When I decided to update my girls' bathroom, it wasn't just about making it look cute but solving some real issues.
This is a small bathroom shared by my then 10-year-old and 4-year-old; the walls had seen better days, and the lack of organization made it almost impossible to keep clean.
The cheap builder-grade paint wasn’t doing me any favors either. The space needed some serious love and structure between the kicks, splashes, and general chaos of daily life.
A Plan with My Girls in Mind
Going into this project, I knew I had to balance the tastes of two very different little humans (and different is an understatement).
My 10-year-old was at an age where she cared a lot about aesthetics—purple was her favorite color—while my 4-year-old was just along for the ride, she just wanted a "big girl" bathroom.
Because of these differences, I let my older daughter pick the shower curtain as the jumping-off point for the design.
From there, I wanted to create a space that felt like a mini spa but was still age-appropriate for both girls. Storage was a big priority, too. I needed a way to corral dirty clothes, towels, and hygiene products while keeping the space functional and clean.
Designing Around Their Style
The shower curtain my daughter picked had soft pastel tones, so I played off those colors while incorporating black accents that matched the existing towel bars and tissue holder.
I kept the cabinets ebony-stained because, honestly, I decided to postpone tackling a cabinet painting project, and stained cabinets hold up better to the wear and tear kids can dish out over time in my opinion.
Rolling Up My Sleeves
This was a pretty straightforward project, so I decided to take on all the grunt work myself.
One of my favorite additions was the board and batten trim I installed on the walls. I love it because it protects the walls from little kicks and scuffs.
Plus, it’s super easy to clean!
I also accessorized the space with items that felt feminine and luxurious to my girls, hoping they’d take pride in keeping it tidy.
Tackling the Challenges of a Small Space
The bathroom’s small size meant I had to be strategic about every decision.
To help manage things like towels, robes, and dirty clothes, I added over-the-door hooks for the girls to hang their towels after bath time and robes during the day.
This allowed me to use the towel bar to display decorative towels, keeping the bathroom looking aesthetic even after they take their baths.
I also installed drawer organizers for toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other hygiene essentials, which kept the counters clear for decorative touches. The result? A bathroom that’s as functional as it is pretty.
A Budget-Friendly Transformation
Now, when it comes to the budget, I kept it under $250!
By keeping the existing cabinets and faucets, I saved a ton of money, and the only places I had to spend were on paint, trim, and a few new accessories.
The shower curtain came from Amazon, and I shopped my own home for decor items, supplementing with finds from At Home and Home Goods. You don’t need a massive budget to create a beautiful, functional space—just a little creativity and resourcefulness, especially knowing that these girls' styles are going to change as they get older.
The Reveal
When it was all done, the girls were thrilled! The bathroom now feels age-appropriate and charming, with just the right amount of sophistication to grow with them—at least for a few more years.
They were so excited about the new space that they’ve taken pride in maintaining it (and yes, I’m doing a happy dance over here!).
Key Takeaways
If you’re planning a similar project, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Ready to tackle a project like this in your own home? I’d love to help! Schedule a consultation for your design project at https://athomewithkae.com/design-services. Let’s make your home just as functional and beautiful as you need it to be!
