New Studio Bathroom Vanity Color
Yesterday, I decided to get started on some changes that I had planned for the studio bathroom, starting with a new vanity color. I wanted to change the vanity color, the accent tile, and possibly the upper wall design. But I figured that since the vanity was the easiest of those three projects, I would start with it. Also, since I just finished up a very long project — painting a checkerboard design on the studio floor — I really wanted to do a quick and easy project that could be finished in one day.
The bathroom started out very colorful, with hand-painted walls in a square spiral design, yellow accent tile that I custom colored myself (you can make tile in any color you need for your project), and a coral vanity.
I loved all of the color and pattern of the bathroom right after I finished it (you can see the whole before and after here), but after a couple of years, I started growing a bit tired of it.
So yesterday, I removed a portion of the yellow tiles so that they wouldn’t be a distraction, and then I painted the vanity…
The color is called Satin Black from Behr. I wanted an off-black so that the dark black hardware would still show up against it. Plus, the bathroom door and storage closet door are deep black, and I didn’t want to add more deep black to the vanity.
As far as the tiles go, I ended up choosing a very simple 3″ x 12″ white subway tile. They’re not the kind that I used in the kitchen and master bathroom shower. These are the kind that have a slightly imperfect/wavy surface that catches light beautifully.
When I was trying to figure out what to do with this bathroom, I had considered using a tile with a more definitive “wave” pattern (like ripples in water), but when I decided to try to make this current wall design work, the wave tile didn’t seem like a good option anymore. I needed something that wouldn’t compete with the wall design.
I plan to remove the rest of the yellow tiles and install this new white tile this weekend so that I can mark off the second item on my three-item list for this bathroom.
As far as the walls go, I’m still up in the air about the current square spiral design. Interestingly, when I got the yellow tile removed, and the vanity painted in the new satin black color, the walls didn’t seem to have enough color to them for my taste.
I’m still going to wait before making my final decision, though. I don’t want to make a decision about the walls until I have the vanity and tile finished. And since the black vanity and white tile will go with just about anything, I can get those done and then live with the current walls for a while and see if I like how everything looks. If not, I’ve narrowed down the possibilities to two different options: (1) vertical painted stripes in bright/bold colors chosen from the wallpaper (y’all know how I feel about stripes!), or (2) actually using the floral wallpaper in the bathroom.
I’m still not sure how I feel about using the wallpaper in the bathroom. It seems to me that it would take away the impact of using it on the main long wall of the studio, and diminish it’s specialness. But on the other hand, it seems a bit sad to use the wallpaper only on a wall where so little of it will show because of cabinets and two windows. I love that wallpaper so much that I’d love to see more of it, and since the back entry isn’t an option because of the cost, the tiny bathroom seems like the second best option.
But I’ll wait to make that decision. The bottom line is the bathroom walls with either be the current square spiral design, colorful vertical stripes, or floral wallpaper. And an off-black vanity and white tile will go with any of those options.
On a completely different topic, I continue to be so impressed with this floor paint!! This vanity is not light at all, and it has those little feet on it. I was scooting and shoving the vanity all over this floor to be able to get behind it, and then to the left side of it, and then to the right side of it when it was pulled out. I just knew that when I finally got it back into place, the floor was going to be a mess and need to be redone. After all, the paint hasn’t had anywhere near 30 days to cure.
But when I finally got the vanity moved back into place, there were only two little areas where the paint scratched.
I was absolutely amazed! I couldn’t believe that it held up so well against a heavy vanity being shoved all around on it! That’s precisely why this paint made it onto my updated list of favorite paint products for 2023.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I was thinking the same thing. The floral wallpaper in the bathroom. Would be stunning. I love the vanity!
I vote wallpaper! Great way to make the two areas agree with each other.
I was shocked to see you used black on the vanity! You are the colorful gal after all. I think the black looks great. I also think the white tile will be perfect. I wouldn’t hesitate to hang the floral wallpaper you love in the bathroom but any of your options would work well.
I do like the idea of the wallpaper in there too…or stripes that are the same colors that are in the paper. That way the colors are nice together yet the pattern is different. I do love the design you did already, but not so much with the color changes. Now it looks a bit too pastel. I think the wallpaper colors will look wonderful and cohesive no matter how you bring it in there.
I love the bathroom walls that is so unique and I’m sure lots to work. I hope you leave them as is.
My thoughts exactly. I love the unique pattern of the bathroom wall. The new black vanity color enhances the wall even more.
Looks great! Im definitely team wallpaper. Either on the walls or the ceiling. Can’t wait to see what you decide!
Love the black on the vanity! To me it is an echo of your gym closet. (which I voted for by the way 😄) Perfect choice! I also think the wallpaper in the bathroom would be just beautiful with the light floors, black vanity and white tile. Great job Kristi as usual!
Shocked that you painted the vanity black. Maybe you could keep the design but repaint the colors with colors from the wallpaper so it would be bright. Actually most of those works but need to be more saturated. Line up a ruler and paint over.
OMG!!! I love, love, love the vanity. I actually gasped when I saw it. 🙂 I’m voting the wallpaper, for sure. Will you get it in a smaller pattern than your studio wall, since it’s a much smaller wall space?
Same! I gasped. I ❤️ it!
I am not gonna lie…..I loved those yellow tiles.
However…….I know in my heart you are going to go bright colors on the wall so I can live with it. I vote for the wall paper but if not you can bring in the colors from the wall paper in some type of design as you are so very creative.
I love color and you never disappoint. I just don’t know how you get things done so quickly. A bathroom counter took me a week on and off a few years ago and I want to change the color now but worry about how long it’s gonna take me this time. I chug along in second gear as you fly down the road in fourth. And it ALWAYS looks professional!
