Why My Guests No Longer Have to Stare at My Underwear: Our Powder Room Makeover

The original combo laundry/powder room — fluorescent lights and all. This space was begging for a rethink.

When your powder room shares space with a laundry zone and a direct view into your real life? You get creative. This is the story of how we tackled an awkward layout, made room for real function, and created a space that finally feels intentional — with board and batten, budget-friendly finishes, and a bold black-and-white floor that makes the whole space sing. If you're looking for small bathroom renovation ideas with personality and purpose, here’s everything we learned.

When we bought this house, there wasn’t technically a powder room at all — just a combined laundry/powder space with fluorescent lighting, mystery switches, and absolutely zero charm. 

Let’s be honest: no guest wants to use a toilet while staring at a pile of laundry. And I certainly didn’t want to keep the laundry spotless just for company. 

Worse, when we started demo… we discovered one switch controlled a live wire hidden in the ceiling cavity — just inches from metal strapping. It could have ended very badly. 

Clearly this room needed more than a pretty paint job — it needed a full rethink.  

Design Decisions: Creating a Bold, Timeless Look 

With the new layout (more on that in a future post), we finally had the chance to give this space its own identity. My vision? 

• Bold but timeless — I loved the idea of green, but not green-green. More texture, depth, contrast. 

• Mixed metals — A combo of black and brushed nickel, pulled from the light fixture and hardware. 

• Architectural detail — Board and batten added classic interest and depth. 

• High contrast floor — Black and white tile brought the whole look together. 

The palette? Black, white, soft green, warm wood tones, and mixed metals — a combo that feels fresh but grounded. 

The design palette: black, white, soft green, warm wood, and mixed metals — bold yet timeless.

Real life sample assessment. Ruling: LOVE!

The Transformation 

This was a total DIY project — we tackled every single part ourselves: 

• Demo & reframing (me!) 

• Drywall (me!) 

• Tile (me again!) 

• Board & batten paneling (me again!) 

• Electrical (me! And safe this time!) 

• Plumbing (Chris! And Turdy! I don't touch plumbing...yet!) 

• Paint, trim, and fixture install (all me!) 

Painting all the battens in our basement…all while trying to keep cats from walking all over them. The reno chaos is real.

Tile and paint complete! (ok…nearly…had to swap out a few tiles that were chipped)

Trim and batten is going up! Going to add so much interest and texture to the space without costing a lot of money.

Plumbing apprentice Turdy on the job to get his hours!

Key changes: 

✓  Separate powder room layout 

✓  New lighting (goodbye, fluorescent glow) 

✓  Black & white tile floor 

✓  Board & batten walls in a deep green 

✓  New vanity, mirror, and fixtures 

It’s a small space, but now it makes a huge impact — and finally feels worthy of the home we’re building here. 

The finished powder room — bold, bright, and full of character.

Mixing metals and textures gives even a small room a custom, layered look.

Simple accessories to enhance the small space.

Lessons & Tips: What I Learned (and What You Should Know) 

Small doesn’t mean simple — plan every inch 

In a tiny room, every choice matters. Floor pattern, wall colour, lighting placement — it all reads louder in a small footprint. Think it through before you start. 

If I did it over again, I would get a vanity with the drawers on the toilet side: It’s way easier to get toilet paper out of a drawer when they are right next to you. I went back and forth and back and forth and ultimately landed on the wrong decision. Not the end of the world, but definitely would do different next time.

Don’t fear bold choices in small spaces 

Contrary to popular advice, small rooms don’t have to be light and airy. Sometimes high contrast and rich detail actually make them feel more special — like a hidden gem in your home. 

Layer your finishes for a custom feel 

Mixing metals, textures, and patterns gives even a basic builder powder room a bespoke vibe. Board and batten + patterned tile + warm wood + mixed hardware? Chef’s kiss. 

DIY is doable — if you’re patient and precise 

We aren’t pros — just willing learners with a lot of patience. If you approach DIY with attention to detail and a plan, you can absolutely create something beautiful. And bonus: you’ll appreciate it that much more. 

Thinking about refreshing your own powder room or small space? Whether it’s builder-basic or decades out of date, I’d love to help.