Looking for guest bathroom ideas? I’m sharing 7 of the ideas that we incorporated into our guest bathroom makeover!
Is your guest bathroom giving you the stink eye? Let’s whip it into shape! I’m sharing the “before” and “after” of our own guest bathroom plus seven guest bathroom ideas to inspire a remodel of your own! (post includes commissionable links; for more information, see full disclosure statement {here})
Obviously there was quite a bit of room for improvement from where things started with our guest bathroom…
Yep, white on white on white and a broken toilet. Yikes! The good news is that it was pretty much a blank, white slate and there was nowhere to go but up! Fast forward after a few weeks of planning, installing, and of course fixing the broken toilet and here’s what my space is looking like today:
So much better, right?! These are the guest bathroom ideas that I incorporated when making over our space:
1. Replace The Pedestal Sink with a Small Space Vanity
Most guest bathrooms are small so many have a pedestal sink. Pedestal sinks are fine for hall bathrooms where people are simply washing their hands but they leave little to no room for guests to place their toiletries. Replacing the pedestal sink with a small space vanity provides so much more space for you guests plus you gain some extra storage space with the drawers and shelves.
It also upped the style factor of our guest bathroom big-time:
My exact vanity was discontinued but {this 24″ gray vanity} that has a single hole for the faucet and {this gray vanity} that has 3 holes for a widespread faucet are the same size and have a similar look. Check out my post on small bathroom vanities for several other beautiful options.
Don’t shy away from a vanity that you love the look of but has ugly knobs or pulls because they can always be replaced. I replaced the knobs that came with my vanity with {these brass & mother-of-pearl knobs} that are a long-time favorite:
Check out my post on bathroom cabinet knobs for other beautiful options.
I also ditched the old, there-was-no-place-to-put-anything pedestal sink and ugly, dated one-piece faucet complete with a rusted drain:
and replaced it with {this gorgeous bathroom faucet}:
I LOVE the cross handles so much – it’s the perfect mix of classic, traditional styling with updated, elegant design details:
2. Add a Towel Bar or Hooks for Hand Towel Plus Bath Towels
I hung {this towel ring} next to the sink to hold a hand towel that’s out of the way instead of cluttering up the countertop. I went with the chrome finish because I wanted a timeless look and it’s typically the least expensive finish option:
I also added the matching toilet paper holder (found {here}) and towel bar (found {here}):
If you don’t have any wall space for a towel bar, consider placing two hooks on the back of the bathroom door. See my post on how high to hang your toilet paper holder, towel ring, and other bathroom hardware for more help on hardware placement.
3. Provide Extra Towels
Always make sure your guest bathroom has plenty of extra towels for your guest. You can leave a stack on the dresser in their bedroom or, if you have a vanity like mine, on the vanity shelf in their bathroom:
If you have wall space above the toilet, you could also choose to hang a train rack which combines a towel bar with a shelf for towel storage. See my post on over-the-toilet storage ideas for my favorites.
I also put out nice towels for my guests instead of giving them our old cast-offs. Check out my post on the best bath towels for info on my favorite towels at all price points.
4. Leave Extra Rolls of TP & Toiletries
No guest wants to have to ask for extra toilet paper so be sure to provide some extra rolls. It’s nice to leave a few toiletries too for guests that may have forgotten their toothpaste, shaving cream, etc. I put all of our extras in our vanity drawer and let our guests know where they are:
5. Repaint or Add Wallpaper to Freshen It Up
If your guest bathroom is looking tired and you want to freshen it up, repainting or adding wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to give it a whole new look! I added black and white cane patterned wallpaper to ours and it made such a difference:
The wallpaper was fairly pricey so it would have been too expensive to use in wallpapering a regular room. But since our guest bathroom is small and has beadboard on the bottom half, I only needed two rolls which made it doable.
While you may be concerned about using wallpaper in a bathroom with a shower due to the humidity, coating it with a clear flat varnish to protect it is key. Check out my post on wallpaper in bathrooms for all the details. If you’re repainting, I recommend using Benjamin Moore Aura paint that has a mildew-resistant finish.
6. Add Fresh Flowers to Make It Welcoming
Since we have loads of hydrangeas in our backyard, in the summer it’s super easy for me to clip a few and bring them inside to add a welcoming touch to our guest bedroom and bathroom. But you could also grab an inexpensive bouquet at the grocery store too!
On our toilet, I placed a black marble toilet tray (my exact tray is no longer available but {this tray} is a similar look & size) with a vase of hydrangeas:
and tasseled brass jar holding Q-tips and cotton balls that sits on an extra hand towel:
I also placed a few stems of small flowers in a little vase next to the sink:
The guest bathroom is also a fun room to add a few festive accessories to during the holidays:
7. Have a Large Bathroom Mirror or An Extra Mirror in the Bedroom
Most of our visitors are couples so I think it’s nice to either have a large mirror in the bathroom that both of them can use to get ready at the same time or have a second mirror in the bedroom. I’m not always a fan of wall to wall mirrors in bathrooms, but in this one it worked well and made the space seem larger than it is:
For a more decorative look, you could add wood molding around the edges of your wall-to-wall mirror to frame it out or use another of my bathroom mirror ideas.
8. Leave Your Guests a Night Light or Two
It can be hard for guests to navigate to the bathroom in the middle of the night when it’s dark and they’re unfamiliar with the space so be sure to leave them a night light or two. In our guest bathroom, we installed {this toilet seat} with a built-in night light – it’s one of my favorite guest bathroom ideas and always a topic of conversation the next day 😂.
Another option would be to put one of {these snap-in night light outlet covers} in the bathroom or right outside of it:
It’s literally a snap to install and provides a soft glowing light under the outlet without taking up either of the actual outlet sockets like a night light does.