I started out looking at white tile with a very obvious/”graphic-like” 3D wave pattern but recently found a similar, high gloss, “ripple texture” that reports to reflect light with an effect similar to the shimmer on the surface of the ocean (waiting for samples to arrive to confirm this in person). Can you share details on the tile you chose to replace the yellow?
This is the one I bought: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Daltile-LuxeCraft-White-3-in-x-12-in-Glazed-Ceramic-Subway-Wall-Tile-12-sq-ft-case-LC15312HD1P2/309021342
I am truly surprised by the new color on the vanity from the all.the.color gal herself! It looks nice, but not what I expected. I still love the spirals above though. The black of the cabinet and white tiles seem to mute their colorfulness.
FWIW I love the current bathroom wall design. I LOVED the coral vanity too but the black is gorgeous as well. I think taking away that yellow tile just makes those walls even more beautiful.
I’m sure you’ll feel it once you live with it for awhile.
I love the black vanity, and I love the idea of using the wallpaper in your bathroom. Nice job on the floors!
Kristy, please share how you were able to remove your yellow tiles without damaging the wall.
Im getting ready to tear out my kitchen backsplash and am scared of ruining the wall.
These came off relatively easily, and without damaging the drywall, because I installed them using sticky sheets (I can’t remember the brand, but it’s the one that Home Depot carries) instead of mortar. Had I used mortar, removing them would have damaged the drywall. With the sticky sheets, if they don’t come off with some pulling and prying, you can use a hair dryer or heat gun to loosen up the adhesive so they’ll come off a bit easier.
I’m afraid if you’re tiles were installed using mortar, you’re probably going to end up with drywall damage that you’ll have to repair before installing the new tile. The good news is that, since you’ll be covering it with new tile, the drywall doesn’t have to look perfect!
As much as it pains me to say it because I love the painted walls, I think your wallpaper would be beautiful! (Unless you can do something to the paint with your sharpie like you did in the music room to the paint. As is I think the painted walls look too soft and faded now.
That’s the same suggestion that my mom had! She even did a mock up of it and sent it to me. I’m definitely going to try the Sharpie marker. At least it’s a tiny room, so it won’t take long. And if it doesn’t work, I’ll move on the other options.
Kristin. I love the changes in the bathroom but please keep the walls. They are so unique and as much as you love the wall paper and stripes please rethink it
Why not keep a few outside lines of the geometric wall design and choose a large flower with a leaf or such from leftover wallpaper to be placed in the center of each diamond of the design?
Or, i love the idea of some bold satin black and white vertical stripes to pop a large colorful artwork in the feeling of the wallpaper above the toilet!? Or paper the ceiling with the studio wallpaper and do the stripes or a trellis pattern on the walls! Okay, you’ve got my creative juices flowing now!
In love with the color of the vanity!! 😍😍😍 Love the boldness of the wall treatment you will end up with. Love that the yellow tile is gone and not competing with the real star . . . The vanity and wall.
I trust the walls will be fabulous no matter what you do. You always have a way of pulling it all together. I think something that pulls the colors from the wallpaper would be lovely. But not the wall paper itself, as I believe that will be too predictable for your design style.
Thank you for the tip on the adhesive tile mat!! 🤯🤯🤯 I am going to look at using that in the bathroom I am pondering being bold in. You are inspiring. I have a very subtle style but you encourage me to embrace color and it has been fun!
Personally, I liked the wall spirals since you did them I would leave them alone. You have so much work invested in those walls. If it seems there is not enough color now, try accessories. Wall art over the toilet would be nice or to the left side of the vanity. Try a few things that don’t require the time and labor you already put in. That said, I’m one of those people who decides what I want, do it and that’s the way it is until some sort of disaster forces me to change it.
‘New vanity color looks great !
What if you did that beautiful hand painted bird mural in there?! You could bring in pops of color with the birds. It would be beautiful.
I liked the current wall design when you did it, but never really liked the yellow tiles or coral vanity with it. Love the new vanity and tiles! The swirls are nice, but I think bolder stripes and/or wallpaper would be more cohesive with the rest of the studio.
OMG, I am shocked and in love with the vanity!!! I never expected that color as a possible, but it is heaven! Love the time change too! I’m gonna throw out my two cents on the walls… I think you should drop the idea of the wallpaper along the front wall, where a lot of it will be cut out, and paint the same as the rest of the walls. Use the wallpaper in the bathroom (and even in the foyer if there is enough). It will show up so much better in the bathroom!!!
The lighting looks much brighter in the photo with the old vanity color and more subdued in the photo with the new black color – I think that might also be making the spirals look duller, at least in the photos.
I love the new vanity color. Personally, i think the wallpaper design is too large and will overpower the room and make it look smaller. On one wall or the ceiling would look good with sripes on the other walls. I still love the walls as they are but they need sometimg to make the bolder. I like the idea of outlie in black someone mentioned. Whatever you decide will be awesome i know.
I think repeating the wallpaper in the bathroom would just add to the cohesiveness of the design for the studio and give another showcase for that element. The soft black of the vanity with the white tile would be the perfect foil for the busyness of the wallpaper. Can you do a mockup of each of your ideas to help you decide?
I really like the new vanity color! To me, it grounds the room, and makes the walls more of a focus than when the vanity color competed with them. I think the wallpaper would look great in there, too. My only question would be this: will the scale of the paper design work in there?
It would be big, for sure. But I think it’s good to break some decorating rules every now and then. 🙂
At first I thought ..awww, I loved the bathroom and then I saw the change and I absolutely love it! ❤️❤️
That was unexpected – and an inspired choice. I think the floral wallpaper would be a great addition to the space.
Oh wow. That Satin Black is wonderful. Great choice, Kristi!