way to bring in her personality without clashing with the already-bold wallpaper. The print also pulled out the light blue tone in the pattern, which helped balance all the warm gold and olive tones.
The best part of this project? We tackled it together. Sophie jumped right in—rolling paint, helping with wallpaper, and brainstorming ideas. We spent a couple of days making it happen, laughing through the tricky parts and celebrating with cookies when it came together. These DIY moments always make a project more meaningful. Sure, the space looked better when we finished, but it also felt more special because we created it side by side. #girlpower
The Final Layer: Texture, Neutral Accents, and a Bit of Shine
To avoid competing with the bold wallpaper, I chose neutral and natural accents to round out the room. Soft towels, soap dispensers with a little texture, and a couple of gold details gave us just the right amount of texture and contrast.
We didn’t spend a fortune. We didn’t rip anything out. But we completely changed the energy of the room.
Now, Sophie’s half bath feels like her: colorful, warm, and welcoming. It’s proof that even a small space can carry big personality—and that thoughtful updates (plus a little teamwork) can go a long way. If you’re staring down a dated powder room, don’t wait for a renovation. A few creative decisions might be all you need.
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