The last change we made to our guest bathroom was to install {this beautiful (and inexpensive!) flush mount light} to replace the sad, itty bitty flush mount that was there before:
Want to see some other great flush mount light options? Check out my post on my favorite flush mount lighting. Also see my post on bathroom lighting ideas for more lighting tips for your next bathroom remodel.
Thank you as always for stopping by – I hope you found a little inspiration in today’s post! If you’re thinking about making over your own bathroom, check out my posts on bathroom remodel ideas on a budget or my post on master bathroom remodel ideas.
See you back on the blog soon,
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jill says
Pefect! I’m copying all of this in our powder room makeover. This is the inspiration I’ve needed, but need to install the beadboard first. Do you recall the name of the white paint color you used? Thanks!
Kris Jarrett says
The beadboard was actually there when we moved in and the previous homeowners didn’t leave any paint so I’m not sure unfortunately. Good luck with your powder room makeover!
Karbo says
Timeless and beautiful – copying faucets and fixtures when we do our renovation. Love!
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you!!
Haneen says
Kris!! This looks absolutely beautiful! Love all of the finishes!! The paper is amazing and so is that vanity! I’m definitely looking at Delta for my kitchen reno!
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you Haneen! You definitely should – they have some super gorgeous kitchen faucets!
Jennifer Prock says
Kris!!!! You did an amazing job! What a beautiful transformation! Your Delta selections could not be more perfect! I love the finished look and am so impressed your darling new bathroom.
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you Jen! I’m so happy with my new faucet – it made such a difference!
Erin says
Kris!! This is honestly so stunning I don’t even know where to start! I love every single detail! The wall! The cabinet and counters! Those knobs! You have done such an amazing job. I seriously need to come and visit STAT! You are all ready for me now. 😉 Love it Kris! I’m so impressed by your talent for design! xo
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you Erin! And yes, you do need to visit – I would love that!!!
Bree says
Kris this is amazing my friend!!!! I couldn’t wait to get over here to see this and I knew it would be just as perfect as it is!! You are sooo good and I love your faucet choice!!! It’s just right for the space and is such a timeless option!! Bravo to another beautiful space you’ve created in your home!!! 🙂
Kris Jarrett says
Bree you are way too sweet – thank you! Means so much coming from you!!
Lisa says
What a great makeover Kris! Love the wallpaper and the new vanity! The grey + brass combo gets me every time. So pretty!
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you Lisa! I’m pretty excited to finally have a nice, functional bathroom for our guests!
Tamara says
Kris this is absolutely gorgeous!! Love all your details and those knobs are such a perfect special touch! I love to mix anything and you’ve nailed it to perfection!!!
Kris Jarrett says
You’re so kind – thank you!!!
Lauren@SimplyLKJ says
You have created yet another gorgeous room in your home. Again, no detail was overlooked. Loving all the black and white.
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much Lauren! I don’t think I’ll ever tire of black and white!
Kerry says
Beautiful as usual. Love it. One question. The vanity on the Wayfair site, the marble looks yellowish? Yours looks white. Are they the same?
Thanks, Kerry
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Kerry! There are actually two color options for the vanity top – I got the white Carrera. Once you select that option, you’ll see the top color in the image change!
Chantal says
Hello,
That bathroom looks great! I have to find out if I can find the wallpaper here in Canada!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Chantal! Hope you’re able to get it – it’s even more stunning in person than in the pics!
Garden, Home and Party says
Kris,
This bathroom turned out great. Your guests will be so happy with the beautiful changes and effeciency of function. You always provide great inspiration in your makeovers!
xo,
Karen
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much Karen!!
Carol Heartfelt Whimsies says
You never disappoint, Kris! I love how you stay timeless with the large purchases and then add small touches of “on-trend”!!! Your guests will love it!!
Kris Jarrett says
Carol – you are so sweet, thank you! And I sure hope they do! My in-laws are coming to visit in two weeks so we will soon see! 🙂
Laurie says
Looks great. I love the Cassidy suite of products. I plan on putting the Cassidy collection in my upstairs hall bathroom remodel once I get the budget to gut that room (it’s circa 1989 with a blue tub and fake blue veined marble counters–sad but true) and needs everything replaced. But I first have to finish my kitchen and master bath remodel and let my home improvement funds recover.
I’m going with the Cassidy sink, shower set, and freestanding tub faucet with the French curve handles. (I plan on replacing the built-in whirlpool tub with the broken motor with a freestanding slipper tub. (my house is a traditional Dutch cape so I going with mostly traditional fixtures.)
Kris Jarrett says
That sounds amazing – love that you’ll have a freestanding tub! I think the Cassidy line is perfect for what you’re planning to do! And I hear you on the budget – it’s taken me four years of living in our house to finally get to this bathroom!
Deb Pemberton says
Kris, In a word…gorgeous! Love the sophistication of the overall look. Classic and elegant! Love the black and white! What is the size of your vanity and where did you get it? LOVE!!!!!
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much Deb! There is only one size – if you click on the link to it in the Source List at the bottom of the post, you’ll get right to the listing. You can select from two different tops – mine is the White Carrera. I love it!
Deb Pemberton says
Thank you for responding so quickly. Going to check now. 🙂
Kelley Nan says
Kris, oh my word! I have been looking forward to this and it is even greater than I could have imagined. WOW! I love that you mix those metals too- now I know not to be scared to mix my chrome faucet if I want to incorporate that brass we are loving. Although, now I’m thinking my faucet may be a little more dated than I had thought haha. FANTASTIC makeover!
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much – so sweet of you! I had the hardest time deciding on the faucet finish but in the end am so glad I ended up sticking with a classic one! Can’t wait to see what you do with yours!
Kathy says
Kris, what a huge improvement. You are so talented (and a hard worker).